Members of the Lee administration met with the Tennessee Faith & Freedom Coalition (TNFFC) Board of Directors on Wednesday after the group sent a letter urging Governor Bill Lee to cancel his proposed August 21 special session of the Tennessee General Assembly.
“In response to our letter asking Governor Lee to cancel plans for an August Special Session of the Tennessee General Assembly due to public safety concerns as well as constitutional concerns, Chief of Staff Joseph Williams emailed us and requested a meeting with our Board of Directors. We took him up on that offer and on Wednesday, had a meeting with Chief of Staff Williams and Lee Administration Special Advisor Michael Hendrix,” the TNFFC disclosed in a Friday statement emailed to The Tennessee Star.
In a previous letter to Lee, the TNFFC called the governor’s proposed special session “ill-advised,” further calling on Lee to “wait until normal session in January to make proposals for the legislature to consider – as is the normal process of government.”
During Wednesday’s meeting, TNFFC said Lee “looks forward” to meeting with the group directly.
“We communicated that we are taking the Administration up on that offer and very much look forward to presenting our concerns to Governor Lee directly and in person in the very near future,” the TNFFC added.
The group further disclosed that a “wide-ranging discussion” took place during Wednesday’s meeting regarding the proposed special session, to which “areas of disagreement” were raised.
The group additionally noted that there were “areas of agreement” discussed with Lee’s team, including promoting and passing legislation that works to end human trafficking.
“We specifically discussed and agreed that we would work together on promoting and working to pass legislation that continues the fight against child and human trafficking,” the TNFFC stated.
The TNFFC concluded by asking Tennesseans to “pray for Governor Lee.”
“We will have more to say at a later date after we have met with Governor Lee. In the meantime, we ask that everyone in the state of Tennessee pray for Governor Lee and that God grants him wisdom and discernment as he considers the tough issues he deals with as governor,” the group stated.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
Background Photo “Tennessee Capitol” by FaceMePLS. CC BY 2.0.
Dear Gov Lee,
Please call off the special session. It is unnecessary. While there may be some gun hating liberals who like the idea of the special session, we all know it will serve no legitimate purpose except to create a national media circus atmosphere.
I am truly sorry for the loss of lives occurring at the Covenant school, including those personally known by you. However, one mentally unstable (or even a hundred mentally unstable, or any number you choose) person and their action(s) DOES NOT supersede my inalienable right that is not granted by the US Constitution – it is protected by it.
Sincerely,
S.F.
Nashville, TN 37221
Current Tennessee law has all the provisions needed to have someone involuntarily committed for psychiatric evaluation – even without a court order – either law enforcement or family members can initiate this action.. This red falg nonsense is all just so much hogwash – only intent is to agitate, fear monger and pander to special interests. Resist.
The only faith I have is in the Covid 19 boosters. The only freedom we should have is when everyone is vaccinated. Until then, Lock ’em down Lee.
The group further disclosed that a “wide-ranging discussion” took place during Wednesday’s meeting regarding the proposed special session, to which “areas of disagreement” were raised.
The group additionally noted that there were “areas of agreement”
That being said, the special legislative session is still on. Red Flag laws, AKA the destruction of liberty and freedom continues.
Flowery language. Delay? What does it all mean? Politics 101: It means, Lee probably doesn’t now have the votes that he needs! So, if Lee withdraws his Special Called Session in August, he will spend the next several months, and no telling how much of the State’s money trying to get (i.e., buy) those votes to coerce the enactment of legislation (i.e., so-called ‘red flag’ laws) that the People of the State of Tennessee have already said that do not want and which the Supreme Court of the United States has already ruled unconstitutional.
As I have previously argued. I think that Tennessee’s Constitution should be amended to limit Tennessee Governors to one four-year term of office for the life of that person, this amendment to be effective immediately upon approval of it by the people. ONE and DONE! A bill to this effect could be introduced in the 2024 Legislative Session, and passed then. Another bill to the same effect could be introduced in the 2025 Legislative Session, and timely passed then. The voters of Tennessee would then vote on the twice approved proposed amendment in the 2026 November General Election, and if approved by the people in that vote, the constitutional amendment would be effective immediately. The man, or woman, elected as Tennessee’s new Governor in 2026, and thereafter forevermore, would serve ONLY ONE FOUR-YEAR TERM, AND THEN LEAVE OFFICE! ONE and DONE!
And who would benefit from all of this? I think that the People of our State would benefit! And the People’s elected Representatives in the General Assembly of our State would thereafter be the supreme law-making authority of our State! Our form of State Government requires a Chief Executive Branch officer, but we don’t have to make that person the King of Siam (or Queen)!
See the Constitution of the State of Tennessee, Article XI, Sec