Tag: Glen Casada

Beth Harwell Hands the Gavel to New Speaker of the Tennessee House Glen Casada As 28 New State Representatives Are Sworn In

Laura Baigert

NASHVILLE, Tennessee – In the first phase of new leadership in the State of Tennessee, 28 new Representatives were sworn in to the 111th Tennessee General Assembly and the speaker’s gavel was handed from the first female Speaker, Beth Harwell, to Glen Casada. Tennessee’s leadership transition will be complete when Governor-elect Bill Lee is inaugurated on January 19. In front of a capacity crowd on the floor and in the galleries consisting largely of their families, the duly elected state representatives made their oath of office. The next order of business was to elect a new Speaker of the House, which started with a motion by House Majority Leader William Lamberth (R-Cottontown) nominating Republican Speaker-elect Glen Casada (R-Franklin). Karen Camper (D-Memphis) was the Democrat nominee for Speaker. A roll-call vote resulted in 75 votes for Casada to Camper’s 22 with one “present not voting” and one representative absent. In his acceptance speech which he began near tears, Casada recognized former House Speakers Bill Jenkins, Kent Williams and Jimmy Naifeh. Casada also expressed his appreciation for his immediate predecessor, Beth Harwell, calling her “a woman of character” and a “true class act,” which was punctuated by a standing ovation. With Harwell…

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Police May Have to Get Counseling, Per Nashville Community Oversight Board

Chris Butler

Members of Nashville’s new Citizen Oversight Board will have access to police files. They can interview witnesses and police officers. They can send reports with recommendations about allegedly problematic officers to Metro Nashville Police Chief Steve Anderson, according to a new report in The Tennessee Tribune. “Those recommendations could be counselling or something stronger like a letter of reprimand, suspension, or even firing,” the website went on to say. “Anderson is required to respond to the COB but under the City Charter he retains authority to discipline members of MNPD. While the COB’s powers to investigate are considerable, it’s power to enforce any resolution to a particular complaint or enact policy changes remain advisory.” Nashville Mayor David Briley has selected former state Democratic Attorney General Bob Cooper and American Baptist College administrator Phyllis Hildreth to serve on the COB, the website said. Members of the Metro Council will select nine more members from a pool of nearly 200 applicants. Board members will then hire an executive director to select six staffers to investigate complaints and review police policies and procedures, The Tennessee Tribune reported. Also needed are two research analysts, a legal advisor, three investigators, and one community engagement liaison, according…

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The Tennessee Star Report EXCLUSIVE Interview With Incoming Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada

Julie Carr

On Wednesday’s Tennessee Star Report with Steve Gill and Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville’s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 am to 8:00 am – Gill and Leahy talked with State Rep. Glen Casada (R-Franklin), the incoming Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives about the challenges the Tennessee General Assembly will face in its new session, which began formerly later in the day. Gill and Leahy discussed a number of topics with Casads, including Shelby County’s defiance of state statutes regarding illegal immigration and sanctuary cities,  the new incoming freshman legislators and the challenges they face, school choice, and criminal justice reform. At the end of the segment, Gill and Casada touched upon what Bill Lee’s lack of conservative cabinet picks mean for the Tennessee legislation. Gill: The incoming house speaker who will soon move to that position, current state representative and soon to be house speaker Glen Casada is on the line with us this morning. Casada: Good morning Steve, how are you? Gill: Now when do you actually take over as house speaker? Casada: I am sworn in at approximately noon, Tuesday, January the 8th. Gill: So you’ve got about one more…

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Speaker-Elect Glen Casada: It’s My Job To Find Conservatives And Let Them Lead

Laura Baigert

NASHVILLE, Tennessee – Speaker-Elect Glen Casada says that as Speaker, his job is “to find the strong conservatives, put them in the right committee, and let them lead.”  Casada’s statement was made to a group of middle Tennessee activists in response to a question about the key things he wants to focus on during session. Casada easily won the nomination of the House GOP caucus for the Speaker’s position last month. The formal election for Speaker and Speaker Pro- Tempore will be held when the Tennessee General Assembly convenes in January. The House Republican Caucus Bylaws require that members vote for the nominated Speaker and Speaker Pro-Tem Elect, or be automatically expelled from the Caucus. With a Republican super majority in the House, holding 73 of the 99 seats, Casada’s election as Speaker of the 111th General Assembly is a virtual certainty. During this interim period he is generally referred to as “Speaker-Elect,” though he could also be called the “Presumptive Speaker.” The group, Nashville Sentinels, organized around the Heritage Action For Action (HAFA) model and is spear-headed by longtime Nashville Republican Ed Smith. The Nashville Sentinels meet monthly and at its February meeting then Majority Leader Casada spoke to…

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Glen Casada Wins House Republican Nomination For Speaker

Laura Baigert

NASHVILLE, Tennessee – Widely seen as the favored candidate, State Representative Glen Casada easily won the three-way race for Speaker-Elect with 43 of 73 votes, setting the tone for the other mainly predictable 11 elections held during the House Republican Caucus meeting held Tuesday. As current Republican Caucus Chairman, Representative Ryan Williams (Cookeville) opened the meeting and reviewed some ground rules. Williams said that, per the Bylaws of the House Republican Caucus, an independent accounting firm would count the ballots and declare the winner of each race. The successful candidate would need a total of 37 votes, even if a member chose not to vote. Although it did not happen, there was a provision in the event that no candidate received 37 votes in the first round, whereby the person with the lowest number of votes would be eliminated, and additional votes taken until a candidate reached 37 votes. The votes for each position would not be cast until the results of the previous election were declared. Williams announced that the ballots and tally sheets would be preserved and available for review in the office of the new duly-elected Caucus Chair. Representative Dan Howell (Georgetown) made a motion, which was…

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Tennessee Star Report Exclusive: State House Majority Leader Glen Casada Says GOP Caucus ‘Will Take a Look At’ Nashville’s Amendment One

Julie Carr

On Friday’s Tennessee Star Report with Steve Gill and Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville’s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 am to 8:00 am – the morning duo spoke to “soon to be” Speaker of the Tennessee House Glen Casada about the mid-term elections here in the state of Tennessee, how the Speaker of the House election works, and what he see’s as a primary legislative agenda for the state. Gill:  Well we thought we’d go right to the source and find out what Republicans have planned next as the house majority leader Glen Casada who’s now the punitive head of the Republican party of the house because you have Beth Harwell whose moved on running for Governor and the speaker is moving out.  Glen Casada also preparing a bid for the speakership in Tennnessee and Glen Casada on our NewsMakers line this morning Glen good morning! Casada: Good morning Steve, Patrick great show as always, really informative, enjoyable show thank you guys. Gill: The blue wave wiped you guys out (laughter) man, you go seventy seven to seventy six out of the ninety nine members in the state house? Casada: So statistically speaking they…

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State House Majority Leader Glen Casada Commentary: Tennessee’s Economic Boom is on the Ballot This November

Admin

by State House Majority Leader Glen Casada (R-Franklin)   It won’t be listed with the candidates’ names this November, but Tennessee’s economic boom will most certainly be on the ballot. Tennesseans have an important choice on Election Day: we can either back Donald Trump’s agenda of economic prosperity or fall for the Democrats’ plans to take it all away with far-left policies that failed us in years past. The choice is clear — and our state’s future economic growth depends on it. Backing the President’s agenda means backing Marsha Blackburn to replace Bob Corker in the U.S. Senate. A vote for Phil Bredesen, her Democrat opponent, is a vote to replace wealth and prosperity with hardship and division. In the past 20 months, thanks to President Trump, Tennessee has seen an unprecedented economic boom, and the state economy is growing at a faster rate than the nation as a whole. Tennessee currently has the lowest state unemployment rate on record, led the nation in small business growth last year, and Tennessee now has the lowest debt per capita of any state in the nation. Nationally, middle-class income hit an all time high, and our GDP growth is higher than the…

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David Hawk Wants to Succeed Beth Harwell as Next Tennessee House Speaker

Chris Butler
David Hawk

State Rep. David Hawk (R-Greeneville) has joined the list of legislators who want to succeed Beth Harwell as the next Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives. Hawk told The Tennessee Star he will do things differently than his predecessors. Hawk’s first priority — creating a committee system that he said reflects Tennessee’s values. “The first responsibility the speaker will have is to place legislators into positions on committees creating leadership on those committees and committee members,” Hawk said. “The approach I will bring to filling those committees is recognizing the strengths and skillsets of my fellow legislators and then placing them on the committees where they will be most successful. That will help them be successful in formulating good policy.” The second priority, Hawk went on to say, is not showing favoritism. “I will not create a committee system based on rewards,” Hawk said. “I don’t plan to place someone on a particular committee just because they voted for me. Likewise, I will not penalize someone if they don’t vote for me (as speaker). I want each legislator to be able to succeed in their role in the general assembly.” The Star asked Hawk if he thinks his predecessors…

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Tennessee House Republican Caucus Calls for Investigation into Removal of Confederate Statues in Memphis

Tennessee Star Staff

On Thursday, Tennessee House Majority Leader State Rep. Glen Casada (R-Thompsons Station) and Republican Caucus Chairman State Rep. Ryan Williams (R-Cookeville) called for an investigation into the removal of two Confederate statues Wednesday evening from property that was owned by the City of Memphis until just a few hours earlier. “Last night, the Memphis City Council unanimously approved the sale of the Health Sciences Park and Fourth Bluff Park under the cover of night to a private entity. For years, these two parks have housed the statues of Nathan Bedford Forrest and Jefferson Davis,” the statement began. Casada and Williams noted that “within an hour following the vote … cranes were spotted shortly thereafter to remove both statues,” adding: Multiple questions have been raised involving the legality of these actions, including: Did Memphis officials violate sunshine laws by coordinating this sale outside of the public eye? Did anyone gain financially from the rapid and clear undervalued sale of these two properties? Were existing state statutes violated related to the removal or relocation of these memorials? With these and many additional questions still unanswered, we will immediately begin work in conjunction with the Speaker, the Attorney General, the Comptroller’s office, and other…

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OFF THE RECORD: Did Glen Casada Cast His Vote for Diane Black in Gubernatorial Straw Poll?

Tennessee Star Staff
Tennessee Star

  One of The Tennessee Star’s cameras captured this interesting photograph at the annual Williamson County Republican Party BBQ in Thompson’s Station on Saturday: As The Star reported earlier, Williamson County businessman Bill Lee won the straw poll at the event with 63 percent of the votes cast. State Senator Mae Beavers (R-Mt. Juliet) finished a surprising second with 26 percent of the vote, followed by Rep. Diane Black (R-TN-06) with 7 percent of the vote, Tennessee House Speaker Beth Harwell (R-Nashville), with 3 percent, and Knoxville businessman Randy Boyd with 1 percent. House Majority Leader State Rep. Glen Casada (R-Franklin) was there and participated in the straw poll.   Take a close look at the second jar on the table where Majority Leader Casada is dropping in his red gumball. In front of the second jar is the name Congresswoman Diane Black. The name of Speaker Beth Harwell, who announced her candidacy for governor on Sunday, is in front of the fourth jar.      

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House Majority Leader Glen Casada Defends His Vote to Increase The Gas Tax

Laura Baigert
Tennessee Star

House Majority Leader Glen Casada (R-Franklin), issued a press release Monday defending his vote to increase the gas tax through Governor Haslam’s IMPROVE Act, after initially announcing on February 8 his support for the alternative Hawk Plan. The press release was forwarded via email, addressed to “Friends,” stating “I wanted to forward a statement I released to the press regarding my vote on the IMPROVE Act.” If the comments on Rep. Casada’s Facebook page responding to posts on the gas tax, the overwhelming majority of which are against the gas tax, is representative of other feedback he’s been getting, it likely prompted Casada’s need to explain his vote. The cover email continued, Though I still believe there was a better way to fund road construction for Tennessee that did not raise taxes, I did vote for the amendment that was the IMPROVE Act.  My support for the alternative plan that would have shifted funds to the Department of Transportation without raising the gasoline tax died twice in committee and again on the House floor.  Thus, my only option was to do nothing on road funding, or vote for the IMPROVE Act – the next best vehicle available to attain our goal of…

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State Legislators Who Live Near Nashville Want To Get Reimbursed for Overnight Stays Again

Tennessee Star Staff

House Majority Leader Glen Casada (R-Franklin) tells The Tennessee Star he filed an amendment on Wednesday to SB 1251/HB 1139 that will reimburse state legislators who live less than 50 miles from the State Capitol in Nashville for overnight hotel stays while the Tennessee General Assembly is in session. “I think it’s a fair request,” Casada tells The Star. The amendment reads as follows: (A) A member whose principal residence is fifty (50) miles from the capitol or less shall be paid an expense allowance for meals and incidentals equal to the allowance granted federal employees for such expenses in the Nashville area for each legislative day in Nashville or any day the member participates in any other meeting or endeavor as described in subsection (a) held in Nashville. (B) A member whose principal residence is fifty (50) miles from the capitol or less shall be paid an expense allowance for lodging equal to the allowance granted federal employees for lodging expenses in the Nashville area if the member requests on the member’s per diem reimbursement form to be reimbursed for lodging for a legislative day or any day the member participates in any other meeting or endeavor as described in subsection (a)…

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EXCLUSIVE: Spirit of America Rally in Nashville on March 4 to Show Support for Trump and Call for Impeachment of ‘Out-of-Control’ Judges

Tennessee Star Staff

The Spirit of America Rally will be held at the Legislative Plaza in Nashville on Saturday March 4, beginning at 11 a.m. and continuing to 1 p.m., America First Tennessee, in partnership with liberty-minded grassroots groups across Tennessee, announced on Monday in a statement first released exclusively to The Tennessee Star. In addition to Mark Skoda, speakers at the event will include Tennessee radio heavyweight Ralph Bristol, host of Nashville’s Morning News on 99.7 FM WWTN,  Ohio Tea Party leader Tom Zawistowski, Tennessee gubernatorial candidate State Senator Mark Green (R-Clarksville), State Senator Mae Beavers (R-Mt. Juliet), and co-sponsor of the event, Tennessee House Majority Leader State Rep. Glen Casada (R-Franklin). “People I talk with want President Trump to know that we stand with him; and that we, too, see that the Judiciary is coming off the rails. Furthermore, we are ready to do something about it,” rally organizer and Memphis Tea Party founder Mark Skoda said. “We will urge our Representatives [in the United States House of Representatives] to impeach, and for the Senate to try, convict, and remove [Federal District] Judge James Robart in Washington and [Federal District] Judge Leonie Brinkema in Virginia,” Skoda said. “They expose an allegiance not…

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