Tag: State house of Representatives

Harris Warns: Gov. Bill Lee Could ‘Easily Pass’ Red Flag Legislation During Special Session with Dems and ‘Squishy’ Republicans

Tennessee Star Staff

Second Amendment expert and Tennessee Firearms Association Executive Director John Harris continued his Monday interview with The Tennessee Star Report’s Michael Patrick Leahy to outline the requirements and limitations of Governor Bill Lee regarding a proposed special session in August, along with a warning about scenario that could result in red flag legislation passing both chambers of the legislature.

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State House of Representatives Returns to Work, But Not to Normal

Laura Baigert

NASHVILLE, Tennessee – While the Tennessee House of Representatives returned to committee and subcommittee meetings this week, the situation was anything but normal.

The Tennessee General Assembly adjourned on March 19, after passing a limited number of bills and a reduced fiscal 2021 budget, in the interest of slowing the spread of COVID-19. At the time, the General Assembly was to stand in adjournment until June 1.

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Carol Swain Commentary: Ditching Rep. DeBerry Shows the True Colors of the Tennessee Democratic Party

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Tennessee State Rep. John DeBerry, a black Shelby County Democrat, is an independent thinker, which at the moment makes him Public Enemy No. 1 in the eyes of the state’s Democratic Party.

Earlier this month, with most Americans distracted by the media’s nonstop coronavirus coverage, Janeita Lentz, another Shelby County Democrat and co-chair of the Memphis-Mid South Democratic Socialists of America, advanced a racist, cultist agenda. Her mission: to oust a black Democratic incumbent deemed too uppity for the Tennessee Democratic Party (TNDP) and its white overseers.

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Tennessee House Republicans to Select a New Speaker on July 24

Laura Baigert

  A meeting of the Tennessee House Republican Caucus has been scheduled for Wednesday, July 24, to select a Republican nominee for Speaker of the House. The meeting was called by House Majority Leader William Lamberth (R-Portland). In a statement issued by Leader Lamberth Wednesday, he said his call for the caucus meeting came, “following conversations with our members of the last several days.” Lamberth retweeted his announcement, which was picked up by Cameron Taylor of WSMV. NEW: @WilliamLamberth says a caucus meeting will be held next month to choose a Republican nominee for speaker. Date on special session to elect the next speaker hasn’t been announced yet. @WSMV pic.twitter.com/OtxBdUnHgV — Cameron Taylor (@CameronKSHB) June 26, 2019 The purpose of the caucus meeting is to select the Republican nominee for Speaker of the House, who will eventually replace current Speaker Glen Casada (R-Franklin). In a closed meeting and by secret ballot, Casada received a 45-24 vote of no confidence by the House GOP Caucus on May 20. At an impromptu press conference following the three-hour meeting, Lamberth said that the House Republican Caucus vote “sent a clear message” that sexist racist and similar behaviors is not acceptable in leadership, the…

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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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Poll in Williamson County State House District 61 Shows Brandon Ogles and Bill Lee Leading in Their Primary Races

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Bill Lee, Brandon Ogles

A new poll conducted among likely GOP voters in the Nashville suburbs of Brentwood and Franklin by Triton Polling shows good news for State House candidate Brandon Ogles and Gubernatorial candidate Bill Lee, along with some warning signs for Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn in her bid for the U.S. Senate. The survey of 361 likely Republican Primary voters was conducted June 18-22, 2018 and has a margin or error of 5.1%. In the GOP primary race for Governor, the poll showed Williamson County native Bill Lee leading the field with 32.4% of the vote, followed by Diane Black with 21.3%, Randy Boyd with 16.1%, Beth Harwell with 14.9% and 15.4% undecided. Other polling has indicated that Lee is seeing a recent surge in support in Middle Tennessee, where he, Black and Harwell all have a significant base of support. Many political observers believe that Lee’s gains come at the expense of Black, and may help Boyd in a statewide race due to his primary base of votes coming from East Tennessee, where he appears to have a significant lead over the other three candidates who all come from Middle Tennessee. In the House primary race to fill the vacancy created by…

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The Tennessee Star Announces A Week Long Letters to the Editor ‘Endorse-A-Rama’ for the Last Week of July

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Letter to the Editor

The 2018 election season is in full swing, and with primary election day just a few short weeks away, we thought we would ask who your candidate of choice is for the record number of candidates running for open seats this year! Starting Monday, June 25th, we will begin accepting Letter to the Editor Endorsements for publication consideration. We will continue receiving them until Friday, July 20. The letters will appear throughout the week of July 22. Are you a ‘Matheny Man,’ or is Judge Bob Corlew your candidate of choice? John Rose? Tell us why! Who should replace State Rep. Charles Sargent? And State Rep. Shelia Butt? Should Bill Lee be the next governor, or do you think Diane Black can bring more to the table? We want to hear about it! Now, let’s remember this is a family website, so no profanity or un-sourced, ad-hoc attacks, please. Here is a comprehensive list we put together from The Tennessean and The Green Papers of the all the candidates – Gubernatorial, US House and Senate, and State House and Senate – in challenged races qualified to run as of the last candidate deadline April 5: Tennessee Governor Republican: Diane Lynn Black, Randy Boyd,…

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County Chair Jerome Moon Appointed to Replace Maryville-Area State Representative Art Swann

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Moon Appointed to Replace Maryville

Tuesday, Blount County Chairman Jerome Moon was sworn in as the new District 8 state Representative. Moon’s appointment was triggered by the same body Art Swann’s elevating to the state Senate following Doug Overbey’s resignation to join the Trump Administration. “It’s been overwhelming, but I’m ready to get to work,” Moon told Blount County’s Daily Times after the swearing-in ceremony. “I look forward to serving with Sen. Swann and Rep. (Bob) Ramsey.” Blount County Mayor Ed Mitchell told The Times Moon will do an “absolutely fabulous job for all of Blount County as our representative in Nashville.” “I hate losing Jerome from the Commission. I believe the leadership he provided was second to none, and I know at every meeting I’ll miss him and his guidance and stability,” Mitchell said to reporter Rachel Totten. “Jerome has always been committed to helping our veterans, as well as all the citizens of Blount County, and he will provide the same voice in the state legislature.” Moon earned 16 of the Commission’s 19 votes, with three of the Commissioners voting for James Hammondtree. You can watch the vote on the video, below.

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Maury County Republican Party Chairman Scott Cepicky Declares His Candidacy to Replace Retiring State Representative Sheila Butt

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Scott Cepicky

Early speculation came to pass Thursday as Maury Republican County Chair Scott Cepicky announced he is running to represent the people of State District 64 in the Tennessee House of Representatives. In an open-letter style statement, Cepicky said: As most of you know by now, State Representative Sheila Butt will not be seeking re-election in 2018. She has devoted the last six years to successfully serving the people of Maury County. Her passion and enthusiasm for the belief in Faith, Family and Freedom has endeared her to the citizens of our county. Today, after much prayer and thoughtful consideration, and with advice from family and friends, I hereby announce my intention to seek the nomination of the Republican Party for the position of State Representative for the 64th District. I will pick up the mantle of Faith, Family and Freedom and continue to move our county forward. I appreciate the support of Representative Butt, and her team in this endeavor. Representative Butt and I have developed a professional friendship and respect for each other’s beliefs and work ethic. I am honored to receive her endorsement and am humbled by the responsibility that comes with the position of representing friends and…

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State Rep. Sheila Butt Will Not Run for Re-Election in 2018

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Sheila Butt

In what was considered a bit of a surprise to her fellow Republicans and the Tennessee political community in general, State Rep. Sheila Butt (R-Columbia) announced Tuesday afternoon she will not run for re-election when her term ends in January 2019. Butt has been one of the most reliably conservative members of the Tennessee House of Representatives since her election in 2010. Republicans are now looking for someone of similar stature to hold the seat for the party, while Democrats believe that the seat–considered unwinnable for them as long as Butt was in office–might come into play again in 2018. Through a statement appearing in The Columbia Daily Herald, Butt said, “After much prayer and consideration, I will not be running for re-election for the next General Assembly which will convene in January of 2019.” Adding: Being a representative of the people was never intended by our Founding Fathers to be a profession, and was specifically designed to be a limited time of public service. As the year ends and January is approaching, I am looking forward to the second half of the 110th General Assembly beginning in 2018. It has truly been one of the highest honors in my life…

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