Multiple Democratic candidates and elected officials in Tennessee are being denounced on social media for their reactions to former President Donald Trump surviving what appeared to be an attempted assassination at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday.
Read the full storyTag: Tennessee House of Representatives
State Representative Scott Cepicky: Tennessee’s Public Education Has Opportunity to Be Improved Through Both Universal School Choice Program and Reform Measures
Tennessee State Representative Scott Cepicky (R-Culleoka) said the Tennessee House version of the universal school choice bill that failed to pass the General Assembly earlier this year is “eerily similar” to the Wisconsin school choice bill that passed the state’s legislature nearly 14 years ago.
Read the full storyTennessee Governor Endorses Jason Emert in House District 20 Primary Race
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee endorsed Jason Emert, a reserve officer with the U.S. Air Force and member of the Tennessee Air National Guard, in the August 1 Republican primary election for Tennessee State House District 20.
Read the full storyTennessee Governor Endorses Lee Reeves in House District 65 Primary Race
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee endorsed real estate investor and attorney Lee Reeves in the August 1 Republican primary election for Tennessee State House District 65 on Thursday.
Read the full storyAmericans for Prosperity Action Announces Endorsements in Tennessee State House and Senate Races
Americans for Prosperity Action (AFP Action) endorsed one Tennessee Senate candidate and six candidates for the Tennessee House of Representatives in the primary elections on August 1.
Read the full storyProtecting Freedoms: State Rep. Chris Todd Highlights Achievements of Tennessee General Assembly
Tennessee State Representative Chris Todd (R-Madison County) reflected back on this year’s session of the Tennessee General Assembly, calling it “productive” in terms of lawmakers passing a “balanced budget” and “protecting the liberties and freedoms” of Tennesseans.
Read the full storyAaron Gulbransen: Tennessee House Should Have Introduced a ‘Clean School Choice Bill’
Aaron Gulbransen, executive director of the Tennessee Faith and Freedom Coalition, said the Tennessee House of Representatives should have introduced a “clean” universal school choice bill instead of attaching additional incentives not particularly related to school choice to the bill.
While the governor’s school choice bill in the House includes additional incentives, the Senate’s version solely focuses on the governor’s proposal.
Read the full storyTennessee House Passes Largest Business Tax Cut Bill in State History
The Tennessee House of Representatives voted 68-20 on Monday to pass the largest business tax cut bill in state history.
The House’s bill version, SB 2103/HB 1893, would refund $713.6 million or one year of franchise tax.
Read the full storyAmericans for Prosperity Applauds Passage of Tennessee Resolution to Ban Statewide Property Taxes
Americans for Prosperity – Tennessee (AFP-TN) celebrated the Tennessee Senate on Thursday for its passage of House Joint Resolution 81 by a 26-6 vote.
House Joint Resolution 81 would prohibit the Tennessee General Assembly from levying, authorizing, or otherwise permitting a state tax on property if enacted.
Read the full storyTennessee House Passes Bill Banning Pride Flags in Classrooms
The Tennessee House of Representatives voted 70-24 on Monday to pass HB 1605, a bill prohibiting the displaying of certain flags on or in a public school, including LGBTQ pride flags.
The bill, introduced by State Representative Gino Bulso (R-Brentwood) in November, now heads to the Senate.
Read the full storyDemocrat State Rep. Gloria Johnson to Run for Two Offices at Same Time: Re-Election to TN House and Longshot Bid for U.S. Senate
Democrat State Representative Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville) intends to file for reelection to the Tennessee House of Representatives despite being five months into her longshot U.S. Senate bid to unseat incumbent Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), according to a report by Knox News.
Johnson is one of the “Tennessee Three” lawmakers who commandeered the House floor to demand gun control in the wake of the Covenant School last year.
Read the full storyTennessee House Staffer Suspended over Alleged Heated Exchange with State Rep. Justin Jones
A Tennessee House staffer for Representative Torrey Harris (D-Memphis) was suspended from her position as an Executive Legislative Analyst until after the 2024 legislative session concludes.
The Tennessee General Assembly Director of Legislative Administration confirmed in a January 30 letter that the staffer “had an inappropriate confrontation with a Member of the House of Representatives” and “failed to maintain a satisfactory and harmonious working relationship” and disrupting work in the Tennessee House.
Read the full storyTennessee GOP State Lawmakers Sign Joint Proclamation Expressing Unwavering Support of Israel
GOP lawmakers in the Tennessee General Assembly have signed a joint proclamation expressing their unwavering support of Israel following Hamas’ attack on the country over the Yom Kippur holiday weekend.
Read the full storyTennessee Democrats Criticize Rules for Special Session
The Tennessee House of Representatives passed a set of rules put forth by the Select Committee on Rules for the special session by a 73-23 vote on Monday.
Read the full storyExpelled Nashville Democrat Justin Jones Easily Wins TN House Special Election in District 52
Democrat Justin Jones (D-Nashville) won the Tennessee House of Representatives District 52 special election on Thursday, defeating his Republican opponent Laura Nelson.
Read the full storyTennessee House Republicans Pen Letter to Metro Nashville Police Chief Requesting Covenant School Killer’s Writings, Medical Records
Sixty six Republican lawmakers in the Tennessee House of Representatives have sent a letter to Metro Nashville Police Chief John Drake asking for the release of writings and medical records of the Covenant School killer.
Read the full storyConstitutional Law Expert: Democrats’ Call for DOJ Probe into Tennessee State Lawmakers’ Expulsions Is ‘Ridiculous Political Grandstanding’
The left’s press to paint the expulsions of two disorderly Democratic lawmakers from the Tennessee House of Representatives as an assault on civil rights is moving into overdrive, but constitutional law experts predict the effort will go nowhere — even for President Joe Biden’s politically weaponized Justice Department.
A group of U.S. Senate Democrats led by Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is calling on the DOJ to investigate the Republican-controlled Tennessee House’s removal of State Representatives Justin Jones (D-Nashville) and Justin Pearson (D-Memphis).
Read the full storyNashville Mayoral Candidate Freddie O’Connell Opposes Titans Stadium Deal
Wednesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Michael Patrick Leahy welcomed Nashville mayoral candidate Freddie O’Connell in studio to comment on the expulsion of Justin Jones, Metro City Council’s vote to put him back in, and what makes him a good choice for Nashville mayor.
Read the full storyJustin Pearson Appealed to the ‘Radical Middle’ During Bid for Bowdoin College Student President
A video circulating the web appears to show that newly-reappointed State Rep. Justin Pearson (D-Memphis) ran on a platform of unity among Republicans and Democrats during a bid for Bowdoin Student Government President at his alma mater Bowdoin College just a handful of years ago.
“How can we represent all voices in a conversation?” asked Pearson in a campaign video. “I want to do this by partnering with Democrats from the Bowdoin Democrats to the Bowdoin Republicans. I want to bring together different voices, dissenting voices. Voices that might be more liberal or more conservative, in order [so] that we can reach the point of sort of the ‘radical middle.'”
Read the full storyFormer Obama AG Eric Holder Threatened Legal Action in Letter to TN House Speaker Sexton Unless Expelled Democrat Legislators Let Back In; Sources Say Litigation Still Likely
Leftist Eric Holder, former President Barack Obama’s attorney general, is part of a group of attorneys threatening Tennessee House of Representatives Speaker Cameron Sexton and his fellow Republican members for expelling two Democrats on charges of inciting a riot at the Capitol.
Multiple sources tell The Tennessee Star that Holder is looking at filing lawsuits in the matter.
Read the full storyNashville Metro Council Votes to Reinstate Democrat Justin Jones to the Tennessee House of Representatives
During a special meeting called on Monday, the Nashville Metro City Council unanimously voted to reinstate State Representative Justin Jones (D-Nashville) to the Tennessee House of Representatives after he and another Democrat representative were expelled last week.
Read the full storySenator Jack Johnson: New Budget Adjusted to Allocate Funds Toward School Safety
Monday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed State Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson to the newsmaker line to discuss adjustments to the budget and explain the process by which a seat is filled after a legislator is expelled.
Read the full storyNashville Metro Council to Vote on Interim Successor to Former State Rep. Justin Jones
The Nashville and Davidson County Metro Council is scheduled to meet Monday evening for the purpose of voting on an interim successor to former State Rep. Justin Jones (D-Nashville).
Jones was expelled from the Tennessee House of Representatives on Thursday in a 72 to 25 vote for breaking numerous rules of the House one week earlier on Thursday, March 30, the day over a thousand protestors rioted at the State Capitol and attempted to enter the chamber of the House of Representatives by force.
Read the full storyAt Expulsion Proceedings, Former State Rep. Justin Jones Called GOP State Rep. Kumar ‘The Brown Face of White Supremacy’
In an exchange between State Rep. Sabi Kumar (R-Springfield) and Jones, Kumar confronted Jones about the racially charged rhetoric the far-left activist-turned-elected official used against him when he called the practicing surgeon “the brown face of white supremacy.”
Read the full storyState Rep. Gino Bulso on the Expulsion of Jones and Pearson from the Tennessee House of Representatives
Friday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Michael Patrick Leahy welcomed the original all-star panelist Crom Carmichael and attorney Gino Bulso to comment on former State Representative Justin Jones’ vitriolic attack on Tennessee House members and the media’s misrepresentation of the Capitol riot.
Read the full storyMichael Patrick Leahy: The Tennessee Constitution Requires a Vacancy in the State House of Representatives Be Filled by a ‘Successor’ Who Is Another Person, Not the Previous Representative
Friday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Michael Patrick Leahy explained Tennessee Constitution’s laws on what would happen if former State Representative Justin Jones tries to run again for his expelled seat in a special election.
Read the full storyState Rep. Gino Bulso Praises Gov. Lee for Signing 10th Amendment Bill into Law
Friday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Michael Patrick Leahy welcomed the original all-star panelist Crom Carmichael and attorney Gino Bulso in studio to discuss the important piece of legislation signed into the law by Governor Bill Lee yesterday regarding the 10th Amendment
Read the full storyState Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson Expelled from the Tennessee House of Representatives
After a contentious session in the Tennessee House on Thursday two Democrat state representatives were expelled from office by their congressional colleagues.
Thursday afternoon, State Rep. Justin Jones (D-Nashville) (pictured above) was officially removed from the Tennessee state legislature by a vote of 72-25.
Read the full storyAaron Gulbransen: Jones, Pearson, and Johnson’s Messaging Presupposes Victimhood
Thursday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Michael Patrick Leahy welcomed Aaron Gulbransen, the Tennessee state director for the Faith and Freedom Coalition, in studio to discuss what will happen with the three Democrats who played a part in last week’s Capitol riot.
Read the full storyTennessee House Republicans Move to Expel Three Democrats over Last Week’s Protests that Disrupted House Proceedings
The Tennessee House of Representatives moved to expel three Democrats who led a protest on the House floor last week, disrupting House proceedings.
Read the full storyTennessee House Passes Bill That Would Ban Drag Shows
The Tennessee House of Representatives passed a bill Thursday that, if enacted, would ban “adult cabaret” performances – such as drag shows – on public property or anywhere they “could be viewed by a person who is not an adult.”
Read the full storyState Senator Mark Pody on Differences Between House and Senate, Refusing Federal Government Dollars
Monday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed Tennessee State Senator Mark Pody to the newsmaker line to discuss the differences between the House and Senate and refusing money from the federal government for the state’s education.
Read the full storyMajority Whip Johnny Garrett Explains Tennessee House Roles and 2024 Legislative Agenda
Wednesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed Tennessee House of Representatives Majority Whip Johnny Garrett to the newsmaker line to describe the roles of legislators and the 2024 legislative agenda.
Read the full storyTennessee House GOP Candidate Michelle Foreman Doubles Down on Implementing School Choice as Top Priority
Wednesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed Tennessee House of Representatives D-59 GOP candidate Michelle Foreman in studio to reiterate her top priority of school choice in the state of Tennessee.
Read the full storyTennessee 63rd District GOP Candidate Laurie Cardoza Moore: Top Goals of State Sovereignty, Voter Integrity, and Education
Monday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed Laurie Cardoza-Moore from Proclaiming Justice to the Nations and TN63 GOP Candidate to the newsmaker line to discuss her top priorities of voting integrity, education, and state sovereignty.
Read the full storyTennessee House of Representatives Candidate for District 35 William Slater Talks About His Passion for Education, Background, and Why He’s Running
Tuesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed District 35 candidate for the Tennessee House of Representatives, William Slater in studio to talk about his education, background, and why he’s running for public office.
Read the full storyAttorney and Candidate for TN-61, Gino Bulso: It’s Time for Tenth Amendment States to ‘Bring a Case Before the U.S. Supreme Court Under Its Original Jurisdiction’
Thursday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed successful attorney Gino Bulso in studio to talk about why he’s running for the Tennessee House of Representatives in the 61st District.
Read the full storyCountry Music Star John Rich Endorses Jody Barrett for State Representative
Tuesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy, conservative country music star John Rich endorsed Jody Barrett for State Representative.
Barrett is running for Tennessee State House District 69 in the Republican primary, which is scheduled to occur on August 4.
Read the full storyTennessee Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton Talks Upcoming Priorities and Redistricting
Thursday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton to the newsmakers line to discuss top priorities and redistricting.
Read the full storyTennessee Representative Terri Lynn Weaver Talks Voting No on Ford and What Her Constituents Really Want
Wednesday morning on the Tennessee Star Report, host Michael Patrick Leahy welcomed Tennessee State Representative Terri Lynn Weaver to the newsmakers line to explain her no vote on the Blue Oval City project and what her constituents want.
Read the full storyTennessee House Speaker Sexton on Letter to Governor Lee Asking for Special Session Over Mask Mandates and Vaccine Passports
Thursday morning on the Tennessee Star Report, host Michael Patrick Leahy welcomed Speaker Cameron Sexton to the newsmakers line to weigh in on his current letter to Governor Bill Lee requesting a special session to debate COVID mandates in the state.
Read the full storyFormer Tennessee House Speaker Beth Harwell on Her Future and the Future of America
Thursday morning on the Tennessee Star Report, host Michael Patrick Leahy welcomed former Tennessee House Speaker Beth Harwell in studio to talk about her future aspirations and the direction of the country.
Read the full storyTennessee Stands Gary Humble Describes His Visits to the Tennessee Capitol Hill as a Grassroots Activist
Thursday morning on the Tennessee Star Report, host Michael Patrick Leahy welcomed Tennessee Stands Gary Humble to the studio to outline what it’s like being a grassroots activist visiting Tennessee’s State Capitol and talking with legislators.
Read the full storyTennessee State Rep. Jerry Sexton Joins Leahy in Studio to Discuss His Background and a Typical Day in the House
Thursday morning on the Tennessee Star Report, host Michael Patrick Leahy welcomed TN. (R) State Representative Jerry Sexton to the studio to discuss his background and a typical day in the Tennessee House of Representatives.
Read the full storyTennessee Elections Ahead of November 3
With three days until Election Day, voting turnouts far surpassed 2016 records for early voting. Turnout jumped from about 273,000 the first day to nearly 2.3 million in under two weeks.
These numbers represent over half of Tennessee’s registered voters. More ballots are still forthcoming.
Tennessee General Assembly Primary Results
While there were 115 Tennessee General Assembly seats open for Thursday’s primary, most went uncontested. In fact, there was just a fractional 36 primaries yielding some surprising results.
In the Senate, all of the incumbents won their primary bid.
In the House, Representatives Micah Van Huss and Matthew Hill both lost their primaries. Coupled with Representative Timothy Hill leaving the House to run in the U.S. House District 1 Republican primary, which he also lost, the representation of the northeast corner of the state will undergo dramatic changes.
Read the full storyBREAKING: Speaker Glen Casada Announces Resignation Effective August 2, 2019 at 8 AM
Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada indicated a few weeks ago that he would be resigning from his position as Speaker and would determine a timetable for the effective date of his resignation when he returned from a long-planned overseas vacation on June 3. Casada initiated discussions about a specific resignation date with Republican leaders on June 3. Casada then met with Legislative leaders again on June 4th before issuing a resignation letter effective August 2 at 8 am. In his letter he requests that Governor Bill Lee call a Special Session on that date to conduct “legislative business,” and that while the Legislature is assembled the House “may take up the procedural matter of electing a new Speaker to lead the chamber.” Based on the timeline that Casada has recommended in his letter, Speaker Pro Tem Bill Dunn (R – Knoxville) would only serve as Speaker for a few hours unless he is elected as Speaker during the Special Session after Casada’s resignation becomes effective. However, the Governor and Legislature could choose to avoid a Special Session and simply allow Dunn to succeed Casada pending an election of a new Speaker at a later date. Or, the Governor could…
Read the full storyEthics Committee Legal Counsel Disputes Claims by Rep. Mike Carter Regarding Ethics Meetings
Earlier this month Representative Mike Carter (R-Ooltewah) complained about a series of meetings held with individual members of the House Ethics Committee, Chaired by Rep. Matthew Hill (R-Jonesboro), on Monday May 13. The meetings were held in an effort to develop an approved advisory opinion regarding certain facts surrounding alleged actions of House Speaker Glen Casada (R-Franklin). Chairman Hill later indicated that the meetings with individual members of the Ethics Committee were necessary in view of the quickly developing story and the need to get input from members within a timeline that did not permit a full meeting. Carter claimed the development of an advisory opinion that had been requested by Casada was part of an attempt by Casada, through Hill, to protect his speakership. Carter said of his meeting with Hill and two of the Committee’s legal counsel: “my concern with the meeting is that it shows a heart for misrepresentation and political maneuvering to save the requestor’s office even at a loss of reputation and integrity of the House Ethics Committee. This is the most egregious act I have been made aware of.” Carter also implied that Casada was attempting to “rig and predetermine” action by the…
Read the full storyState Rep. London Lamar Reportedly Nominated to Chair Shelby County Democratic Party
State Rep. London Lamar, D-Memphis, wants to chair the Shelby County Democratic Party, according to The Daily Memphian. Someone recently nominated Lamar for the position, the paper went on to say. “I decided to run because I was asked by several elected officials and Democratic officials to help us to put our party in a position to thrive in 2020,” The Daily Memphian reported. “We had a landslide election in 2018. We wanted to make sure we could provide the county party leadership to continue to build on those victories – not only to maintain our power here in Memphis, but to be in a position to lead the state to a Democratic win in 2020.” Lamar reportedly revived the Shelby County Young Democrats organization and is currently finishing up her term as chair of the Tennessee Young Democrats organization, the website said. Lamar is one of two contenders for the position, The Daily Memphian reported. As The Tennessee Star reported last year, Lamar generated international attention after she declared in November, shortly after her election to the Tennessee House of Representatives that “Tennessee is a racist state,” as The Tennessee Star reported: … Lamar live streamed a 15-minute rant on Facebook…
Read the full storyThe Tennessee Star Report: State Rep. Robin Smith Discusses Her Position on the Fetal Heartbeat Bill and the Escalation of Violent Protesters at the Capitol
In a discussion on Thursday morning’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 – host Steve Gill talked exclusively with Robin Smith who is a former cardiac nurse and current State Representative. Smith chatted with long time friend and host Gill about her view on the Heartbeat Bill. Towards the end of the segment, Gill and Smith touched upon the recent the odd disposition of some Bishops in regards to the Heartbeat Bill and the Tennessee Right for Life group. Smith ended the show by giving Gill a visual version of what happened to Glen Casada last week at the Tennessee Capitol when the Speaker was assaulted by now two time offender, Justin Jones. Gill: State Representative Robin Smith former Republican party chairman in Tennessee and legislator from down in the Chattanooga area. She’s on our news makers line with us right now. Robin good to have you with us. Smith: Good morning, how are you this morning? Gill: Good and you guys are going to go into session here in about an hour and a half. And this is one of the first bills…
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