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TennCare legislation requires renewal with providers that didn’t win contracts
Insurance conglomerate Centene, which has spent more than $1 billion to settle Medicaid lawsuits across the nation, could still get a shot at a TennCare contract it failed to win. The bill’s sponsor wants to make sure TennCare recipients enrolled in a Medicare-Medicaid program are able to stay with their insurance carriers, including Centene and two […]
Registry board seeks order on Cothren’s subpoena objection
The Tennessee Registry of Election Finance is requesting a court order requiring Cade Cothren to explain why he refused to show up when subpoenaed to testify about a political action committee. Represented by the State Attorney General’s office, the Registry board filed its request April 22 in Davidson County Chancery Court versus Cothren, the former […]
Lieutenant governor slams critics of ethics reform bill
In the waning days of the 112th General Assembly, Lt. Gov. Randy McNally is blasting opponents of his ethics reform legislation, accusing them of lying about the bill and even questioning whether they are “grifters.” “There are many blatant untruths circulating regarding the ethics reform bill Speaker (Cameron) Sexton and I have introduced,” McNally said […]
Stockard on the Stump: Are you ready for some funding?
The fix was in. Outsiders might have thought a $500 million state bond issue to help the Titans build a domed stadium was doomed after the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee removed the governor’s plan from its budget, then the full Senate passed a $52.8 billion budget package early Thursday without this carrot. The […]
Truth-in-sentencing, K-12 funding, Titans stadium part of talks in $52.8B state budget plan
A truth-in-sentencing bill pushed by the House and Senate speakers, along with a K-12 funding plan and $500 million in state bonds for a new Titans stadium are the focal points of negotiations as the two chambers prepare to consider different $52.8 billion budget plans Thursday. The House and Senate are expected to take up […]
Tennessee lieutenant governor urges Niceley to be “more careful” after anti-Semitic remark
Lt. Gov. Randy McNally is calling on Sen. Frank Niceley to be more cautious with his verbiage after congressional candidate Morgan Ortagus lashed out at the Strawberry Plains Republican for making an anti-Semitic comment. “While I do not believe that Frank Niceley is anti-Semitic in his heart, his recent comments were clearly insensitive. I am […]
Stockard on the Stump: Ethics reform could affect governor’s cabinet
Part of the legislation designed to shed more light on finances in Tennessee political circles would add the governor’s cabinet members to the list of people prohibited from running consulting businesses on the side. And while some folks say that is already a state law, apparently it’s not being followed. Thus, it’s among comprehensive changes […]
State Supreme Court overrules decision blocking Senate redistricting plan
The Tennessee Supreme Court lifted an injunction against a state Senate redistricting plan, allowing the election process to continue as scheduled. In reversing a decision by a three-judge panel, the Supreme Court stated, “We conclude that the trial court erred by granting the injunction because it failed to adequately consider the harm the injunction will […]
Representative continues business with shadowy campaign vendor in midst of investigations
Despite a federal probe into House corruption, Rep. Todd Warner continued doing business with an Alabama campaign vendor linked to two other entities caught up in FBI and state investigations. Warner, a Chapel Hill Republican seeking re-election to a second term, purchased more than $6,000 in advertising services this February from Dixieland Strategies, according to […]
House Speaker backs ethics bill to bring expenses ‘from the dark into the light’
House Speaker Cameron Sexton extolled disclosure requirements in an ethics reform bill Tuesday and questioned the motives of groups opposed to the legislation, mainly 501(c)4 organizations that can shower “dark money” on campaigns in the final two months of an election. Armed with the authority to participate in all House committee meetings, Sexton made a […]
Tennessee Cold Case Office opens at Cordell Hull
Four years after the General Assembly passed legislation creating a cold case office to delve into decades-old civil rights crimes, the office opened its doors in the Cordell Hull Building. Legislation signed by former Gov. Bill Haslam in May 2018 created the Tennessee Civil Rights Crimes, Information, Reconciliation, and Research Center, in addition to mandating […]