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House, Senate approve opposing court plans to hear redistricting, constitutional challenges
Republicans say it’s necessary to move statewide legal decisions out of Davidson County. Democrats contend it is “sausage making” and “court packing” at its worst. Either way, the House voted 68-23 to create a three-member statewide appellate court – to be appointed by the governor – to hear redistricting cases and constitutional challenges to state […]
House, Senate at odds over bill withholding funds from school districts that teach systemic racism
After a far-flung debate that touched on everything from the Three-Fifths Compromise to the Holocaust, the House passed legislation Tuesday that would allow the state to punish school districts if a teacher delves into systemic racism in America. But the bill is tied up in a disagreement between the House and Senate. In the final […]
Kelsey bill limiting lawsuits against state still in trouble
Legislation by state Sen. Brian Kelsey prohibiting local governments from suing the state continues to hit opposition within his own party. The Senate voted 14-14 last week to kill an amendment by the Germantown Republican, which he hoped to tack on to Senate Bill 915, a measure that already aligns with House Bill 1072. That […]
Stockard on the Stump: Comptroller defends invitation to Memphis office
Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury Jason Mumpower, still in his first year, is set to celebrate the opening of a new field office in Memphis where investigators are expanding operations to make sure the government is spending money properly. No doubt, Tennesseans don’t like graft and correction. Well, at least some don’t. The perceived problem, […]
House, Senate put $2M in $42.6B budget for super-chancery court
Despite questions about establishing a super-chancery court, the Legislature put $2.4 million to fund the new judiciary in its $42.6 billion budget for fiscal 2021-22, raising concerns about a continual slap in the face of Davidson County. Legislation establishing the three-judge panel to hear constitutional challenges to Tennessee laws is scheduled Monday in House and […]
Murfreesboro attorney wants full accounting from mayor
A Murfreesboro attorney is asking the Tennessee Registry of Election Finance to require Rutherford County Mayor Bill Ketron to explain illegal and undocumented contributions to his campaign or be prevented from seeking re-election. Brad Hornsby, an attorney with Bulloch, Fly, Hornsby & Evans in Murfreesboro, sent a letter Tuesday to Bill Young, executive director of […]
Former chief justice says judicial bill raises questions
Former Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice William Koch is scratching his head over legislation enabling the state to bypass court injunctions for laws facing constitutional challenges. “I’m not exactly sure what the statute is designed to fix,” Koch said, the day after the House passed a bill that would ensure state laws take effect even if […]
Governor sees end of COVID-19 state of emergency coming soon
Gov. Bill Lee partially lifted a 13-month-long state of emergency Tuesday, announcing the end of public health orders and signing an executive order dealing with economic and regulatory functions. The governor all but declared the end of the COVID-19 pandemic as a health threat. He removed the ability of mayors in 89 of 95 counties […]
Senate defeats amendment prohibiting local challenges of state law
The House took a step Monday toward making the Legislature legally invincible, but the Senate turned back a measure in its version of the legislation that would have prohibited local governments from suing the state. That 14-14 vote defeating an amendment by Sen. Brian Kelsey effectively put the legislation on hold until Wednesday when the […]
Legislative control over governor’s emergency powers in limbo
Legislation stopping the governor from issuing a state of emergency for more than 60 days is meeting different fates in the Senate and House this year. On one hand, bills shifting authority to county mayors and school boards away from public health boards, mainly in Tennessee’s six largest counties with independent health departments, have drawn […]
Stockard on the Stump: House Democrats keep Windle from defecting
Already battling for numbers, the House Democratic Caucus kept Rep. John Mark Windle from bolting during an hour-long, closed meeting Thursday. When you’ve got only 26 of 99 House members and constantly scratch and claw for the smallest of victories, losing one vote could mean the world, especially when Windle – who is said to […]
Tennessee Justice Center, families file lawsuit over TennCare block grant
A group of 13 Medicaid recipients represented by Tennessee Justice Center and two other groups filed suit Thursday in U.S. District Court challenging federal approval of a TennCare block grant through 2030. “The hardships experienced by the plaintiffs who brought this case show the harm caused by the state’s decision to radically restructure TennCare. Tennessee […]