Politics

Tennessee State Capitol. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Tennessee kicks off budget season with experts predicting stagnant revenues

BY: - November 7, 2023

The days of skyrocketing tax revenues are likely over, multiple budget experts told Tennessee’s panel in charge of predicting revenue growth. The financial experts predict the state and national economy will grow but at a slower pace over the next two years. This, combined with the state’s business tax cuts enacted earlier this year, will […]

Members of the Tennessee House of Representatives greeting each other on opening day of session. Jan. 9, 2023.(Photo: John Partipilo)

Tennessee Legislature releases schedule for hearings on rejecting federal education money

BY: - November 3, 2023

Tennessee’s special committee to study the use and potential rejection of nearly $2 billion in federal education dollars will meet five times, receiving input from seven different groups, at its hearings scheduled to start Monday. Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, and Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridged created the committee in September to study […]

(Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

In Montgomery County, district attorney prosecutes ten people for voter fraud

BY: - November 3, 2023

Ten people have been indicted, arrested and are being prosecuted in Clarksville on charges of voter fraud.  The charges allege the people knew they weren’t entitled to vote or to register to vote because of a past felony conviction, but did so  anyway. That’s also a felony, and if convicted, they could be sentenced to […]

A poll worker in Williamson County, photographed during the 2022 early voting period. (Photo: Tennessee Lookout)

State and local election workers quitting amid abuse, officials tell U.S. Senate panel

BY: - November 2, 2023

State and local election officials face threats and intimidation, driving experienced workers out of the profession, a panel of election officials told a U.S. Senate committee Wednesday. Conspiracy theories have fueled a more hostile environment for election workers, which has led many to quit, creating more challenges for the inexperienced new leaders, the top election […]

The Tennessee General Assembly took control of the Metro Nashville Airport Authority from the city in 2023. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Court strikes down state law creating new Nashville airport board

BY: - October 31, 2023

Metro Nashville’s original board governing the city’s international airport is back in charge after a three-judge panel ruled state lawmakers attempt to create a new one was unconstitutional. “The new board is vacated, and the old board is reinstated,” the judges wrote in a 34-page unanimous ruling. Earlier this year, state Republican lawmakers passed several […]

Sen. Bo Watson, R-Hixson, chair of the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee, talks to colleagues about a forecasted slowdown in state revenue. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Tennessee’s budget sees the impact of tax cuts and no new untapped revenue sources 

BY: - October 31, 2023

Two things have driven Tennessee’s massive rise in state revenues over the past five years: the ability to collect taxes on internet sales and an enormous growth in franchise and excise tax collections.  But as the online sales tax money becomes a normal part of the state budget and lawmakers’ 2023 franchise and excise tax […]

Former Republican representative Glen Casada, photographed in 2022. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Ex-speaker, chief of staff claim federal charges “vague” enough to dismiss

BY: - October 31, 2023

Former House Speaker Glen Casada and his chief of staff, Cade Cothren, are seeking dismissal of federal charges in a corruption probe, claiming they are “vague and unconstitutional.” The filings by Casada and Cothren in U.S. District Court claim “‘deprivation of the intangible right to honest services’ theory of fraud prosecutions has been expanded and […]

House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, opposes extension of TennCare’s primary contracts as part of a continued effort to award a separate health-care company a contract after it lost a bid. (Photo: John Partipilo)

House Republicans push for delay of TennCare’s main contracts

BY: - October 30, 2023

Tennessee’s House speaker is opposing extension of TennCare’s primary contracts as part of a continued effort to award a separate health-care company suing the state after it lost a contract bid two years ago.  The Tennessee Legislature’s Fiscal Review Committee delayed a vote on extending TennCare’s primary contracts as House Republican leaders sought more time […]

(Getty Images)

Fayette County educator Civil Miller-Watkins enters Democratic primary for 2024 Tenn. U.S. Senate

BY: - October 26, 2023

Former Fayette County Public Schools board member Civil Miller-Watkins joined Tennessee’s 2024 Senate race, adding another name to the list of Democratic nominee hopefuls. Miller-Watkins filed her statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission on Oct. 4 after floating the prospect of a run in the summer. She said her experience in a rural […]

A Knoxville City Council meeting. (Photo: City of Knoxville)

In November runoffs, Knoxville voters have three competitive races

BY: - October 26, 2023

The upcoming Knoxville municipal runoff election includes three competitive races, one of which could reshape a city institution that has long been the purview of one man. The other features  familiar names in the real estate development game attempting to make the jump to city council. The voters will decide whether a developer’s mindset is […]

Franklin, Tenn. Mayor Ken Moore. with his wife, Linda, acknowledges his landslide victory on Nov 24, 2023. (Phot: John Partipilo)

Franklin incumbent Mayor Ken Moore wins in landslide after hostile race

BY: - October 24, 2023

Franklin Mayor Ken Moore defeated alderman Gabrielle Hanson in a suburban Middle Tennessee mayor’s race that drew unusually high attention after Hanson refused to denounce support from a group of neo-Nazis.  Moore won 80% of the vote compared to Hanson’s 20%. He was helped by a significant turnout which saw 16,209 ballots cast in the […]

U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., leaves a House Republican conference meeting in the Longworth House Office Building on Capitol Hill on Oct. 24, 2023 in Washington, D.C. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Mike Johnson of Louisiana picked as newest GOP nominee for U.S. House speaker

BY: and - October 24, 2023

WASHINGTON — U.S. House Republicans late Tuesday voted to tap Louisiana’s Mike Johnson as speaker after the GOP nominee from earlier in the day was tanked. Johnson, 51, is the fourth Republican nominee attempting to break the deadlock in the lower chamber that has been leaderless and frozen for three weeks. He is the second […]