....I cheered up and sure enough, things got worse.
During the Thursday House floor session, Rep. Justin Jones and Rep. Justin Pearson were both on the floor, having been re-seated by their local governments. When Rep. John Ragan presented his bill, HB1376, which had already passed the Senate 26-6, both representatives became very vocal in their opposition. [You can go to the VIDEO HERE, and move the slide over to 1:21:20 if you are interested in seeing the debate.] There are very strict, long-time rules about what the legislator can do and not do when a bill is being debated - the most important is that the questions have to be about the bill. This is not the time to take up other subjects, or just vent about treatment, or anything else. Speaker Sexton was very patient with both men, but he did enforce the reasonable rules....repeatedly....including calling down Jones for personal attacks on Rep. Ragan. The Assistant House Clerk, Daniel Hicks, was called on by the speaker to read the appropriate rules more than I have ever seen. He was well prepared and did an excellent job. A House member "called the question' which 'cuts off all debate' to prepare for the final vote on the bill. Well, that created a huge debate that went on and on with the Speaker having to continue to have the Clerk read the rules, and maintain order. Finally, the final vote was taken on HB1376 and it passed 73-25: Representatives voting aye were: Alexander, Barrett, Baum, Boyd, Bricken, Bulso, Burkhart, Butler, Campbell S, Capley, Carr, Carringer, Cepicky, Cochran, Crawford, Darby, Davis, Doggett, Eldridge, Faison, Farmer, Fritts, Gant, Garrett, Grills, Hale, Haston, Hawk, Hazlewood, Helton-Haynes, Hicks G, Hicks T, Holsclaw, Howell, Hulsey, Hurt, Johnson C, Keisling, Kumar, Lafferty, Lamberth, Leatherwood, Littleton, Lynn, Marsh, Martin B, Martin G, McCalmon, Moody, Moon, Powers, Ragan, Raper, Reedy, Richey, Rudd, Rudder, Russell, Sherrell, Slater, Sparks, Stevens, Terry, Todd, Travis, Vaughan, Vital, Warner, White, Williams, Wright, Zachary, Mr. Speaker Sexton -- 73. Representatives voting no were: Beck, Camper, Chism, Clemmons, Dixie, Freeman, Gillespie, Glynn, Hakeem, Hardaway, Harris, Hemmer, Jernigan, Johnson G, Jones, Love, McKenzie, Miller, Mitchell, Parkinson, Pearson, Powell, Shaw, Thompson, Towns -- 25.
DELAYED BILLS COMMITTEE Each legislative year, there is a 'bill cut off' day (this year it was in early February) indicating the final day to file bills for the annual session.
On Thursday, April 13th, some Democrats filed five bills. So those bills had to be heard by the Delayed Bills Committee, which met just after the House floor session was over. HB1574 was not approved HB1575 was taken off notice HB1576 was taken off notice HB1577 was taken off notice HB1578 was taken off notice
Expelled Memphis lawmaker credits student activists as he wins reappointment to Tennessee House
By Laura Testino Apr 12, 2023, 7:48pm CDT
Memphis high schooler Carolina Calvo skipped school Wednesday, joined hundreds of marchers, and took pictures as local officials made the historic vote to reappoint a state lawmaker to his seat.
For Carolina and her older sister Anna Calvo, the expulsion hearings, culminating in the ouster of the House’s two youngest Black members, represented hopelessness and defeat.
Now both lawmakers have regained their positions — Jones reappointed on Monday by Nashville’s Metro Council, and Pearson voted in 7-0 by the Shelby County Commission, as demonstrators in the chamber cheered. Pearson is expected to be back in his legislative seat on Thursday, rejoining Johnson and Jones.
“Today, there’s just a lot more hope in the room,” Carolina said Wednesday after the vote on Pearson.
Pearson, who became a student activist at age 15 in the quest for a proper textbook, said student activism continues to play a role in his career, right up to his reappointment.
“Students and young people lead all movements,” he told Chalkbeat after his reappointment. “This movement is no different, and the movement to end gun violence and the justice that we will have will be because of young people and students and college students who say that the status quo must change.”
Carolina, a 16-year-old sophomore, and Anna, an 18-year-old senior, were among student organizers at Memphis’ Crosstown High School who walked out of class in support of gun reform earlier this month. Anna joined youth protesters at the Tennessee Capitol building, and witnessed part of Jones’ expulsion hearing.
"My name is Justin Jones. I’m a 26 year-old community organizer, been arrested over 14 times for good trouble, and I look forward to serving as the next state representative of District 52 (the most diverse district in TN)".
‘There is no legislation’: As TN governor calls for gun reform, no GOP lawmakers say they’re working on it by: Adam Mintzer Posted: Apr 12, 2023 / 09:57 PM CDT Updated: Apr 13, 2023 / 04:59 AM CDT
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — On Tuesday, Gov. Bill Lee stood alone as he asked for lawmakers to pass a bill to keep guns away from dangerous people. However, it isn’t clear who is working to write that legislation.
News 2 asked every Republican lawmaker after the governor’s announcement who is drafting the “Order of Protection” law, but no one said they were working on it.
“To my knowledge, no bill has been drafted. I am not willing to express support for or opposition to a bill that I have not seen,” said Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R—Franklin) in a statement.
House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R—Crossville) said it is being worked on but offered no additional specifics.
“We are aware of several members who are drafting legislation on this issue but haven’t seen the language yet,” said his spokesperson in a statement.
In a video posted on social media, Rep. Jason Zachary (R—Knoxville) echoed his colleagues’ remarks.
Tennessee AG Jonathan Skrmetti Joins Coalition to Defend Democracy & Women's Health in Court
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti has joined 18 state attorneys general in filing an amicus brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in the case of Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The coalition argues that the Biden Administration's attempt to make the abortion-inducing drug mifepristone widely available through the mail violates both federal and state laws. The coalition argues that current federal criminal law prohibits the distribution of abortion-inducing drugs through the mail. General Skrmetti stated that the administration's actions attacked the separation of powers at the core of the constitutional system.
Texas District Court Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk recently stated that the FDA had acquiesced on its legitimate safety concerns, violating its statutory duty, based on unsound reasoning and studies that did not support its conclusions. The coalition states that the Biden Administration has worked to undermine the democratic process and impose an elective-abortion policy that it could never achieve through democratic means.
The coalition concludes that the district court's decisive action was warranted, and this court should deny any stay relief. General Skrmetti was joined in this effort by attorneys general from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming. The coalition argues that abortion is a matter of state law, and Tennesseans have chosen to prohibit elective abortions and regulate the use of abortion-inducing drugs such as mifepristone.
