Dear friend,
Thank you to everyone who made it out to our “Coffee with Clemmons” event at Thistle Stop Café before my first day on the Hill.  Over 100 residents of District 55 and others came out to this great local business to wish my family well and talk about issues of importance.  I look forward to making this an annual event on the first day of session.   
With my family by my side and one son in my arms, I was sworn into office with my House colleagues at noon on Tuesday, January 13, 2015.  We immediately got to work on our weeklong organizational session that ran from Tuesday through Saturday afternoon.  During the weeklong session, we unanimously reelected Rep. Beth Harwell of Nashville to serve as Speaker of the House.  I was happy to start the session off on a positive, bipartisan note by supporting Speaker Harwell.  I also had the pleasure of escorting District 55 resident Justin P. Wilson into the House chambers after his reelection during a joint session to serve as Comptroller of the Treasury.   David Lillard was reelected to serve as State Treasurer.  
On our last day of the organizational session, Governor Bill Haslam again took the oath of office to serve as our Governor.  Following the inauguration, we again convened on the House floor where Speaker Harwell announced our committee assignments for the 109th General Assembly.  I was proud to be appointed to serve on the House Health Committee, Health Subcommittee and the Government Operations Committee.  I have yet to be notified to what Government Operations subcommittee I have been assigned.
As most of you know, the Governor has called for an “extraordinary session” to convene on February 2, 2015 for the purpose of debating and passing his Insure Tennessee proposal.  I look forward to playing a key role in the Insure Tennessee debate during this upcoming special session when the proposal comes before the Health Committee.
During the short break before the upcoming session, I have enjoyed the time to stay active in the community, visiting neighborhood meetings in Belmont-Hillsboro and Sylvan Park.  On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, I had the opportunity to march down Jefferson Street with Vanderbilt Chancellor Nicholas Zeppos, Judge Melissa Blackburn, Representatives Brenda Gilmore and Harold Love, Jr. and many more leaders from our community.  It was especially great to see over 100 young men and women from Vanderbilt and TSU marching with us.  Among other events that holiday morning, I had the pleasure of meeting with State Fire Marshal Gary West and volunteers for the “Get Alarmed Tennessee” event in The Nations neighborhood.  Volunteers went door to door in The Nations installing free smoke alarms and planning exit strategies for families in their homes.  Many thanks to the Nashville Red Cross, the HCA Foundation and the TN Department of Commerce & Insurance for their work on this program that has saved over 70 lives thus far in Tennessee.
For pictures of recent events, please visit my website’s media page. 
Please remember to visit our newly revamped website.  It is regularly updated to keep you informed of my actions and events on and off the hill and also provide you with convenient links to state resources.   You can sign up for this newsletter there as well.  My goal is to keep you as informed as possible and offer any assistance that I am able to provide.
Regards, 
John Ray
IN THE NEWS
I recently authored an op-ed about my reasons for supporting Insure Tennessee.  It was published in today’s Tennessean and can be found online here.  
IN THE CAPITOL
The House Convenes
House Committees begin meeting this week.
The 109th General Assembly convenes for an “extraordinary session” on Monday, February 2, 2015 to begin debating Insure Tennessee.
Sponsored Legislation
I am finalizing several pieces of legislation that I intend to introduce in the 109th General Assembly.  More information will be provided soon.   I am also reviewing several of my colleagues’ bills that I may co-sponsor.
IN OTHER NEWS
Haslam making 6 more stops this week on Insure Tenn. tour
The Associated Press, 1/26/15
NASHVILLE — Republican Gov. Bill Haslam is making six more stops around the state to promote his Insure Tennessee plan to extend health coverage to more than 200,000 low-income people.
Harwell shakes up House committees
Knoxville News Sentinel, 1/17/15
House Speaker Beth Harwell has named seven new committee chairmen for the 109th General Assembly — four replacing chairmen who served last session, two replacing retired lawmakers and one to lead a newly created panel.
Nashville Predators are scary good and here are six reasons to believe it
Sports Illustrated, 1/22/15
For the first time in franchise history, the Predators aren't lovable. They're scary. And they're good enough to make a deep postseason run.
MTA Chief:  Downtown growth played big role in halting Amp
Nashville Business Journal, 1/22/15
While the most vocal opponents centered along West End Avenue, Bland said the project's planned design through downtown Nashville played a large role is his decision to halt the Amp.
Nashville MTA:  Amp is dead
The Tennessean, 1/22/2015
Metro Transit Authority CEO Steve Bland recommended to his board Thursday that detailed design on the Amp come to an end — a final stamp of defeat three months after Dean announced he would not seek capital construction funds for the $174 million project during his final term in office.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Insure Tennessee Event w/ Governor Haslam
Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center , 230 Dover Road, Clarksville, TN
Tuesday, January 27th  1:30 pm  
Cocktails & Conversation:  A Discussion about Amendment 1 and Where We Go From Here
The Mad Platter, 1239 6th Ave North
Wednesday, January 28th  5:30 – 7:30 pm  
Legislative Panel Discussion about Insure Tennessee
Junior League of Nashville, 2202 Crestmoor Road
Thursday, January 29th  7:00 pm  
Special Session for Insure Tennessee
State Capitol
Convenes on Monday, February 2, 2015  
Click here for a list of more upcoming events.
DISTRICT 55 EVENTS*
Meet the Teachers Night – Waverly-Belmont Elementary
Martin Development Center at Eakin - Fairfax Avenue
Monday, January 26th  6:00-7:00 pm  
*If you have a civic event in District 55 that you would like to have included in Working For You, please let us know.   Space is limited, but we will try to accommodate all requests.  
Friends of John Ray Clemmons, Dana T. Cary, Treasurer
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