|
Dear Friend,
As you all know, Insure Tennessee was unceremoniously killed last week during our special session. It was certainly a disheartening experience for those of us who supported the Governor’s proposal and believe that Tennesseans deserve access to quality, affordable healthcare. Unlike many of my colleagues, I at least got the opportunity to participate in an “informational hearing” in the House Health Committee, on which I serve, before the session prematurely ended. During the hearing, I was honored to witness the testimony of individuals whose lives are directly affected by the current “coverage gap” that Insure Tennessee sought to address, at least in part. My public statement on the Insure Tennessee’s failure can be found here. A follow-up statement about how Lt. Gov. Ramsey stacked the Senate’s ad hoc Health and Welfare Committee to ensure the bill’s failure is here. We still have the opportunity to stand up for Tennessee’s working poor and veterans and pass a bill during the regular session, and I will continue working tirelessly towards this end. With the regular session convening this week and our bill filing deadline rapidly approaching on Thursday, I am finalizing legislation that I intend to introduce and strategically searching for sponsors in the Senate. More details will follow, but some of the issues on which I am focusing are pay equality, mass transit and mental healthcare. Many thanks to the Womens’ Political Caucus and the League of Women Voters for inviting me to speak at events in recent weeks and to the Mad Platter and the Junior League of Nashville for hosting. For pictures of recent events, please visit my website’s media page. On the eve of the special session, I was assigned to a legislative office and a legislative assistant was assigned to me. Ms. Debra Webb will be working with me, and I am excited that the residents of District 55 and I get to benefit from her experience and professionalism. All of my legislative office contact information can be found here. 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. Sincerely, John Ray
| |
| IN THE NEWS What the transit issue is really about. The Tennessean, Keel Hunt, Feb. 8, 2015
Lawmakers take Tennessee backwards with Insure Tennessee vote. The Tennessean, Congressman Jim Cooper, Feb. 8, 2015 Insure Tennessee’s swift failure surprises Haslam. The Tennesseean, Dave Boucher, Feb. 7, 2015 Beacon Center provides questionable testimony to House and Senate committees. Pith In The Wind, Bruce Barry, Feb. 4, 2015 Editorial board bus meeting a start to future solutions. The Tennessean, David Plazas, Feb. 7, 2015 In a Florida courtroom, Nashville lawyers are fighting in the last great tobacco war. Nashville Scene, Steve Cavendish, Feb. 4, 2015 All bets are off in Nashville’s mayoral race. The Tennessean, Joey Garrison, January 31, 2015 Google Fiber is coming to Nashville. Nashville Post, Kelly Boothe, January 27, 2015 Hillwood cheerleaders making history with trip to nationals. WSMV, Feb. 2, 2015 Nashville Predators host Parks and Recreation friends and family ticket specials. Learn about the West Meade Waterfall, one of district 55’s unique natural treasures, here. Again, my op-ed about my reasons for supporting Insure Tennessee can be found online here. IN THE CAPITOL The Special Session Convenes and Adjourns On Feb. 2, 2015, the state legislature convened for a special session called by Governor Bill Haslam to debate and vote on Insure Tennessee. The governor addressed a joint session of the Tennessee General Assembly that evening. Less than 48 hours later, an ad hoc Senate Health and Welfare Committee voted the proposal down by a 7-4 vote. The House sponsor moved to immediately take the bill off notice in the House Insurance and Commerce Committee and the House subsequently adjourned, thus ending the special session. The House Convenes for Regular Legislative Session The House will convene this evening. The filing deadline for legislation is this Thursday, February 12, 2015.
| |
|
| UPCOMING EVENTS Board of Regents Legislative Luncheon Tennessee College of Applied Technology Senator Doug Henry Building, 100 White Bridge Road Monday, February 9th 12:30 – 1:30 pm Legislative Session Convenes State Capitol Monday, February 9, 2015 Belmont-Hillsboro Neighborhood Association Meeting Offices of Village Real Estate, 21st Avenue South Monday, February 9th 6:30 pm
Sylvan Park Neighborhood Association Meeting Cohn Adult Learning Center Monday, February 9th 7:00 pm The Nations Neighborhood Association Meeting St. Luke’s Community House Tuesday, February 10th 6:30 pm Click here for a list of more upcoming events.
| |
| DISTRICT 55 EVENTS* Waverly-Belmont School Kindergarten Registration Open House Midtown Fellowship, 2415 12th Avenue South Saturday, February 21st 8:00 am - 2:00 pm Fight for Freedom – an exhibit highlighting American stories from the collections of Rev. James Lawson and others who put their lives on the line for freedom. Items range from Federalist Papers dating back to the American Revolution through recent memorabilia of the Occupy Nashville protests. Vanderbilt Heard Central Library Exhibit runs through April 2015 Valentine’s Day February 14, 2015 I encourage you to visit any of District 55’s many restaurants and businesses to celebrate this holiday. Three Woman Art Exhibit - Carolyn Riess-Dodson exhibits a body of abstract impressionist work, Nancy Boyd Johnson shows various digital artworks with a botanical theme and Jane McGinnis-Glynn exhibits various samples of ceramic sculpture. Metro Parks Centennial Art Center February 6 – March 25, 2015 (Mon-Thurs. from 9am-5pm) *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.
| |
|
