IN THE NEWS
Money, tempers flare over vouchers in House committee
Freshman Rep. John Ray Clemmons had decided to make his stand against vouchers in the Government Operations Committee. Sensing a cold wind blowing from Republicans who cut short debate on the guns-in-parks bill on the House floor Monday night, he said now was his chance to put on the record his opposition to vouchers. “I’m concerned about what rules are going to be put in place to replace the dollars that are being stolen from our public school systems by this bill,” Clemmons said.
Gov. Haslam expected to sign TN abortion restriction bills into law
Tennessee abortion opponents' 15-year quest to restore restrictions struck down by the state Supreme Court is on the verge of victory, with Republican Gov. Bill Haslam virtually guaranteed to sign into law two bills dealing with the issue….
Rep. John Ray Clemmons, a Nashville Democrat and attorney, spent his time making legal arguments and offering amendments to prepare for a possible federal court challenge. He offered one that would have allowed women to meet the physician counseling provision via use of telemedicine and communicating visually over the Internet. Clemmons told the chamber he had reservations about offering the amendment because it would probably help the bill survive a court challenge. The amendment failed, as did all the Democrats' amendments. "The ultimate effect of this is putting an obstacle in the path of a woman seeking to exercise her constitutional right to an abortion," Clemmons charged.
Democrats were furious when majority Republicans cut off debate and brought the bill up for a vote.
Haslam anticipated to sign two abortion bills
Two abortion measures are now headed to the governor's desk after the Tennessee House voted 79-18 in favor of requiring a 48-hour waiting period for women seeking an abortion after in-person counseling by a physician and 79-17 for new regulations of abortion clinics….
"The ultimate effect of this is putting an obstacle in the path of a woman seeking to exercise her constitutional right to an abortion," said Rep. John Ray Clemmons, a Nashville Democrat.
GOP floor leader claims rape and incest are “not verifiable” in most instances during abortion debate
A Republican floor leader in the Tennessee House of Representatives blocked an amendment that would have created an exemption for victims of rape and incest to an anti-abortion bill by arguing that such cases are too difficult to confirm….
Democratic State Rep. John Ray Clemmons said in a statement send to The Huffington Post that Butts' comments were "disheartening." "It was truly disheartening to hear a female Republican member of this House question the integrity and honesty of other women who seek to exercise their constitutional right to have an abortion when they have been victims of rape or incest," he said. "By voting against this exception and then stating that 'in most cases this is not verifiable,' she not only infringed upon women's constitutional rights, she also insulted victims of such heinous acts and belittled their serious, personal struggles."
Restrictions for Tennessee’s 7 Abortion Clinics Head to Governor
Legislation that would place licensing restrictions on all seven of Tennessee's abortion clinics was overwhelmingly approved by state lawmakers Tuesday and sent to the governor, who's expected to sign them into law….
Democratic Rep. John Ray Clemmons of Nashville proposed an amendment that would allow the consent process be done by phone, but the measure failed.
Sponsor withdraws Tennessee abortion ultrasound bill
A bill that originally sought to require ultrasound images be shown or described to women seeking abortions in Tennessee has been withdrawn for the year.
Vanderbilt strengthens relationships across state at Day on the Hill
The Melodores were officially welcomed by Rep. John Ray Clemmons, D-Nashville, whose district includes Vanderbilt. Clemmons thanked the group for being ambassadors for the university and Nashville as they travel around the state and country, and he urged them to consider making their homes in Tennessee following graduation.
Assembly Recap
I then introduced two Tennessee State Representatives, John Ray Clemmons and Jason Powell, ‘95, who honored the 2014 State Championship Football Team. In recognition of the team’s value to the community, the two Representatives helped author and pass the House Joint Resolution #167 which distinguished the members and coaches of the team.
How are this year’s new Tennessee Democrats different from the ones they replaced?
After eons ruling state government with an iron fist, Democrats in the state legislature have now gone half a decade as merely pests to Republicans who control both chambers of the General Assembly and the governor's office….
While Beck was battling gun legislation, Rep. John Ray Clemmons was preparing his case against legislation meant to tighten abortion restrictions. His colleagues note the no-nonsense West Nashville Dem was so green he called people testifying before committees "witnesses" and approached hearings like interrogations, much as he does in his day job as a civil litigation attorney. But that kind of willingness to challenge the establishment has set Clemmons apart from the pack, says Rep. Mike Stewart, the chamber's caucus leader.
IN THE CAPITOL
My Inbox
The top issues in my email inbox over the last three weeks were:
1. Anti-abortion bills (against);
2. Insure Tennessee (for);
3. Ride-Sharing legislation (for);
4. Tuition Equality bill (for); and,
5. Animal Abuse/Fighting Prevention legislation (for).
Post-Session Wrap-up
This year’s legislative session was ultimately defined by several significant failures and controversial legislation, as well as speed. While I fully appreciate that ours is a citizen legislature, one of my earliest impressions of the Republican-led legislature is that there seems to be a misplaced emphasis on speed rather than thoughtful, deliberate debate on substantive legislation. We certainly do not need to drag the session out into the summer, but the constant sense of urgency to meet an arbitrary deadline seems to limit real debate on certain issues. At a time when Washington is gridlocked and the bulk of policy decisions having a direct impact on people’s lives originates in state legislatures, this would seem to be more important now than ever.
Insure Tennessee:
There was no greater disappointment this year than Governor Haslam’s failure and inability to get his own political party to even vote on, much less pass, Insure Tennessee. My fellow Democrats and I overwhelmingly lined up in support of the proposal and tried every procedural maneuver available to get the issue to the House floor for a vote to no avail. The party with a supermajority cannot say the same. Tennessee’s working families who fall in the coverage gap will continue to suffer needlessly without access to quality, affordable healthcare, and Tennessee will continue to lose over $100 million per month in funding (from OUR tax dollars). My personal displeasure with this failure was so great that I voted against the Governor’s budget, which contained several programs I fully support, because it did not include Insure Tennessee. Many of my colleagues and I stand ready to show up for another special session if the Governor will lead and help us pass this important legislation.
Tuition Equality:
The devastating failure of Insure Tennessee was matched by the House’s inability to pass the tuition equality bill last week. I proudly cosponsored this legislation, and despite enjoying a degree of bipartisan support, the bill fell one vote short. Women’s Rights:
As many of you know, I took a leading role and proudly stood up for those who are underrepresented in our legislation, specifically women. Following the passage of Amendment 1, we were faced with several bills designed to deprive women of their right to choose. Though we defeated a callous bill involving ultrasound image requirements, we were unable to stop two other bills intended to create an undue burden for women seeking to exercise their constitutional right to have an abortion. These bills were presented as “pro-health care” bills, but no medical testimony or proof was presented during the entire committee process to establish any medical need for such legislation. I fully expect more bills to be introduced next year with the same intent, and I will fight them as well. As I mentioned in my last newsletter, the Tennessee Pay Equality Act that Sen. Sara Kyle and I introduced, which was aimed to ensure income equality for women, was defeated along party lines in a House subcommittee. Two bills intended to raise the state’s minimum wage were defeated in the same manner in a House subcommittee. Guns-in-Parks:
Local governments, such as Nashville, were deprived of their legal rights to prevent people from carrying firearms in public parks and spaces. As the father of three little boys, I find this legislation particularly hard to stomach. I feel very strongly that guns do not belong at my kids’ little league and soccer games or where our families’ enjoy picnics and concerts. Another bill passed that gives employees the right to sue employers who do not want employees bringing their firearms to the workplace. These bills effectively handcuff cities and employers’ efforts to promote public and workplace safety and place an unwelcome additional burden our police officers. Taxes:
Somewhere in the midst of all that, I am proud to say that we passed some momentous legislation. Examples of these bipartisan bills were Rep. Jason Powell’s “For-Profit Benefit Corporation Act,” a bill allowing for the practice of telemedicine or telehealth, a bill allowing for the use of cannabis oil to treat certain serious medical conditions such as epilepsy or intractable seizures, and the above-referenced ride-sharing legislation.
CALL TO ACTION
Finally, if you are upset with the direction in which the Republican supermajority is taking our state, please help me as I work with others to get our state back on track. All too often I meet people from across the state who complain but do not vote, who lament bad policy but do not share their opinions with legislators, and who put all legislators into one negative category without recognizing that there are several fighting tooth and nail on their family’s behalf every day.
I enjoy the good fortune of representing a district that pays very close attention, openly shares its opinions, regularly critiques me and often provides me with more positive feedback than I deserve. If you have made the effort and taken time out of your day to request and read this newsletter, then you are just like me. You care about what is going on in the Capitol and want to live in and raise your family in a state of which we can be proud.
So now I need your help. Please recruit your family, your friends, your neighbors, and anyone else who cares about our state and stand with me and my colleagues as we work to get our beloved state back on track. Encourage them to get involved. It matters. Whether you can feel it or not, the momentum is already shifting in our favor, but it is going to take every one of you to turn this thing around sooner rather than later. Please join me. Also, please do not hesitate to share ideas for possible legislation with me. I am certainly not the originator of all good ideas. In fact, every bill I passed this year was someone else’s idea.
IN OTHER NEWS
Synagogue shooting unites faith community
Two weeks after a bullet hit the West End Synagogue, Nashville’s faith community joined together to send a strong message against violence in their city.
Small cave saved as link in wild West Nashville
At just 4 acres, the Belle Forest Cave and the old-growth forest rising around it make for one of the smallest land tracts that the state's non-profit parks foundation has preserved.
New growth turns The Nations into thriving Nashville neighborhood
As Music City continues to thrive, neighborhoods are experiencing substantial growth. In west Nashville, The Nations is shaping up with new developments, restaurants and shops.
Vanderbilt measures its impact on Tennessee’s economy in billions
Vanderbilt University contributed $8.9 billion to the state economy in the 2013-14 fiscal year, the school announced today.
Nashville ranks 20th for starting a business
Online personal finance social network WalletHub.com has ranked Nashville 20th overall on its 2015’s Best Cities to Start a Business list.
Supporters honor legal team heading to Supreme Court
Attorneys Abby Rubenfeld and Bill Harbison were honored at the Metro Council Chambers before they fly to Washington prior to the U.S. Supreme Court hearing the case.
Haslam signs guns-in-parks bill
The governor signed the controversial guns-in-parks bill Friday morning.
Gov. Bill Haslam acknowledged he had initial concerns about the bill, but he approves of the latest version that passed the House and Senate.
House Republicans kill medical marijuana amendment
On Tuesday, Nashville Democrat Sherry Jones, a long-time advocate of easing pot prohibition, made a motion to amend a GOP-sponsored bill dealing with elder abuse to include language allowing physician-prescribed cannabis. The amendment sought to grant ailing Tennesseans the right to possess up to one ounce of marijuana and grow up to six plants at home. Sufferers of serious illnesses like cancer, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, AIDS, ALS, Alzheimer’s and post-traumatic stress disorder were among those listed who would have qualified under the provision.
Legislators fail to agree on procedure for confirming Governor’s judicial nominations
State lawmakers concluded the legislative session without an agreement on how they would go about exerting their newfound power to reject gubernatorial nominations to fill judicial vacancies.
Tuition equality bill fails in House by one vote
The Tennessee House of Representatives killed a bill to allow in-state tuition for undocumented students.
After more than an hour of debate, the House voted 49-47 on the bill. It takes 50 votes to pass a bill. The vote sends the bill back to the House Calendar and Rules Committee.
That’s A Wrap: Tennessee Legislative Session Ends With Some Unfinished Business
There was a flurry of debate and a few close votes before the Tennessee General Assembly adjourned for the year. But when the gavel finally slammed to mark the end of the session, the legislature didn’t pass nearly as many bills as in recent years.
