Action Items: Legislative Update for the Week of May 10

Last week, the legislation working its way through the Tennessee General Assembly and Governor’s office took a back seat to the disastrous flooding that occurred in Nashville and Middle Tennessee.  If you would like to help your fellow Tennesseans as they work to get back on their feet, WKRN in Nashville has compiled a list of charities that are actively working to help those affected by the floods.

Please contact the Governor’s office and the House committee members in support of the bills below.  Remember to be firm, but courteous when communicating with the Governor and the committee members.

Waiting for Governor’s Action

HB3300
As introduced, specifies three reasons why a foreign judgment would not be conclusive, and further states that a foreign defamation judgment shall not be recognized if the defamation law of the foreign court adjudicating the case provided less protection for freedom of speech and press than the United States and Tennessee constitutions.
Waiting for Governor’s Action

SB2391
As introduced, removes the authority of the governor to commandeer or limit the sale or transportation of firearms, ammunition, or firearm or ammunition components during a state of emergency, major disaster, or natural disaster.
Waiting for Governor’s Action

Governor Phil Bredesen: (615) 741-2001, Phil.Bredesen@tn.gov

Wednesday, May 12

HJR0722 by Lynn
Proposes a constitutional amendment to establishes a free enterprise system of government in Tennessee.
Budget Subcommittee of House Finance, Ways & Means – May 12

HJR745 by Lynn
After passing the Industrial Impact Subcommittee and the Commerce Committee, this legislation was diverted to the Budget Subcommittee of the House Finance, Ways and Means Committee.  This means that opponents of the bill have at least three more chances to kill it in committee before it gets to the House floor.  As introduced, HJR745 proposes an amendment to the Tennessee Constitution that would prohibit “laws or rules that would compel any person, employer, or health care provider to participate in any health care system.”
Budget Subcommittee of the House Finance, Ways & Means Committee – May 12

Thursday, May 13

HB2622 by Lynn
This bill barely survived consideration by the Calendar & Rules Committee on May 6 and was deferred until next week (View video of the May 6 proceedings here).  The Democrat members yet again attempted to block this legislation just as previous health care legislation that went before this subcommittee (HB3433 and HJR745).  Reps. Gary Odom and Jimmy Naifeh have been active in leading the resistance to these bills in the committees they have passed through thus far.   It is critical that we contact legislators on this committee in support of this bill.  HB2622, as introduced, “prohibits the legislature from requiring any person to participate in any health care system or plan.”
House Calendar & Rules Committee – May 13

Date To Be Determined:

HB3433 by Bell
The Tennessee Health Freedom Act suffered a major setback on April 28 when the Budget Subcommittee of the House Finance, Ways & Means Committee voted to place the bill “behind the budget.”  This means that the committee may choose to reconsider the bill after the state budget is finalized.  Rep. Bell said in a media interview that he has been assured that the bill will be heard again.  It remains to be seen whether this promise will be kept, or if this is just a way to kill the bill without formally voting it down.  We need to keep continual pressure on this subcommittee to ensure that this bill is brought back up for a vote.
Budget Subcommittee of the House Finance, Ways & Means Committee – Date TBD

House Calendar and Rules Committee:
Rep. Bill Dunn, Chair: (615) 741-1721, rep.bill.dunn@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Joe Towns, Vice-Chair: (615) 741-2189, rep.joe.towns@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Matthew Hill, Secretary: (615) 741-2251, rep.matthew.hill@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Joe Armstrong: (615) 741-0768, rep.joe.armstrong@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Stratton Bone: (615) 741-7086, rep.stratton.bone@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Harry Brooks: (615) 741-6879, rep.harry.brooks@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Glen Casada: (615) 741-4389, rep.glen.casada@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Kent Coleman: (615) 741-6829, rep.kent.coleman@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. John DeBerry: (615) 741-2239, rep.john.deberry@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Lois DeBerry: (615) 741-3830, rep.lois.deberry@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Craig Fitzhugh: (615) 741-2134, rep.craig.fitzhugh@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Bill Harmon: (615) 741-6849, rep.bill.harmon@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Beth Harwell: (615) 741-0709, rep.beth.harwell@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Susan Lynn: (615) 741-7462, rep.susan.lynn@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Judd Matheny: (615) 741-7448, rep.judd.matheny@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Joe McCord: (615) 741-5481, rep.joe.mccord@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Gerald McCormick: (615) 741-2548, rep.gerald.mccormick@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Steve McManus: (615) 741-1920, rep.steve.mcmanus@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Gary Moore: (615) 741-4317, rep.gary.moore@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Jason Mumpower: (615) 741-2050, rep.jason.mumpower@capitol.tn.gov
Speaker Emeritus Jimmy Naifeh: (615) 741-3774, spk.eme.jimmy.naifeh@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Gary Odom: (615) 741-4410, rep.gary.odom@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Curry Todd: (615) 741-1866, rep.curry.todd@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Mike Turner: (615) 741-3229, rep.mike.turner@capitol.tn.gov
Speaker Kent Williams: (615) 741-7450, speaker.kent.williams@capitol.tn.gov

House Finance, Ways & Means Committee – Budget Subcommittee:
Rep. Harry Tindell, Chair: (615) 741-2031, rep.harry.tindell@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Charles Sargent, Vice-Chair: (615) 741-6808, rep.charles.sargent@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Joe Armstrong: (615) 741-0768, rep.joe.armstrong@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Lois DeBerry: (615) 741-3830, rep.lois.deberry@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Craig Fitzhugh: (615) 741-2134, rep.craig.fitzhugh@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Michael Harrison: (615) 741-7480, rep.michael.harrison@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Steve McDaniel: (615) 741-0750, rep.steve.mcdaniel@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Richard Montgomery: (615) 741-5981, rep.richard.montgomery@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Jason Mumpower: (615) 741-2050, rep.jason.mumpower@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Jimmy Naifeh: (615) 741-3774, spk.eme.jimmy.naifeh@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Gary Odom: (615) 741-4410, rep.gary.odom@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Dennis Roach: (615) 741-2534, rep.dennis.roach@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Donna Rowland: (615) 741-2804, rep.donna.rowland@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Johnny Shaw: (615) 741-4538, rep.johnny.shaw@capitol.tn.gov

Lesley Swann is a Co-Host for Tenther Radio and the state chapter coordinator for the Tennessee Tenth Amendment Center. She is a native of Anderson County, Tennessee.

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This entry was posted on Sunday, May 9th, 2010 at 5:26 pm. It is filed under Action Items, Featured, Tennessee General Assembly and tagged with HB2622, HB3300, HB3433, HJR722, HJR745, SB2391. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.