Shrinking the Nashville council vs. cutting convention center funding? Or could it be both?
Nashville is in the crosshairs of state lawmakers for refusing to authorize an agreement to host the Republican presidential convention in 2024. But the House and Senate appear to be taking different tacks toward meting out revenge.
House Majority Leader William Lamberth (R-Portland) earlier this month filed a bill to slash the size of the Metro Nashville Council from 40 members to 20. Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin) late last week filed legislation to repeal Nashville’s authority to impose extra sales taxes in its tourist zone, use privilege tax funds to pay off convention center bonds, or charge a $2 tax on vehicles hired at the airport.
Here’s what Senate Speaker Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge) had to say about the Johnson bill:
Nashville has been afforded certain tools for the express purpose of encouraging convention tourism to the city. Over the last year, Metro has made it clear they are no longer interested in aggressively recruiting top-tier conventions to Nashville. That message has been received loud and clear by the General Assembly. If Nashville wants to prioritize political posturing over prosperity for its people, that’s their prerogative. But the state does not have to participate. If Metro has no interest in properly promoting convention tourism, they no longer require the special tax authority granted to them for that purpose.
McNally didn’t note that the Music City Center in Nashville has been host to the National Rifle Association’s annual convention, plus several Statesmen’s Dinners, the state GOP’s annual fundraiser — including as recently as last July.
Some political observers see the competing plans to punish Nashville as similar to GOP lawmakers’ efforts to target then-Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle for her rulings expanding access to absentee balloting during the COVID-19 pandemic. The House first introduced a resolution calling for Lyle’s ouster. While the measure at first had the support of a supermajority in the lower chamber, several members got skittish about heading down the road of removing a sitting judge for the first time since 1993. The Senate, meanwhile, introduced a bill to create a “super chancery court” to handle legal challenges to state laws, executive orders, and rules. Under the original proposal, a panel of three such judges would have been elected in statewide elections.
When everything shook loose, the ouster resolution was killed in committee and the chancery court bill was amended to remove the statewide election of judges. Under the version that was eventually enacted, the Supreme Court appoints three-member special panels comprised of one sitting judge from each grand division to preside over cases.
So where does that leave the current bills taking shots at Nashville? Lamberth’s cosponsor on shrinking the Metro Council is Senate Finance Chair Bo Watson (R-Chattanooga), who is a close McNally ally and roommate in Nashville. But McNally’s full-throated support of Johnson’s bill clearly shows where his preferences lie. Meanwhile, House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) has voiced strong backing for the effort to cut the size of the Council, even though he acknowledges it won’t necessarily make it any easier for Republicans to gain seats.
The question now is whether GOP lawmakers coalesce behind one proposal or the other. Or could it be both?
Legendary lobbyist Tom Hensley dies at 80
Tom Hensley, the legendary lobbyist known as “The Golden Goose,” has died. Hensley had been hospitalized in Nashville for two moths after sustaining a head injury in a fall. He passed away after being moved to a rehabilitation center in Decaturvillle on Friday. He was 80 years old.
Hensley began his lobbying career in the 1960s and was a ubiquitous presence at the Capitol complex, wearing his trademark three-piece suit, chomping on a cigar, and sitting in the front row of committee meetings. Hensley was best known for his work for the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of Tennessee, especially during an era when state law allowed him to supply lawmakers with free bottles of alcohol and pick up the tab at restaurants and bars.
Hensley was joined in lobbying the liquor wholesalers association in 2016 by Ryan Haynes, a former lawmaker and onetime state Republican Party chairman.
New TNJ edition alert: Ready or not, here comes the fight over premixed cockails
The latest print edition of The Tennessee Journal is out. Here is what’s in it:
— Could ready-to-drink cocktails be headed to state grocery stores?
— House speaker says Nashville business community behind effort to slash Metro Council, new bill would repeal special tourism taxes in the city.
— New health commissioner not taking questions on rejection of federal HIV funds, freshman lawmaker withdraws bill to give governors two more terms, and unifying legalized gambling.
— Money matters: The big donors and recipients of campaign funds since the November election.
Also: Memphis girds for release of video of fatal police beating, Glenn Funk recuses himself from Jeremy Durham case, Joe Towns catches a break from the Registry, and Cameron Sexton lists the Nashville representatives he likes.
As always, access the your copy of the TNJ here.
Or subscribe here.
Read Gov. Bill Lee’s remarks on the occasion of his second inaugural
In case you missed it over the weekend, Gov. Bill Lee was inaugurated to his second term as Tennessee’s 50th governor on Saturday. Here are his remarks as prepared for delivery:
Continue readingThank you to every person here – for being here today to celebrate our great state and her rich history.
Lt. Governor McNally, Speaker Sexton, members of the General Assembly, constitutional officers, Justices of the Court, members of the Tennessee Congressional Delegation, Governor Dunn, Governor Alexander, Governor Bredesen, Governor Haslam, members of the cabinet, members of our staff…
My family, of whom there are many here today, some from far away… My friends and fellow Tennesseans. Thank you, not only for being here, but for who you are and what you do to make this the greatest state in the greatest country in the world.
Tennessee reminds people in this country that America hasn’t lost her way. That idea is reflected by every person here today, and it’s why our state motto – America at its Best – adopted many years ago, is so appropriate, especially today. Tennessee is leading the nation, and it’s good that we reflect on that and celebrate it.
But before I go on, there is one more person I want to acknowledge – someone who embodies the Volunteer Spirit of the people of our state with courage, strength and service. These last few months have been hard on our family, but God is faithful. Maria and I have cherished your prayers for healing. We are grateful for everyone who has supported us, and I’m grateful she’s here today – my wife and our First Lady, Maria Lee.
While Maria and I are in a time of struggle, we know that we are not alone in these hardships. In fact, the last four years have brought unexpected challenges to many of us in this state – floods, wildfires, a pandemic, tornadoes, even a bombing on Christmas morning – in addition to personal challenges you could be facing right now that your fellow Tennesseans don’t even know about. It doesn’t take away the tragedy, difficulty or fear, but in times of struggle, we can find great hope.
We saw that when Tennesseans converged on the Cumberland Plateau to help their neighbors after those devastating tornadoes. We saw that when six brave police officers put their very lives on the line to protect their fellow man from that bomb on Christmas morning. We saw that in Waverly. I was there the day after the floods, and wept with, prayed with and embraced people who had lost everything, even their loved ones.
Maria was there a few days later to help clean up homes that had been reduced to rubble. For Waverly, that is clearly part of the story – tragedy, difficulty, and fear. But I was also there one year later, as the community gathered in remembrance of all those lost. Once again, we wept, prayed and embraced, but this time, something was different. We also recognized the remarkable transformation that occurred in that community over the past year. It was a stark picture of redemption and hope. Quite frankly, it’s a picture of Tennessee since our founding.
New TNJ edition alert: Party executive panels could face cuts, Lee readies roads push
The latest print edition of The Tennessee Journal is out. Here is what’s in it:
— Not just for Nashville? Parties’ executive panels could face cuts, too.
— After being sworn in Saturday, Lee to make big push for roads proposal.
— Legislative roundup: Sexton wants cash-pay arrangements with health providers to count against insurance deductibles.
— Election matters: Registry says warnings enough for not following new reporting rules,
Also: The state’s official rifle goes Down Under, Jeremy Durham gets his trial date punted, Mike Bell recovering after heart surgery, and Memphis has a high-tech method for finding potholes.
As always, access the your copy of the TNJ here.
Or subscribe here.
[Note to subscribers: The weekly email containing the Tennessee Journal is being sent from a new address. Please check your spam filter if you don’t see your copy in your inbox.)
Here are the Senate committee assignments for the upcoming session
Here are the Senate committee assignments for the 113th General Assembly:
Raumesh Akbari (D-Memphis)
- Calendar
- Commerce
- Education
- Ethics
Paul Bailey (R-Sparta)
- Commerce, Chair
- Transportation
Janice Bowling (R-Tullahoma)
- Energy
- Government Operations
- Transportation
Richard Briggs (R-Knoxville)
- Rules, Vice Chair
- State & Local, Chair
- Transportation
Heidi Campbell (D-Nashville)
- Energy
- Transportation
Rusty Crowe (R-Johnson City)
- Education
- Government Operations
- Health, Chair
Todd Gardenhire (R-Chattanooga)
- Education
- Judiciary, Chair
Find your local House member’s committee assignments
Here are House Speaker Cameron Sexton’s committee assignments for the 113th General Assembly:
Alexander, Rebecca (R-Jonesborough)
- Business and Utilities Sub of Commerce
- Cities Sub of Local Government
- Commerce
- Local Government
- Public Service Sub of State Government
- State Government
Barrett, Jody (R-Dickson)
- Appropriations Sub of Finance
- Banking and Consumer Affairs Sub of Commerce
- Commerce
- Finance
Baum, Charlie (R-Murfreesboro)
- Appropriations Sub of Finance
- Education Administration
- Finance Sub
- Finance, Vice Chair
- Higher Education Sub of Education Admin
Beck, Bill (D-Nashville)
- Civil Justice
- Civil Justice Sub
- Departments and Agencies Sub of State Government
- Ethics
- Ethics Sub
- State Government
- Transportation
Boyd, Clark (R-Lebanon)
- Appropriations Sub of Finance
- Business and Utilities Sub of Commerce, Chair
- Commerce
- Finance
- Health
Bricken, Rush (R-Tullahoma)
- Banking and Consumer Affairs Sub of Commerce
- Children and Family Affairs Sub of Civil Justice
- Civil Justice
- Commerce, Vice Chair
- Departments and Agencies Sub of State Government
- State Government
Bulso, Gino (R-Franklin)
- Civil Justice
- Civil Justice Sub
- Education Administration
- Government Operations
- K-12 Sub of Education Admin
New TNJ edition alert: GOP flexes on Nashville, new House rules to limit speechifying on floor
The latest print edition of The Tennessee Journal is out. Here is what’s in it:
— GOP flexes muscles in standoff with Nashville, but will it stick?
— New House rules will give less time to speechifying on the floor, try to keep killed bills dead, and give voice votes the seal of approval.
— Gov. Bill Lee names new members to charter appeals panel.
— Female majority on Supreme Court hangs in balance, grand divisions get equal billing despite population differences.
Also: Someone almost stole $186,000 from the Harshbarger campaign, Mark Green lands a committee chairmanship, state House members’ parking skills scrutinized, and Tim Burchett discusses the perils of drunken rednecks.
As always, access the your copy of the TNJ here.
Note to subscribers: The weekly email containing the latest Tennessee Journal is being sent from a new address. Please check your spam filter if you don’t see your copy in your inbox.
Or subscribe here.
Sexton announces steps to make amendment language more transparent
House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) announced new steps to give the public access to proposed amendments.
Here are the details from the speaker’s office:
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) today announced the unveiling of an innovative tool that will enhance public transparency in the legislative process within the Tennessee House of Representatives.
The user-friendly TGA House Dashboard application will also give every Tennessean the same access to the legislative process as their elected officials. This resource will allow Tennesseans to view all House committee and floor calendars, legislation, amendments — both those proposed, as well as those approved by the body — and video on all House legislative initiatives in a timely and straightforward manner.
“Tennesseans want transparency in our processes, and they deserve to know more about the legislation that we are proposing and attempting to pass in the House,” said Speaker Sexton. “This new Dashboard application will give Tennesseans the same access as their representative in real-time and make the legislative process the most transparent in Tennessee that it has ever been.”
To use the application, citizens simply need to visit: TGA Dashboard (tn.gov), then log in, register, and activate the application and they will immediately have access to all aspects of the legislative process that House lawmakers currently have.
