Erik Schelzig
New TNJ alert: GOP lawmakers throw up barriers to public, feds channel top shelf whiskey
The latest print edition of The Tennessee Journal is out. Here is what’s in it:
— Lawmakers shield themselves from advocates in special session.
— Courtside seat: Prosecutors to Phoenix Solutions: You’re no Pappy Van Winkle.
— From the campaign trail: O’Connell gets COVID-19, elbows thrown in Memphis mayoral contest.
Also: Joe Towns can’t stand the heat, shuttered Middle Tennessee newspapers revived, a taxpayer funded birthday party in Memphis, and G.A. Hardaway’s Freudian slip.
As always, access the your copy of the TNJ here.
Or subscribe here.
Capitol press corps pushes for public gallery access
The Tennessee Capitol Hill Press Corps is pushing back against a claim the public can’t use one of the state House galleries because the media needs to operate there. The viewing areas have long been shared with the public by television crews — in fact, a permanent platform has been built in one corner to accommodate tripods.
“We do not endorse using the media as an excuse to prevent the public from watching their representatives at work,” the press corps said in a letter to House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville).
Here’s the full letter:
The Tennessee Capitol Hill Press Corps firmly believes that reporters are vital in providing information about the General Assembly to the public. But this does not have to come at the sacrifice of keeping interested constituents from seeing their government in action.
That is why we are reaching out in alarm over House leadership using the media as among the reasons why the public should be barred from accessing the west side gallery during special session.
We want to be extremely clear: We believe that the press should have unobstructed and fair access to observe and report on legislative proceedings. However, we do not endorse using the media as an excuse to prevent the public from watching their representatives at work.
We have repeatedly seen reporters, photographers and other newspersons join packed galleries during extremely busy times at the Tennessee Capitol with great success. Most recently, during the April expulsion hearings, news organizations from across the country worked with House officials to ensure they had room to do their job while the galleries remained at capacity. That effort should be praised and repeated, not abandoned.
It is no secret that the Capitol Hill Press Corps will fight to secure a seat for every journalist inside the Tennessee Capitol – but we have not asked for more room than we need. Furthermore, we are more than willing to work from a reserved section in the gallery to allow for more members of the public to join the west side gallery.
We encourage leadership to consider all options that amplify press access and public attendance and reject any notion that we endorse the current response that is currently in place.
Thank you for your time,
Members of the Tennessee Capitol Hill Press Corps
Kelsey appealing 21-month sentence in campaign finance case
Former state Sen. Brian Kelsey (R-Germantown) is appealing his 21-month prison sentence following his guilty plea to two felonies related to his 2016 bid for Congress.
Kelsey filed notice but didn’t elaborate on what basis he will bring his challenge to the 6th Circuit U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Kelsey’s latest set of attorneys had argued that the former lawmaker shouldn’t face any time behind bars.
Here are the House committee assignments for the special session
House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) doesn’t appear to have taken kindly to a motion to adjourn the special session before it began. Rep. Kelly Keisling (R-Byrdstown) lost his position as chair of the State Government Committee for being one of six lawmakers to vote for the motion made by Rep. Byran Richey (R-Maryville) on Monday.
Here are Sexton’s committee assignments for the special session:
Alexander, Rebecca (R-Jonesborough)
Business and Utilities Subcommittee
Cities Subcommittee
Commerce Committee
Local Government Committee
Public Service Subcommittee
State Government Committee
Barrett, Jody (R-Dickson)
Appropriations Subcommittee
Banking and Consumer Affairs Subcommittee
Commerce Committee
Finance, Ways and Means Committee
Baum, Charlie (R-Murfreesboro)
Appropriations Subcommittee
Education Administration Committee
Finance, Ways and Means Committee
Finance, Ways and Means Subcommittee
K-12 Subcommittee
Boyd, Clark (R-Lebanon)
Business and Utilities Subcommittee
Commerce Committee
Finance, Ways and Means Committee
Health Committee
Bricken, Rush (R-Tullahoma)
Banking and Consumer Affairs Subcommittee
Civil Justice Committee
Commerce Committee
Departments and Agencies Subcommittee
State Government Committee
Bulso, Gino (R-Franklin)
Civil Justice Committee
Civil Justice Subcommittee
Education Administration Committee
Government Operations Committee
K-12 Subcommittee
Burkhart, Jeff (R-Clarksville)
Business and Utilities Subcommittee
Commerce Committee
Election and Campaign Finance Subcommittee
Local Government Committee
Transportation Committee
Butler, Ed (R-Rickman)
Corrections Subcommittee
Education Administration Committee
K-12 Subcommittee
State Government Committee
Transportation Committee
Photo gallery of the first day of the special session
Here is a look at some of the action from the first day of the special session on public safety in Nashville on Monday.
The bullhorn rule: House creates new disciplinary rules following Tennessee Three debacle
House Republicans are adopting a new set of guidelines to deal with disruptions and unruly conduct following last spring’s ouster of two lawmakers for leading a gun protest from the well of the chamber.
Under new rules adopted for the special session, members deemed to have “caused a material disruption” of official legislative business will be barred from speaking on the floor for three days. A second offense would be punished by a six-day ban, followed by a loss of speaking privileges for the remainder of the session on the third offense. Members could still vote even if they lost their speaking privileges.
An ad-hoc committee made up of the speaker pro tem, the majority and minority leaders, and the two parties’ caucus chairs would make disciplinary recommendations to the speaker for members found to have impugned the reputation of others during committee meetings.
The rules would specifically ban “voice or noise amplification devices” like the bullhorn Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson did to rally the gallery in April. They would also put the kibosh on flags, signs, and banners in the gallery.
The public will also have a harder time entering the Capitol. The tunnel connecting the Cordell Hull to the statehouse will be closed off from 30 minutes before a floor session to a half-hour after it concludes. And much wider cordon has been set around the House and Senate chambers, meaning fewer people will be able to get into the lobby area while sessions are going on.
Can ‘Surrender Caucus’ halt special session in its tracks?
This week’s special session on public safety could all be over before it even really begins. At least if a cabal conservative lawmakers have their way. The Capitol complex has been churning with talk of an adjournment motion being made shortly after the governor’s special session gets underway. If successful, everything would be packed in.
The effort by the Adjourn Caucus — whom detractors have labeled the “Surrender Caucus” — is not expected to garner enough support to succeed. But a significant number of votes in favor could set the tone for what’s possible during the special session.
Gov. Bill Lee has already had to dial back his ambitions for the session to result in significant changes in response to the mass shooting at Nashville’s Covenant School last spring. Instead, the session has morphed into generally addressing public safety, including several proposals to impose tougher sentences on juveniles.
Meanwhile, stricter security measures are being imposed around the Capitol complex.
Both chambers are scheduled to gavel in at 4 p.m. Central.
Biden declares major disaster from West Tennessee storms
President Joe Biden has approved a federal disaster declaration to assist with recovery from severe storms in Fayette, Shelby, and Tipton counties in June.
Here’s the release from the White House:
WASHINGTON – FEMA announced that federal disaster assistance has been made available to the state of Tennessee to supplement recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe storms and straight-line winds June 25 – 26, 2023.
Public Assistance federal funding is available to the state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by severe storms and straight-line winds in Fayette, Shelby and Tipton counties.
Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.
Yolanda J. Jackson has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further assessments.
New TNJ edition alert: Kelsey sentencing recap, a 6th Circuit vacancy approaches
The latest print edition of The Tennessee Journal is out. Here is what’s in it:
— Final chapter in Kelsey chronicles? Ex lawmaker gets 21 months in prison for fundraising scheme.
— From the campaign trail: Rolli parts ways with consultant, Humble told to make full disclosure.
— Courtside seat: An opening on the 6th Circuit, a likely delay in the Casada case.
Also: Longtime head of the Tennessee Wildlife Federation passes away, Dolores Gresham goes after recalcitrant school boards, and Andy Ogles tries to tell the media how to cover the news.
As always, access the your copy of the TNJ here.
Or subscribe here.
California Gov. Newsom to address Tennessee Democrats’ annual fundraiser
California Gov. Gavin Newsom will be the keynote speaker at the Tennessee Democratic Party’s annual fundraiser, the Three Star Dinner. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was the headliner at the Republican Party’s annual Statesmen’s Dinner.
Here’s the release from the Tennessee Democrats:
We are excited to announce that California Governor, Gavin Newsom, will deliver the keynote speech at the Tennessee Democratic Party’s annual Three Star Dinner. The dinner is scheduled for 6:00pm on Saturday, August 26, 2023 at the Music City Center in Downtown Nashville.
The theme of this year’s dinner is Lift Your Voice. We will recognize and honor the Tennessee Three, State Representatives Gloria Johnson, Justin J. Pearson, and Justin Jones.
We will also hear from Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris and Nashville Mayoral candidate Freddie O’Connell.
“This year’s dinner will be filled with excitement. Tennessee was thrust into the national spotlight this year and we are using this opportunity to continue building momentum ahead of the 2024 election cycle. Governor Newsom has been deliberate about what good governance should include, his presence will be a breath of fresh air for Democrats in our state.” Hendrell Remus, TNDP Chair
Tickets and sponsorships can be purchased at www.tndp.org/threestar.
