AG declines to opine on Harwell campaign finances
Attorney General Herbert Slatery has declined to answer questions submitted to his office by the executive director of the Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Finance on the campaign finance, Drew Rawlins, about House Speaker Beth Harwell’s campaign finance tactics, reports The Tennessean.
Harwell campaign and PAC, accused of improper coordination, using same ad company
House Speaker Beth Harwell’s gubernatorial campaign and her political action committee – facing a complaint alleging they have illegally coordinated political activities – have been using the same company for advertising expenditures, reports The Tennessean – citing campaign finance reports.
Harwell seeks comptroller review of TNReady contract vendor Questar
Press release from House Republican Caucus
(NASHVILLE) — Under the direction of House Speaker Beth Harwell (R–Nashville), State Representative Jeremy Faison (R–Cosby) has officially requested a review by the Tennessee Comptroller related to recent testing issues of the TNReady school assessments.
Bill requiring some to work for TennCare coverage gets final legislative approval
The Republican-led Tennessee Legislature on Thursday passed a controversial bill aimed at imposing work requirements on people receiving Medicaid benefits through the TennCare system, reports the Associated Press. Gov. Bill Haslam has backed the measure.
Rep. David Byrd accused of sexual misconduct; Harwell says he should resign
State Rep. David Byrd has been accused by three women of having inappropriate sexual contact with them while he was a high school basketball coach and they were teenagers, according to WSMV. House Speaker Beth Harwell promptly called for the Waynesboro Republican to resign from his House seat after being provided a secretly-recorded tape of Byrd apologizing to one of the women. Continue reading
McNally blocks Senate vote on Harwell’s work-for-Medicaid bill
House Speaker Beth Harwell was caught “completely off guard” Thursday when Senate Speaker Randy McNally stopped a scheduled floor vote on her House-approved bill that imposes work requirements on some able-bodied adult Medicaid enrollees, reports the Times Free Press.
House votes (along party lines) to require work for some on TennCare
The state House voted 72-23 Monday night to direct the Haslam administration to seek a waiver of federal Medicaid rules to develop a plan imposing a work requirement on some able-bodied TennCare enrollees, reports the Times Free Press.
The vote on HB1551) sponsored by House Speaker Beth Harwell and presented by Rep. Dan Howell (R-Georgetown) was along party lines – Republicans yes and Democrats no (with the exception of Rep. John Mark Windle of Livingston). There was spirited debate.
The measure now awaits a Senate floor vote. Gov. Bill Haslam has said he sign the bill when it reaches his desk.
Democratic leader: Harwell’s TennCare work bill is a ‘political stunt’ using financial gimmicks
House Democratic Caucus Chairman Mike Stewart says House Speaker Beth Harwell’s bill to impose work requirements on some people enrolled in the state’s TennCare program is “a political stunt to get votes in the governor’s race” and relies on “fairy tale” financial gimmicks to cover projected costs, reports the Times Free Press.
Harwell’s PAC puts up second ad promoting House speaker
Just days after her campaign was hit with an ethics complaint alleging House Speaker Beth Harwell’s gubernatorial campaign has illegally coordinated with her political action committee in running one TV ad, the PAC has begun airing a second commercial promoting Harwell, reports the Nashville Post.
Haslam spokeswoman: ‘Political affiliation did not play a role’ in appointing school safety panel
Through a spokeswoman, Republican Gov. Bill Haslam’s office is pushing back against criticism of his appointments to a task force assigned to study school safety and recommend revisions in state laws or policy, reports the Times Free Press. Senate Minority Leader Lee Harris has been the lead critic, saying the 16-member panel is solid Republican with no Democratic members “where a bipartisan consensus is sorely needed.”
