Ramsey backs Blackburn in U.S. Senate campaign
Former Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, who has been actively backing Diane Black in the Tennessee gubernatorial campaign, has now endorsed Marsha Blackburn in the U.S. Senate campaign.
Ron Ramsey, Stephen Fincher join Diane Black’s campaign for governor
Former Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey and former U.S. Rep. Stephen Fincher have been named co-chairs of Diane Black’s campaign for the Republican gubernatorial nomination.
Former Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey becoming a lobbyist
Former Tennessee Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey has announced he will become a lobbyist in the 2018 legislative session, reports the Kingsport Times News.
The retired lawmaker told a Northeast Tennessee Association of Realtors (NETAR) legislative luncheon on Thursday that he’ll be lobbying for Realtors and others. Ramsey, a Blountville Republican who served as lieutenant governor and speaker of the Tennessee Senate for 10 years, noted a ban on him lobbying state lawmakers expires in November.
…Ramsey, a Realtor and auctioneer, said he’s been hired as a member of the Nashville-based Farrar and Bates law firm headed up by his old friend, Tennessee Association of Realtors lobbyist Russ Farrar.
Ramsey gives $50K in campaign funds to Ron Ramsey Agricultural Center
Excerpt from a Kingsport Times-News report
BLOUNTVILLE — Former Tennessee Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey grew up working on a Sullivan County farm, and in a way he closed the book on his 24-year political career Saturday in the name of Sullivan County farmers.
During a dedication ceremony, Ramsey contributed the final $50,000 left in his campaign fund to pay for the completion of the large commercial kitchen at the newly christened Ron Ramsey Agriculture Center located at 140 Spurgeon Lane near Tri-Cities Airport.
Before a crowd of county and state dignitaries, as wells as family and friends, Ramsey dedicated the contribution to wife Sindy, whom he described as his best friend and the “wind beneath my wings.”
… Ramsey was quick to point out that neither his $50,000 contribution nor the $3.5 million already invested by the state will be enough to complete the facility or sustain it in the future and make it economically viable.
Although the facility’s primary use will be providing space for local agricultural programs, it will also be marketed as a convention center and event venue available to the public.
Note: Ramsey had $202,088 left in his candidate campaign account at last report (in January) and $283,849 in RAAMPAC, his political action committee. Updated disclosures are not due until July.
Ron Ramsey: House members were punished for opposing gas tax hike
Former Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey says there was “some punishment” levied against state House members who opposed Gov. Bill Haslam’s fuel tax increases, reports the Johnson City Press. He spoke at a Transportation Coalition of Tennessee press conference, one of several being held around the state by the group that promoted the fuel tax and hired Ramsey as a consultant.
“I think there is some in the House who would not vote for any kind of, what they perceived as, a tax increase. And that’s just wrong because the overall bill cut taxes,” Ramsey… said. “There was no doubt, in the end, that there was some punishment levied against some House members on funding. Not against the Senate members, but against the House members.”
Ramsey signs up to advise coalition pushing gas tax hike
Recently retired Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey is joining the newly created Advisory Council of the Transportation Coalition of Tennessee, reports the Nashville Post — presumably to help the promotion of Gov. Bill Haslam’s IMPROVE Act, which includes a gas tax hike.
Rumors have been swirling that Ramsey would be working as a “consultant” on occasion during session, possibly in advance of setting up shop as a registered lobbyist next year, after the one-year cooling off period has ended. And now he’s advising a group pushing for an increase in the state’s transportation funding — some with very vested interests in seeing more new roads built.
The Transportation Coalition press release is below.
Republican Caucus unanimously chooses McNally as Senate speaker
Republican state senators voted unanimously today to make Sen. Randy McNally the next Tennessee Senate speaker and lieutenant governor. They also reelected the current slate of Senate leaders to new terms in office for the 110th General Assembly.
Since Republicans hold a 28-5 majority in the state Senate, the Senate Republican Caucus’ selection of McNally, 72, of Oak Ridge, assures he will be elected to the position when the legislature convenes Jan. 10.
The Caucus members also reelected Sen. Mark Norris of Collierville as Senate majority leader, Sen. Bill Ketron of Murfreesboro as Senate Republican Caucus chairman, Sen. Becky Massey of Knoxville as caucus secretary and Sen. Ferrell Haile of Gallatin as treasurer.
McNally said he anticipates no major changes in leadership style or policy when he formally takes the reigns from retiring Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, who has held the position since 2007.
When Ramsey announced his retirement earlier this year, McNally promptly announced he would seek to become Tennessee’s 50th Senate speaker, a position that also makes holder of the office lieutenant governor under the state Constitution. No other candidate emerged, leading to today’s unanimous vote.
UPDATE/note: The Caucus news release is below.
Outside counsel takes on TN refugee lawsuit
Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey has signed off on the selection of the Thomas More Law Center to represent Tennessee in a lawsuit that will challenge the federal government refugee resettlement actions, reports The Tennessean. State Attorney General Herbert Slatery had declined to file the lawsuit, despite a legislative resolution calling on him to do so.
The Michigan-based legal group, which will represent the state for free, has taken on a host of conservative legal causes in recent years. Those challenges are on topics including Common Core education standards, hate crimes legislation, the implementation of the Affordable Care Act and abortion. On its website, the group also takes a strong stance on Islam, saying “Radical Muslims and Islamic organizations” are trying to wage a “stealth jihad” to take over the nation.
…Calling the law center “an excellent firm” with a strong track record, Ramsey said in a statement that he was confident the organization would represent the state well.
“Our nation is a welcoming nation and our state is a welcoming state. But now more than ever, we must make sure that any refugees placed in Tennessee are fully vetted and any resettlement program is in the best interest of Tennessee citizens,” Ramsey said. “I remain unconvinced that the federal government and their appointed agents have either the willingness or the ability to vet refugees properly or thoroughly. A nation without properly policed borders is not a nation at all. The General Assembly is doing what is necessary to protect the people we serve.”
