Legislators act to deter any future Confederate monument removals
Legislators gave final approval Wednesday to a bill intended to block local governments from future actions like the City of Memphis’ December move to remove Confederate monuments from city parks. The bill prohibits sale or transfer of public property containing a statue without permission of the Tennessee Historical Commission and says local governments violating the new law are barred from receiving state grant funds for five years.
House GOP retaliation for Confederate monument removal: A scripted political show?
Some Republicans familiar with the discussions leading up to Tuesday’s state House vote cut $250,000 in funding for Memphis in retaliation for the city removing Confederate statues say the money was put into the state budget on the front end only so that it could be later taken away as part of an effort send a message to Memphis, reports the Commercial Appeal. Others deny that was the case.
House’s $250K Memphis money cut becomes GOP debate topic, inspires fundraising drive
In a debate Wednesday, three Republican candidates for governor said they disagreed with a House vote to cut $250,000 in funding for Memphis because of the city’s removal of Confederate monuments from former city parks. But Diane Black, Randy Boyd and Bill Lee also said they opposed the city’s action, reports the Memphis Daily News. House Speaker Beth Harwell, who missed the debate while presiding over the House in Nashville, voted for the Memphis funding cut.
Meanwhile, a GoFundMe page has been started on Facebook to raise funds to make up the money lost through the House vote, according to a separate News report. As of Thursday morning, $44,765 had been raised toward the $250,000 goal.
House votes to penalize Memphis $250K for removing Confederate monuments
In approving a state budget on Tuesday, the House voted 56-31 for an amendment that strips $250,000 in state money earmarked for helping finance the City of Memphis bicentennial celebrations next year – effectively penalizing the city’s removal of Confederate monuments from former city parks late last year.
House votes to return 76 acres of TN land to Cherokees
Press release from Rep. Chuck Fleischmann
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Chuck Fleischmann (TN-03) issued the following statement upon his bill H.R. 146, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Historic Lands Reacquisition Act, being voted out of The U.S. House of Representatives:
“Tonight, the House voted to keep a promise to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians by rightfully returning 76 acres of sacred land in Monroe County, putting the land back in tribal hands,” said Congressman Fleischmann.
U.S. House approves step toward making Polk home part of National Park system
Press release from U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the House of Representatives passed Congressman Scott DesJarlais’ bill to study the feasibility of placing the President James K. Polk Home and Museum in Columbia, Tennessee, under protection of the National Park Service. An Interior Department study would be a major step towards helping the charity that maintains the property to preserve and expand it.
House approves relocation of President James K. Polk’s body on second attempt
A resolution giving legislative approval to relocating the bodies of President James K. Polk and his wife, Sarah, from a tomb on the Tennessee state capitol grounds to the grounds of home once owned by Polk’s parents in Columbia was approved 51-37 by the state House Monday night on a second try.
SJR141, previously approved by the Senate 20-6, had fallen one vote short of the 50 votes needed for House passage on an earlier attempt last month.
Legislative approval was a first step toward relocation of the tomb and bodies. Before the move can take place, the Tennessee Historical Commission, the State Capitol Commission and Chancery Court must also agree under relevant state laws.
Note: The roll call vote is HERE.
House sub sinks another bill inspired by Confederate monument flap
The House State Government Subcommittee on Wednesday rejected a bill to expand state law dealing with historic monuments, reports The Tennessean. It’s the third bill inspired by the City of Memphis’ maneuvers on Confederate statues to fail so far this session.
Legislators face monumental decisions on the unborn, David Crockett
A bill authorizing placement of a “Tennessee Monument to Unborn Children” on the state capitol grounds is scheduled for votes in committees of both the House and Senate next week. Also pending is a Senate decision on a House-passed bill to replace a statue of Edward Carmack that now prominently stands at the Capitol’s southern entrance with one of David Crockett.
Alvin York’s grandson: ‘Greatest battle’ was in Fentress County, not France
Alvin York’s 70-year-old grandson plans to travel this fall to France for the 100th anniversary of the World War I battle where his grandfather won the Congressional Medal of Honor by single-handedly killing 25 German soldiers and capturing another 132, reports The Tennessean. But Gerald York says Alvin York considered his greatest battle to be over founding a state-supported high school in Fentress County that’s still operating (though Gov. Bill Haslam made a short-lived attempt to end state funding five years ago.)
