New TNJ edition alert: SCOTENN applicants, lobbying spending, Vandy poll
The latest print edition of The Tennessee Journal is out. Here is what’s in it:
— 3 judges, defense attorney, and trial lawyer seek to fill high court vacancy.
— Lobbying spending jumps as much as 12% over pre-pandemic levels.
— Vanderbilt poll gauges attitudes toward abortion, transgender laws
— Truth in gifting: A look at what the political set can expect to get on Christmas.
Also: An overhaul in the House speaker’s office, lawmakers confer in Hawaii, law enforcement training center gets green light (without Tullahoma element), and a new restaurant in Memphis will be called The Lobbyist.
As always, access the your copy of the TNJ here.
Or subscribe here.
Read Vanderbilt hospital’s letter to lawmakers on transgender clinic
Vanderbilt University Medical Center says no minors have received genital procedures at its transgender clinic and that all patients were at least 16 years old and had parental consent. The hospital told Rep. Jason Zachary (R-Knoxville) it will pause gender affirmation surgery on patients under age 18 while it seeks advice from local and national experts, a process that could take several months.
“We understand this issue is likely to be taken up by the General Assembly in its next legislative session,” Deputy CEO C. Wright Pinson wrote.
Here is the letter:
Representative Zachary,
I write in response to your letter of September 28, 2022 on behalf of Vanderbilt University Medical Center (“VUMC”) and its Board of Directors regarding the concerns about surgical care provided through the transgender clinic for those under age 18.
VUMC began its Transgender Health Clinic in 2018 because transgender individuals are at high risk for mental and physical health issues, and have been consistently underserved by our nation’s healthcare systems. Among those patients under 18 receiving transgender care, an average of 5 per year have received gender-affirming surgical procedures. Contrary to some media reports, all were at least 16 years of age, none have received genital procedures and parental consent to these surgeries was obtained in all cases. None of these surgeries have been paid for by state or federal funds; the revenues from this limited number of surgeries represent an immaterial percentage of VUMC’s net operating revenue.
VUMC approaches its responsibility to care for patients by following the most widely recognized national and international standards of care, while at all times doing so in accordance with state and federal laws. Our clinical teams provide transgender care that is informed by the professional practice standards and guidance established by leading medical specialty societies, such as the Endocrine Society and the World Professional Association of Transgender Health (WPATH). We fully comply with the requirements of legislation passed by the General Assembly in 2021, now codified at Tenn. Code Ann. §63-1-169, which prohibits providing hormone therapy to prepuberal children.
VUMC serves as the employment home for over 40,000 people and our people express their views in many forums, including hundreds of open conferences on our campus facilities each year. Comments from videos posted on social media that are obtained at these kinds of events should not be construed as statements of VUMC policy. VUMC’s policies and practices allow employees to request an accommodation to be excused from participating in surgeries or procedures they believe are morally objectionable. We do not condone discrimination against employees who choose to request accommodations.
You have asked that VUMC halt permanent gender affirmation surgeries being performed on minor children. On September 6, 2022, WPATH published a new version of its recommendations to health care professionals for treatment of transgender persons, known as SOC-8. In light of these new recommendations, and as part of completing our internal clinical review of the SOC-8 guidance in patients under 18, we will be seeking advice from local and national clinical experts. We are pausing gender affirmation surgeries on patients under age 18 while we complete this review, which may take several months.
In addition, we understand this issue is likely to be taken up by the General Assembly in its next legislative session. As always, we will assure that VUMC’s programs comply with any new requirements which may be established as a part of Tennessee law.
I trust this letter has been responsive to the concerns which have been surfaced to you and your colleagues.
Sincerely yours,
/signed/
C. Wright Pinson, MBA, MD
Deputy CEO and Chief Health System Officer
Vandy baseball team declines White House visit
The Vanderbilt baseball team declined a White House visit to celebrate its 2019 NCAA championship, The Washington Post reports.
A spokesman told the paper the invitation was “respectfully declined [because of] long-standing travel plans for our student-athletes to return home for the Thanksgiving holiday.”
Last year’s winner, Oregon State, visited President Donald Trump in the White House instead.
The White House event was to celebrate 22 champions from non-revenue sports. NCAA football and basketball champions have visited on their own.
Haslam to teach political science course at Vanderbilt
Gov. Billl Haslam speaks at an event at the Musicians Hall of Fame in Nashville on Aug. 28, 2018. (Erik Schelzig, Tennessee Journal)
Former Gov. Bill Haslam is teaching a course at Vanderbilt University this fall. The Republican will join professor John Geer and author Jon Meacham in the course examining leadership strategies of U.S. presidents and of former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor and civil rights leader Rosa Parks.
Here’s the full release from Vanderbilt:
Former Tennessee governor Bill Haslam has joined Vanderbilt’s faculty as a distinguished visiting professor of political science this fall.
Haslam, who served as mayor of Knoxville prior to his two terms as governor, will join John Geer, Gertrude Conaway Vanderbilt Professor of Political Science, and historian Jon Meacham, who holds the Carolyn T. and Robert M. Rogers Chair in the American Presidency, to teach a popular upper-level undergraduate course titled “Leadership.”
“I am excited about the opportunity to be in class with John Geer and Jon Meacham,” Haslam said. “This class will be a great forum for a lively discussion about leadership in today’s political environment, understood in a historical context. I look forward to sharing some observations and lessons learned from serving as a mayor and governor.”
‘Leadership’ examines the actions of political actors in the interest of better understanding how these individuals not only made important decisions but encouraged and inspired others to support their vision of the nation. In addition to the U.S. presidents, this year’s course will closely study the leadership strategies of former Supreme Court justice Sandra Day O’Connor and civil rights leader Rosa Parks.
“Leadership is an intrinsic and yet mysterious force in human affairs, and the best way to prepare students for the responsibilities that await them, I think, is to consider how leaders of the past have struggled with the defining issues of the ages,” Meacham said.
“In this era of polarized political discourse, it is important to take a clear-headed look at leadership and its importance to the political system,” Geer added. “This course seeks to accomplish that important goal. Governor Haslam’s experience and insight offers important perspectives, because not only has he practiced leadership in his years of public service, he has given serious thought to the subject. With Jon Meacham’s historical insight, students will have multiple ways to engage with this critical topic.”
Gov. Haslam is a Knoxville native. Educated at the Webb School and Emory University, he was an executive at Pilot Corporation and Saks Fifth Avenue before pursuing public office. Haslam has also served as chair of the Republican Governors Association. He and his wife, Crissy, have three children and eight grandchildren, and split their time between Knoxville and Nashville.
Vanderbilt poll finds strong support for Gov.-elect Lee
Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Lee speaks at a rally in Franklin on Oct. 17, 2018. (Erik Schelzig, Tennessee Journal)
A new poll by Vanderbilt University finds Republican Gov.-elect Bill Lee coming into office with support nearly rivaling that of outgoing Gov. Bill Haslam.
Here’s the release from Vanderbilt:
NASHVILLE, Tenn.—Governor-elect Bill Lee will enter office with a strong favorability rating of 57 percent, with only 22 percent of registered voters holding an unfavorable view, according to the latest Vanderbilt University Poll. The findings also suggest Lee will also find support for some of his initiatives, including expanding vocational training in the state. Meanwhile, health care has surpassed the economy and education for the first time in the poll’s history as Tennesseans’ chief priority for state government.
“Overall, we see support for an agenda that could work for our incoming governor,” said John Geer, Gertrude Conaway Vanderbilt Professor of Political Science and co-director of the Vanderbilt Poll. “Education and the economy are strong priorities, as well as immigration and infrastructure.”
“The one worry Bill Lee must deal with is health care, which has risen in importance to Tennesseans,” said poll co-director Josh Clinton, Abby and Jon Winkelried Professor of Political Science. “Although the two are related, health care now takes precedence above the economy to voters here.”
Vanderbilt poll: Bredesen ahead for Senate (but ‘not a lock’); governor’s race ‘wide open’
Press release from Vanderbilt University
As Tennessee looks to elect a new U.S. senator and governor in 2018, new polling figures suggest Republicans in those races may be facing real competition from Democrats, according to the most recent Vanderbilt Poll.
Vanderbilt Poll: Tennesseans are more moderate than most people think
Tennesseans are less conservative than most folks think, according to a Vanderbilt University poll of 1,013 registered Tennessee voters conducted between Nov. 16 and Dec. 5.
The poll also indicates Republican U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn has the highest name identification among candidates for the U.S. Senate, 73 percent, followed by Democratic former Gov. Phil Bredesen at 65 percent and Republican U.S. Rep. Stephen Fincher at 22 percent.
In the governor’s race, Republican Diane Black leads with 59 percent name recognition, followed by Democrat Karl Dean with 41 percent. Republicans Beth Harwell (40) , Randy Boyd (33), Mae Beavers (28) and Bill Lee (14) follow, with Democrat Craig Fitzhugh standing at 10 percent.
Beth Fortune exits Vanderbilt after 16 years
Beth Fortune, who stepped down as Gov. Don Sundquist’s communications director to join Vanderbilt University in 2000, has resigned her position there as vice chancellor for public affairs, according to a university news release.
Fortune, who was a political reporter for the Nashville Banner prior to joining the Sundquist administration, will “transition” to a complete departure from Vanderbilt “early next year,” according to the statement.
The full release is HERE. Here’s the last paragraph:
A national search for a newly created vice chancellor position that focuses solely on communications is under way, and an interim vice chancellor for public affairs who will oversee government, neighborhood and community relations will be named soon.
Vanderbilt poll: Most TN voters happy with Trump, even more with Haslam
News release from Vanderbilt University
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office, registered voters in Tennessee are more optimistic about the future of the state and the country than six months earlier, according to the latest statewide Vanderbilt Poll – a survey conducted twice a year by the Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions. The poll asked a wide range of questions, including items on key policies facing the state and the popularity of the leadership of state. One of the most noteworthy findings is that Tennesseans remain supportive of an increase in the sales tax for a gallon of gasoline sold in the state.
The poll of 1,005 registered voters in Tennessee was taken Nov. 14-29 with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percent.
Favorability ratings are also up for most officials. Gov. Bill Haslam, who did not publicly support Trump, has an approval rating of 68 percent. Approval ratings are 60 percent for each of the state’s two U.S. senators, Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker – a jump of more than 10 percentage points from last May. The legislature also has a 60 percent approval rating.
“Gov. Haslam is arguably the most popular governor in the country,” says John Geer, Gertrude Conaway Vanderbilt Professor of Political Science. “He is governing in this era of polarization in a way that isn’t polarizing. He needs to get credit for that. Some may have thought his concerns about Trump’s candidacy would have hurt him with Republicans and members of the Tea Party. But that is not the case.” The Vanderbilt Poll has been tracking the growth of the Tea Party influence in Tennessee.
