Greetings Forty-Fivers,                                                               31 Mar 14

Here’s the latest!

Thank you to those of you that came to the Red Rooster!  I was able to get some excellent input on issues still to come before us on the House floor.  It really has been a pleasure meeting with city officials and citizens throughout the district.  I will have a round of ‘end-of-session’ meetings in May.  Same places – we’ll start at the White House Cracker Barrel, Millersville FliNanny’s and Hendersonville Red Rooster.  We’ll announce date and times later! 

Here we are at Roosters!  We had interested citizens, and two candidates for two different judicial seats:


Mr. Louis Oliver (two from my right), running for Sumner County Chancery Court and Mr. Randy Stamps (center of picture) running for Circuit Court Judge (18th Judicial District).  We talked about everything from education to meth!  It was most instructive.

Just a reminder, you can visit my facebook at: 

https://www.facebook.com/votecourtneyrogers 

Tell friends they can sign up for ‘The Latest’ at www.votecourtney.com as well.

Now for news: 

HB 2410.  Semper Fi!  The Marines in the House are still taking point.  Why am I not surprised.  U.S. Marines, Rep. VanHuss and Rep. Goins – Primary sponsors of HB 2410 – are letting the world know that we are a sovereign state.  In case you didn’t know, in 2012, the UN sent official ‘observers’ to monitor our elections in Tennessee for ‘human rights violations’ because we required Photo ID.  So, this legislation states that any representative of the UN appearing without a treaty ratified by the United States Senate stating that the United Nations can monitor elections in this state, shall NOT monitor elections in this state. 

A couple of my bills are working their way through the process:

HB 0477.  My ‘Student Victim Protection’ bill just cleared Calendar and Rules and will be on the House Floor soon.  The purpose of this bill is to give our Juvenille Court Justices a little more flexibility to protect student victims in school.  If the Justices deem it necessary (due to the extent of the offense), a student delinquent may be assigned to a different school or education program, if they are assigned to the same school as their victims.  We have so very many rights to protect the rights of those that commit crimes, it is time to focus on the safety of our victims as well.  It was difficult in the past because some school districts only have, for example, one high school.  Part of what makes this possible is the increase of options available for education – virtual school, home school, adult education programs, etc…  It is a careful balance, because we want delinquents to continue to develop and prepare themselves for positive success in the future.

HB 1925.  Many thanks to Senator Bo Watson who is running the Senate version of this bill for me.  I believe it is going to the Senate Floor soon.  This is my ‘Welfare Reform’ cash diversion bill.  Did you know that Tennessee was rated at the very bottom of getting citizens off of welfare compared to all other states?  I have studied the top performing states and found one program that they use, that we haven’t really applied.  It is called a ‘Cash Diversion’ or ‘Welfare Avoidance’ Grant.  Currently, if one is qualified and applies for TANF money, they are placed on long-term assistance.  Sometimes, they could be better served by a one-time, lump sum (i.e. to take care of a broken down car that they need to continue going to work).  This amount is deducted from any future TANF benefits they qualify for (they cannot double dip).  Research has shown that recipients of a diversion that can keep working are 40 percent LESS likely to return for future benefits than those that leave the TANF system after having been enrolled for a long period of time (due to ‘duration dependency).  The diversion option can help families through short term crisis, keeps them working and more independent, and simultaneously can help to reduce taxpayer burden.  I am very pleased to have the Department of Human Services helping me to move this forward.  So far, this bill has made it through the Health Committee, Government Ops, and will next go to Finance (there is no fiscal note, so it should go through just fine) ….  It is a lengthy walk and a lengthy process for a worthy cause – for everyone.

Vistors and Visits!

I was so pleased to have a young visitor from Station Camp Middle School!  Meet Miss Skylar Vandever – she served as a ‘Page for a Day.’  Thank you Grandfather Marty McBay for bringing her down to learn more about how her government works! Thank you Madam Speaker for taking the time for a photo! 


      What a beautiful day TDOT Commissioner John Schroer had to celebrate the opening of the new and beautiful State Route 109 Bridge!  This was a momentous occasion and EVERYONE was there!  Take note of the beautiful brickwork for the gateways and the Gold Seals.  It says ‘Welcome to Wilson County’ on the other side.  Also, can you see the lamp?  The bridge is lined with several of these.  It is truly beautiful.  Two lanes of traffic are now open – remaining work shall be finished this fall.   Mayor Graves said that the new bridge will serve as a gateway into Gallatin and Sumner County, opening “another commercial corridor for future development and growth.’  Congratulations Sumner and Wilson Counties!

Finally, my family and I were so very honored to have been invited by our very good, and much respected friend, Dr. Ming Wang, to meet and have dinner with Minister Li Jie, of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Washington D.C..  It was amazing to me to see how approachable he was, for someone in such a high position.  We spoke of everything from the cultural revolution to the challenges that both our governments face.  He is very optimistic about our country – he said through history, Americans have shown themselves to be very resiliant with the ability to ‘come back’ from adversity.  The meal was fantastic – but I had to laugh at both my husband and daughter that discovered Chinese peppers the hard way!

Continue below if you wish to read the Capitol Wrap!

Just a quick comment on the first article.  While we made some 2nd Amendment Rights progress, it is still falls short – none of the items passed protect permitted employees from being fired ‘for reason of legally carrying’ in their motor vehicles – but we are moving forward bit by bit.


The Tennessee General Assembly

 

House of Representatives

CAPITOL HILL REVIEW

A weekly wrap-up of legislative news

                     

Contact: Cade Cothren, (615) 741-5185                 cade.cothren@capitol.tn.gov 

House Expands Second Amendment Rights For Tennesseans

House lawmakers moved forward this week with several pieces of legislation aimed at expanding the Second Amendment rights of Tennesseans, with all four measures being backed by the National Rifle Association.

The first measure, House Bill 1404, clarifies a bill passed last year which allows individuals to carry their firearms safely secured in the trunk of their vehicle when on private property without fear of criminal penalty. This tweak to last year’s law also makes it legal for such person to transfer a gun, once they are on private property, from the interior of their vehicle to their trunk, again without criminal prosecution.

Likewise, House Bill 1405 also clarifies the 2013 ‘guns in trunks’ legislation. Originally, the bill said anyone who is in their “private vehicle” is exempt from prosecution if they carry their gun, safely stored in their trunk, on to private property. This bill defines “private vehicle” to include any motor vehicle in which that individual lawfully possesses, ensuring protection under the law if, for example, the individual happens to be driving their spouse’s vehicle that day.

House Bill 1483 removes all prohibitions passed by the General Assembly prior to 1986 with regard to the possession, transportation, or storage of firearms and firearms ammunition by handgun carry permit holders, repealing many outdated and antiquated measures on the law books which restricted gun rights from years past.

And, finally, House Bill 1952 makes it illegal for drones to interfere with private citizens who are legally hunting or fishing in the state.

As Tennessee’s Constitution guarantees, “the citizens of this State have a right to keep and bear arms”—a right that House lawmakers have actively sought to protect and expand over the last several years.

Lawmakers, Farmers To Celebrate Annual “Ag Day On The Hill” Event

House lawmakers will join with farmers and agriculture groups from across the state next week to celebrate Tennessee’s annual “Ag Day on the Hill” event at the Legislative Plaza in Nashville. Governor Bill Haslam has also proclaimed the date “Agriculture Day” as part of the annual national observance to recognize the important contributions of farmers and forestland owners to the state and nation.

Ag Day on the Hill activities will include the popular milking contest between Senate and House members, a cattle-weighing contest, farm animals, crops and equipment, and new this year, a silent auction to benefit Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee and Tennessee’s Ag in the Classroom educational program.

The event will also feature for the first time the Drive to Feed the World Tour, a unique, interactive road show traveling the nation to heighten awareness about world hunger and sustainable food production.

Festivities kick off at 8 a.m. with the milking contest taking place at 9 a.m. Special presentations to the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee get underway at 10:30 a.m. The winner of the cattle-weighing contest, to be announced during the committee meeting, will receive a Pick Tennessee Products gift basket.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee will have collection bins available at Legislative Plaza throughout the day. Participants and visitors are encouraged to bring nonperishable items for donation. The Farm and Forest Families of Tennessee organization will present a check to Second Harvest in honor of the milking contest winner.

Tennessee has 76,000 farms representing 10.8 million acres in production. More than half of the state, 14 million acres, is in mostly privately owned hardwood forests. Tennessee’s top agricultural commodities include cattle, soybeans, corn, poultry, cotton, timber, greenhouse and nursery products, dairy products, wheat, tobacco, and hay. The industry has a $66 billion a year impact on the state’s economy and supports nearly 337,900 jobs.

First Lady Establishes New Field Trip Program For Tennessee Students

First Lady Crissy Haslam this week hosted students from Bransford Pride Afterschool Program at the Tennessee Residence to launch a new field trip program aimed at encouraging children to learn more about Tennessee history.

The program invites students to visit the Tennessee Residence to learn about the history of the state, the governor’s residence, and offers the ability to tour the grounds of the facility itself. During the tour, students will have the opportunity to participate in numerous hands-on activities, including planting and harvesting fresh vegetables from the Residence’s formal garden.

In addition, Mrs. Haslam also read to students from her March Read20 book of the month, The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame, and emphasized the value of reading at least 20 minutes each day. The Read20 Family Book Club was launched as part of the First Lady’s initiative to highlight the importance of early literacy and parental engagement in children’s academic lives.

For more information about the Tennessee Residence field trip program or the Read20 Family Book Club visit www.tn.gov/firstlady.

Cursive Writing Bill Passes Full House

House lawmakers overwhelmingly approved a measure this week calling for children in schools across Tennessee to learn the ability to read and write in cursive.

House Bill 1697, which was approved 85-6, would add handwriting instruction to the state learning standards.

The bill is meant to prevent a decline in the ability of students to read handwritten notes and sign their own names, as well as interpret historical documents in their original form, like the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution.

The motivation for the legislation came after parents complained to state lawmakers that their children were unable to read handwritten assignments. Upon further investigation, it was also found that a significant percentage of high school juniors and seniors could not read cursive writing assignments written by teachers on classroom chalkboards.

Over the last few weeks, the measure sailed through the House committee process, drawing bipartisan support from lawmakers.

Tennessee is one of at least six states with lawmakers urging the teaching of cursive. Five other states — North Carolina, California, Georgia, Massachusetts, and Virginia — already have laws in place to make sure students learn to read and write using cursive in school.

The Senate Education Committee is set to take up the measure in the next few days. Once passed there, it will travel to the desk of Governor Haslam to be signed into law.

  

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