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Greetings Forty-Fivers, 10 Mar 14
Here’s the latest!
First, a reminder to my Forty-Fivers in Millersville and Goodlettsville – You are invited to FliNanny’s Café Friday, March 14th anytime between 7:30 and 9:00 a.m. I will be there for coffee and conversation – to touch base with all of you. Don’t forget the State Capitol Review at the end!
Now for news:
 In Criminal Justice last week it was announced, that our legal counsel (seated in the middle), Mr. Randy Stamps is leaving us! He has decided to enter the race for the Circuit Court judge seat that was left vacant by the sudden death of Judge C.L. Buck Rogers (who will be sorely missed). Mr. Stamps is a former state representative for District 45 from 1988 – 1998. I know him to be a fair and just man, with sound Constitutional principles. Good luck! We will miss you!
There are so many issues and bills that come up, I know I only address a fraction of them here – but I do try to highlight those that I think are extraordinarily sound, just, or long time coming.
On the Floor:
HB 1686 By Rep. Carter passed the House Floor last week. It corrects what I view as a great injustice. Under present law, a civil judgment or an order of restriction that was converted to a civil judgment remains effective for a period of 10 years from the date of entry (meaning you have to renew every 10 years).
What this bill does, in incidents where the judgment is for the injury or death of a person that resulted from the judgment debtor’s criminal conduct, and debtor is convicted of criminal offense, or the civil judgment is originally an order of restitution… The victims do not have to go back to court every 10 years to keep the judgment open. How unfair is it, that the victims have to go back to court, hire lawyers, and relive the entire experience again, every ten years. This ends that.
HB 1647 By Rep Hill, enacts the ‘Rural Bridge Relief Act of 2014. The state has set aside, millions of dollars dedicated to the repair of bridges. The problem was, to access this money, the localities had to match 10%. Some of the rural counties can’t make the match – so the money just sits there and infrastructure continues to fall into disrepair. Nobody is served. The bill was amended to be called the ‘County Bridge Relief Act’ so that, if the county has funds in the state treasury, then the county can access it with a 2% match – thereby opening the concept across the board. Congratulations Rep. Hill! I love common-sense legislation.
Veterans
First, thank you to Governor Haslam and Many-Bears Grinder for creating the Veteran Education Task Force, which was called to identify hurdles to Veteran access in Tennessee higher education. The result of this task force was a recommendation for HB 1372, the TN Veterans Education Transition Support Act that would allow in-state tuition for Veterans. This makes sense, because Veterans, due to their assignments, do not always land in their home state when they leave military service.
Teachers/Parents
The Common Core battle rages here at the capitol. Rep. Rick Womick continues to fight this battle with great precision and eloquence. I wanted to take a moment to state my position on this entire issue in the SIMPLEST terms. We can talk about who started what where, we can talk about evaluations, inappropriate materials, standards vs curriculum, textbooks vs testing, and then my favorite, more intrusive databasing. Really, it is as nightmarish as going through the folds of Obamacare, the IRS scandal, or the Benghazi hearings. However, ignore all that. Education is the responsibility of the state and local governments, parents, teachers, administraters, parents, period. Education is not included in the enumerated powers of the Federal government. We do not want Education
controlled by the ever changing political aspirations of whomsoever rests at the top – Democrat or Republican, or beltway bureucrats (aka bandits) in Washington D.C. That is shifting sand. But on the local level, the schools, the parents, and the local community are accountable to each other for the education and success of our students.
 Thank you Ms. Susan Phillips, my constituent AND representative for Cumberland Mental Health / Volunteer Behavioral Health! We talked about a great many things – to include some of my concerns which includes legal drug addictions of our youth. Don’t forget I wish to come visit and learn about your services.
 Got my official TN Wildlife hunting and fishing license! They had a booth set up in the plaza! Which is good, because this spring I hope to go out with my new friends from the TN Wild Turkey Federation this spring and learn something about turkey hunting. BUT LADIES! Heads up, there is an introductory outdoorsman program coming up soon for you! Please visit www.tnwildlife.org for more details! Here I am with Ms.
Fay Hickerson and Sgt Dale Grandstaff. Thank you for coming out!
 Tally-ho old chap! I was so entertained by some lovely accents in my office! Lt Col. Roger Middleton from Heathrow England is the Director of Cadet Programs for the Civil Air Patrol! He brought his young charge, Cadet 1st Lt Chris Vandermerwe, of South African lineage! Accents and uniforms – it doesn’t get better than that! The young Lt is on target! Dual enrolled, he is not wasting time nor dollars – he will graduate high school with a full year of college credit. He is a testimony to the quality of young people in the
CAP! Many thanks, Col., for you inspiration and support of these fine young people.
Last, but certainly not least, here I am with the famous Ms. Dayle from the Goodlettsville Chamber of Commerce! They had a great fundraiser – the attire being boots, bandanas and cowboy hats! If you have not been to the new-ish location, you should! Lots of fun and it was a great meal as well.
The Tennessee General Assembly
House of Representatives
CAPITOL HILL REVIEW
A weekly wrap-up of legislative news
House Calls For Increased Tax Relief For Seniors, Job Creators
Legislation will repeal Hall Income Tax on stocks and bonds
House lawmakers joined with various tax reform groups this week, including the Beacon Center of Tennessee and Americans For Prosperity, to voice support for legislation, which will phase out the state’s Hall Income Tax.
The Hall Income Tax imposes a levy on income derived from stocks and bonds. Numerous studies show the tax impacts seniors and entrepreneurs the hardest, as both groups rely more heavily on this type of income than others. In addition, critics argue the “secret” income tax drives new capital investments away from Tennessee and sends the wrong message to older folks looking to retire to Tennessee from another state.
The legislation supported by House lawmakers will phase out the state portion of the Hall tax over a period of six years. The measure also includes provisions to ensure the phase out is done in a fiscally responsible manner.
The legislation will be heard by the House and Senate in the coming weeks.
Amelia’s Law Overwhelmingly Passes House Of Representatives
Legislation supported by House lawmakers calling for stricter rules for repeat drug and alcohol offenders was overwhelmingly approved this week in the Tennessee House of Representatives.
As passed, House Bill 1759 — also known as “Amelia’s Law” — allows judges to require criminal offenders to wear a "transdermal monitoring device" if alcohol or drugs were contributing factors in their crime. It is a device that can track alcohol or drug levels through a person's skin.
The legislation is named after Amelia Keown, who died in a head-on collision on U.S. Hwy 411 near Maryville in 2012, while on her way home to pick up pompoms for dance practice. She was 16 years old.
Records show the man who hit Amelia was out on parole and had a criminal record dating back to 1998. His sheet included aggravated robbery, multiple drugs offenses, fleeing and evading police, along with other charges. In addition, a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation toxicology report showed the offender had methamphetamine and oxycodone in his system at the time of the accident.
The House unanimously passed the proposal, 92-0.
‘Stop ObamaCare Act’ Headed To Governor For Signature
The ‘Stop ObamaCare Act’ has officially passed the full House of Representatives and is headed to Governor Haslam to be signed into law.
As passed, the bill prohibits Medicaid expansion as mandated by ObamaCare unless first authorized by the Tennessee General Assembly. The United States Supreme Court ruled the mandatory expansion of Medicaid in the states as unconstitutional last year.
In addition to the current debate over Medicaid expansion, the bill also provides that any future expansion proposal must go through the regular legislative process and cannot be placed into the state budget, protecting taxpayer dollars even further.
Projections show expansion of Medicaid in Tennessee would cost taxpayers an extra $250 million a year, an amount of money the state simply does not have.
Bill To Aid Charitable Organizations Scheduled For Full House Hearing
Legislation aimed at reducing the fees owed by charitable organizations in the state moved out of the House Calendar & Rules Committee on Thursday and is scheduled to be heard by the full House next week.
As drafted, the bill would cut fees owed by non-profit and other charitable organizations across the board by 20 percent. For a charity raising between $30,000 and $48,999.99 per year, the new annual fee would be only $80. At the top end of the scale, a charity raising $500,000 or more would pay $240 per year.
The bill also reduces the annual registration fees for professional solicitors from $800 to $250 and for fundraising counsels from $250 to $100. The changes would affect about 8,100 organizations and individuals who must currently register with the state.
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