Thank You!

Dear Friends,

I write this letter to you on my last day in office to say thank you very much for the honor of serving as your state Representative for the last eight years. It has truly been one of the greatest pleasures of my life - one that I will remember fondly always.

Over the last several weeks since the Primary Election, I have been busy winding up work in my legislative office; helping constituents, checking on the progress of road projects and working to ensure that the several pieces of legislation on which I was working are delivered to competent hands for future passage.

I appreciate everything you have done to help me while I was in office. I thank you for all of your support, and I look forward to our continued friendship.

Once again, let me say how grateful I am to you for the last eight years. Thank you for every special memory.

Sincerely,

Susan Lynn
State Representative
57th District, Tennessee

Tennessean - Right to Hunt and Fish

Susan Lynn's Ratings and Endorsements for state Senate

• Tennessee Right to Life 100% rated
• A+ National Rifle Association
• Wilson County Republican Assembly
• Sumner United for Responsible Government
• Ken Mererro - Conservative Blogger - Blue Collar Muse
• JB Williams - Conservative Commentator
• Tri-Cities Tea Party
• John Smaldone of Cross Country Patriots, Tennessee TEA Party Coalition, Lone Star Tea Party, Smoky Mountain Tea Party, Patriots Tea party Patriots

Tennessee Right to Life Endorsement List

Susan Lynn onece again meets all pro-life criteria by the Tennessee Right to Life Political Action Committee. The announcement was made via the TNRL PAC 2010 Tennessee State Legislative Endorsement List.

"I am very proud to be consistently rated as 100% prolife by Tennessee Right to Life throughout my time in the state legislature" stated Rep. Susan Lynn.

Susan Lynn has worked hard for the pro-life cause in the Tennessee General Assembly by co-sponsoring SJR 127, a Constitutional Amendment that will allow protections for women; Susan defunded Planned Parenthood in 2008 with an amendment to the state budget to realign funding for family planning services and this year Susan sponsored the Anti-Coersion Act, a law that will place a sign in places where abortions are performed to notify women that it is illegal for anyone to coerce them to have an abortion.

"Being included on this list gives assurance to voters that they can count on me to be a consistant prolife vote for them in the state legislature." added Lynn.

All listed candidates have returned 100% pro-life surveys and have also been personally interviewed by members of TRL PAC. Each meets criteria as a pro-life candidate and members of Tennessee Right to Life may be confident in voting for any one of them.

For more information, please contact: Daniel Diffenderfer, Campaign Manager, Susan Lynn for State Senate - 615-406-3914.

Lynn receives highest rating of A+ from the NRA

The National Rifle Association (NRA) has announced that Susan Lynn has received a rating of A+; the organization’s highest ranking. An A+ indicates a legislator with not only an excellent voting record on all critical NRA issues, but who has also made a vigorous effort to promote and defend the Second Amendment.

Lynn stated “I am honored by this rating, and grateful that the NRA has acted to recognize my strong support of the Second Amendment.”

The National Rifle Association is the nation’s leading gun rights organization. This is the fifth election that Susan Lynn, a candidate for the State Senate in the 17th district and consistent advocate of individual freedoms, has received such recognition from the organization.

For more information; visit http://www.nrapvf.org/Elections/State.aspx?y=2010&State=TN or call 615-596-2363.

Susan Lynn Endorsed by Sumner United for Responsible Government!

Sumner United for Responsible Government, one of the largest and most active tea party groups in Tennessee, has selected Susan Lynn as their first ever political endorsement. Susan is running in the Republican primary for Tennessee Senate District 17.

As a State Representative Susan has consistently been the most vocal and effective advocate for the principles of individual liberty and state sovereignty in the Tennessee legislature. She has a deep and abiding commitment to the U.S. Constitution, which is reflected in her numerous bills reclaiming Tennessee's state sovereignty and protecting Tennesseans from an intrusive federal government. Susan established and now leads a committee that is communicating and recruiting other states to work together to protect the rights of the States and individual citizens. She continuously introduces and passes legislation that protects citizens from government and protects Tennessee from federal overreach. She is the definition of a tea party candidate.

Susan has been an unstoppable force in reigning in government spending, taxes, and waste and supporting Tennessee values. Her record on taxes, illegal immigration, support for small business, crime, life and education is impeccable.

We urge you to make a donation to Susan Lynn today and volunteer to help with her campaign. Susan is running against an entrenched State Senator and will need every bit of your support. Visit Susan's website: http://www.repsusanlynn.com/

JB Williams Endorses Susan Lynn

Thank you to Conservative Journalist JB Williams for your endorsement

"Beavers’ personal ambition won out over honorable statesmanship and the best interest of the people of Tennessee. Don’t expect to hear this truth from Beavers sycophant Steve Gill.

But it is for this reason that I hereby endorse TN Rep. Susan Lynn for Tennessee’s District 17 Senate seat.

I further request that ALL conservative Americans seeking honest conservative leadership in government join me in supporting Ms. Lynn’s campaign to end the politics of old in the Tennessee Senate..."

http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/24854

Blue Collar Muse Endorsement

Thank you Ken Marerro for your endorsement...

I am excited and proud to wholeheartedly endorse Susan, without reservation, and encourage you to donate to her campaign, to volunteer for her campaign and on election day, I urge you to cast your vote for perhaps Tennessee’s finest legislator, Susan Lynn....

http://conservablogs.com/bluecollarmuse/2010/06/21/susan-lynn-the-superior-candidate-for-tn-senate-district-17/

Wilson County Republican Assembly Endorses Susan Lynn for State Senate

The Wilson County Republican Assembly recently announced their endorsement of Rep. Susan Lynn for State Senate.

“Rep. Susan Lynn is a true, conservative leader who has worked to promote strength and unity within the local Republican community for years. Rep. Lynn works tirelessly to promote Tennessee’s state sovereignty, reduce government spending and waste, protect our second amendment rights, and to protect the rights of the unborn,” said WCRA President Michael Cole.

“I’m honored to receive the endorsement of the Wilson County Republican Assembly,” said Rep. Lynn. “I believe the Wilson County Republican Assembly’s endorsement of my bid for State Senate is indicative of the mood of Wilson County. The groundswell of support we’ve seen the last few weeks is incredible.”

Rep. Lynn announced her bid for State Senate after Senator Mae Beavers decided to run for County Mayor in June of 2009. After Senator Mae Beavers reversed that decision in March, Rep. Lynn said she felt “ethically bound” to keep her word and continue in her bid for State Senate.

The Wilson County Republican Assembly is the seventh conservative organization to endorse Rep. Susan Lynn’s candidacy for State Senate. The WCRA joined Sumner United for Responsible Government, Cross County Patriots, the Tennessee Tea Party Coalition, the Lone Star Tea Party, the Smoky Mountain Tea Party Patriots, and The Tea Party Patriots.

##

Tea Party in Tennessee Endorses Susan Lynn for State Senate

Rep. Susan Lynn’s bid for State Senate continued to gain momentum when she picked up another endorsement by a conservative organization when the Tri-Cities Tea Party-912 Group endorsed her bid for State Senate.

“We would like to express our support of Rep. Susan Lynn for State Senate. Rep. Lynn has been the most outspoken proponent of state sovereignty in the state legislature for years,” said Doug White, a founding member of the organization.

Rep. Susan Lynn passed a resolution to create “The Conference and Correspondent’s Committee on State Sovereignty” in the Fall of 2009, gaining statewide and national media attention for the state sovereignty movement.

“The 10th amendment is something I’ve been passionate about my entire life. Tennesseans are tired of the Federal Government encroaching upon their personal liberties. I created the committee on state sovereignty as a way to fight back against an increasingly-intrusive federal government,” said Rep. Lynn.

“I’m finding an incredible amount of grassroots support in my campaign. For years, I’ve fought for lower taxes, the second amendment, and the rights of the unborn in the state legislature. I will provide that same type of leadership in the State Senate.”

Earlier this week, Rep. Lynn announced an endorsement by the Wilson County Republican Assembly; joining leaders of eight conservative organizations who have publicly endorsed her bid for State Senate; including Sumner United for Responsible Government, the Cross County Patriots, the Tennessee Tea Party Coalition, the Lone Star Tea Party, the Smoky Mountain Tea Party Patriots, The Tea Party Patriots, and the Tri-Cities Tea Party-912 Group.

##

For Immediate Release
July 21, 2010
For more information call Daniel Diffenderfer - 615-406-3914

Cagney, "You're a Grand Old Flag", from Yankee Doodle Dandy(1942)

Groups endorse Susan Lynn for State Senate

I'm proud to announce that I've been endorsed by five tea parties in Tennessee, Sumner County SURG and by conservative blogger, Ken Marerro.

Please take a moment to read these endorsements.

Rep. Susan Lynn
Candidate for State Senate
District 17

www.VoteSusanLynn.com

SURG Endorses Susan Lynn for State Senate

Susan Lynn Endorsed by Sumner United for Responsible Government!

Sumner United for Responsible Government, one of the largest and most active tea party groups in Tennessee, has selected Susan Lynn as their first ever political endorsement. Susan is running in the Republican primary for Tennessee Senate District 17.

As a State Representative Susan has consistently been the most vocal and effective advocate for the principles of individual liberty and state sovereignty in the Tennessee legislature. She has a deep and abiding commitment to the U.S. Constitution, which is reflected in her numerous bills reclaiming Tennessee's state sovereignty and protecting Tennesseans from an intrusive federal government. Susan established and now leads a committee that is communicating and recruiting other states to work together to protect the rights of the States and individual citizens. She continuously introduces and passes legislation that protects citizens from government and protects Tennessee from federal overreach. She is the definition of a tea party candidate.

Susan has been an unstoppable force in reigning in government spending, taxes, and waste and supporting Tennessee values. Her record on taxes, illegal immigration, support for small business, crime, life and education is impeccable.

We urge you to make a donation to Susan Lynn today and volunteer to help with her campaign. Susan is running against an entrenched State Senator and will need every bit of your support. Visit Susan's website: http://www.repsusanlynn.com

Thank you John Smaldone & friends!!!

FROM THE DESK OF JOHN A. SMALDONE

Cross County Patriots

Tennessee Tea Party Coalition

Loan Star Tea Party
Smoky Mountain Tea Party Patriots
The Tea Party Patriots

P.O. Box 5688Maryville, TN 37802

865-982-5180

E-Mail: john@usa-godandcountry-petition.com


2010 THE YEAR OF RECONING, THE YEAR WE MUST VOTE
THE YEAR WE MUST VOTE FOR THE RIGHT PEOPLE

We have endorsed what I feel are three of the most qualified people for the job they will be taking on. I would like you to know something about these people so you can judge for yourself.

Susan Lynn is running for state senator of Tennessee. Where do you begin about Susan. Her life is consumed with her love and passion for the state of Tennessee. Let me tell you a little about Susan, than you will know why we need to support and vote for her.

Susan Lynn has represented the 57th Legislative District in the Tennessee House of Representatives for the 106th, 105th, 104th and 103rd General Assemblies. She is chairman of the House Government Operations Committee, and serves on the Calendar & Rules and Commerce Committees as well as the Small Business Sub-Committee.

Susan has been the recipient of the Legislator of the Year Award by the Greater Nashville Regional Council; the Guardian of Small Business and the Champion of Small Business awards from NFIB and recipient of the Hann’s Seidel memorial fellowship.

Her endorsements have included Tennessee Right to Life, NRA, National Federation of Independent Businesses, Tennessee Chamber of Commerce, Local police and Firefighters.

She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in economics and a minor in history from Tennessee State University where she graduated Cum Laude.

I could go on and on about Susan. You need to go to her website and see all that she has accomplished for the state of Tennessee and Our country. Susan’s website will give you an in-depth look at her past voting record as well as all the committees she is on and all of her accomplishments. Please got to Susan’s website and study the candidate. Once you do, you will have no problem voting YES for Susan Lynn.


http://www.votesusanlynn.com/

Rep. Lynn's Newsletter for June 6, 2010

Please read my newsletter on my web site

The American Conservaitve - mentions Rep. Lynn's work

States’ Fights
Nullification makes a comeback—and not just on the Right
By Jeff Taylor

Inside Baseball on the Health Care Freedom Act(s)

There is some confusion over the bills so here is the inside baseball.

There are two bills and a Constitutional Amendment. One bill and the Constitutional Amendment are now dead.

(HB2622/SB2560)I filed the Health Care Freedom Act on January 14th and gave the Senate companion to Senator Diane Black. My bill is model legislation from the American Legislative Exchange Council (http://www.alec.org/). I am a Task Force Chairman at ALEC. We worked on this bill all last summer and fall through conference calls – then passed it as national model legislation at ALEC’s December meeting in Washington DC. It is being run all over the country and has passed in many states. The Attorney General opined that my bill is Constitutional.

HB3433/SB3498) Senator Beavers filed another version of the bill on January 28, one which she also named the Health Care Freedom Act. She gave the House companion bill to Rep. Harwell to run. Harwell felt bad when she realized that Beavers had filed a bill similar to mine so she asked me to take over the bill. I refused saying I was concerned about political appearances. So after a couple of more weeks of talking it over, Harwell gave the bill to Rep. Bell on 2/22/10. It was found to be un-Constitutional by the AG. Beavers has stated that her bill is not the ALEC model legislation however it was created by an ALEC state chairman.

HJR745 - I also filed a Constitutional Amendment, called the Health Care Freedom Act, to amend the Tennessee Constitution to do the same thing.

Both bills and the Constitutional Amendment made it out of Industrial Impact Committee and the Commerce Committee in the House. Bell’s bill (Mae’s) and my Constitutional Amendment made it to the Finance Committee. Bell’s bill died in Finance because the Speaker voted against it. He said because it is unconstitutional and because Rep. Odom read something out of the federal legislation that influenced him. My Constitutional Amendment died in Finance too.

My Health Care Freedom Act bill made it to the Calendar and Rules Committee (it didn’t have to go to Finance Com) where it has averted death many times and been held up waiting for my Senate sponsor to take action on the bill. At this point, all of the Senate committees are closed so right now the bill cannot be run. However, my Senate sponsor says she is working hard to get a committee open so she can run the bill. I hope so.

Speaker Williams voted for my bill in Calendar and Rules Committee yesterday afternoon because it is Constitutional - so now the bill is on the floor calendar. To get the bill voted out of Calendar Committee, and close the debate so we could take the vote or else the Democrats would have prevented us from calling the question indefinately, I had to promise that I won’t run the bill on the floor unless the Senate version makes it out of the Senate Committee.

I hope and pray that the bill makes it out of the Senate committee…stay tuned.

In addition, I filed HJR704, to send a message to Congress about the health care bill and their mandates on us. It was a HUGE two hour floor fight to get it passed. So far, it has not passed in the Senate either. I hope you will watch the video of the floor fight. It was a battle but I really loved defending this legislation.


GOLDWATER INSTITUTE'S NOTES
ALEC'S NOTES ON BILL

Boards and Commissions the Subject of Political Points of View

As Session ends, the House and the Senate differ on amendments for legislation regarding appointments to boards and commissions, and the bills may head to conference committee. In question is whether appointments to a handful of regulatory boards and commissions should be strictly political appointments or if a merit based system is best; one which provides the regulated industries a say in who represents their profession or trade.

Approximately 112 different professions and trades are licensed by regulatory boards and commissions in Tennessee. This represents thousands of business people across our state. As a result, each licensed individual is subject to an extensive amount of state law and regulation over what they do.

The duty of a board or commission involves issuing licenses to practice, deciding on certain industry regulations and standards, and hearing complaints against a licensee.

Boards and commissions typically include members of the executive branch of state government such as the Commissioner of Health, Labor, or Commerce. Other appointees may include members of the legislative branch such as state legislators, the State Treasurer, Comptroller or Secretary of State. Members of the regulated profession or trade are also appointed to serve. In addition, a consumer member is appointed.

Boards often meet a few days a month. Members are not paid but some boards and commissions have the authority to grant a per diem for compensation of gas and hotel expenses - typically up to $50.00 a day maximum. “Some members do complain that their service poses a significant loss of time and income – so finding dedicated individuals to serve is critical.” stated State Rep. Susan Lynn, Chairman of the House Government Operations Committee.

Most board and commission members are appointed by the governor. However, a few select boards require a very high degree of technical knowledge, commitment and experience. For these, the General Assembly has developed a process that allows the regulated professions and trades to nominate individuals that they feel are qualified, experienced and willing to make a personal sacrifice to represent their industry.

The current process requires that several nominations are received from the industry with a final decision made by the Governor. If the Governor finds all nominees are unsatisfactory, he may reject all nominations and request more from the industry. “The current process has worked well and the industry has felt as if it is well represented. Who doesn’t realize that it is only natural to every politician to appoint people that will best serve their own self-interest not society as a whole? Or at least that is the publics’ strong perception. The current process has taken that kind of politics out of the mix, and allowed the regulated business people to have a voice.” stated Chairman Lynn; House sponsor of the bills in question.

However this year the Senate Gov. Ops. Committee wants to remove any say by the regulated trades and professions over who will serve their industry. Instead, the Senate has proposed leaving the appointments for these technical boards strictly up to the Governor; a process which creates fear over political patronage and the injection unnecessary politics into the process. The Senate committee concedes that no one has requested their proposed change but they still want to make all appointments political appointments starting this year.

Lynn noted that “it is not only industry that will lose their ability to ensure competent and knowledgeable representatives on boards of vital interest to them – local governments too will lose the same opportunity.”

This week Attorney General Bob Cooper stated in an opinion requested by Senator Bo Watson, Chairman of the Senate Government Operations Committee, that the current process of allowing the trades and professions to submit nominations from which the Governor shall choose is indeed constitutional.

The Air Pollution Control Board makes regulatory decisions which are crucial to business and industry in our state regarding air pollution as well as to those groups with environmental concerns. The interests and views of the two sides can at times differ greatly.

The point has always been to nominate people to the Air Pollution Control Board based on merit; people that truly understand the technical aspects of the issue. Environmental and business trades currently nominate members to serve. It is in each sides best interest to recommend to the governor the most highly qualified and competent voice they can find. However, if the board is subject to strictly political appointments the fear is that sides will be prevented from having who they perceive to be the very best representative for their side of the cause.

“The Senate’s amendments are very governmentcentric. They assume politicians’ and government know best. The regulated industries are already subject to the whims and opinions of politicians to a very high degree. Politicians create the law that governs their trade, then a board made up of politicians and political appointees makes regulations for what they can and cannot do, and also judges how they do their jobs. To me, the few boards and commissions that have industry nominations are the most Republican. It is the people that make nominations to these boards and commissions but for some reason the Senate wants to take away the peoples’ voice.” stated Chairman Lynn.

“I have reviewed the legislation from the Senate and listened to legislators and concerned parties. I have not heard from Governor Bredesen…he has not stated that he wants sole decision making authority over appointments to these boards and commissions but I have heard from realtors, dentists, architects, engineers, chiropractors, auto dealers and physicians who are afraid of mere political appointees representing them. One individual said to me “Look, government is supposed to be for the people, by the people and of the people – why is the Senate trying to exclude us from the process and hand absolutely everything over to the politicians?” Stated Lynn.

Lynn further commented “I understand how he feels. Right now I am trying to pass another bill that would ensure that initial rules created for licensure can never be emergency rules because emergency rules exclude public input.”

Lynn added “There are nearly 2000 appointments to be made on boards and commissions each year – the Governor could literally spend all day, every day, looking for people to serve. The current process, while it may not be perfect, does cut down on that work for a small quantity while making sure that the people are involved and have a voice.”


Susan Lynn is a four term Tennessee state House member and Chairman of the House Government Operations Committee. She is also the Chairman of the Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development Task Force at the American Legislative Exchange Council; currently in her second term. She is the only member of the Tennessee House ever appointed by ALEC to chair a Task Force.

An Evening with Ann Coulter

The National Fiscal Conservative P.A.C. is pleased to announce their inaugural event, an evening with Ann Coulter.

The date and time are May 29, 2010 from 5:30-9:00pm at the Sheraton Downtown Nashville. The evening will feature a Meet and Greet with Ann, an elegant 3 course dinner and a program to follow culminating with Ann’s remarks as the highlight of the event. The final item on the agenda is a book signing.

Space is limited and seating is reserved with the best seats going to the first to register.

Also Appearing: Con Hunley, Marsha Blackburn, Glen Casada, and Jack Johnson.

The cost for the event is $175 per person to attend the pre-event networking with a cash bar, dinner, program, Ann’s remarks and the book signing. Seating will be “Reserved” by name with reservations being assigned from the front of the room to the back of the room on a first come-first served basis. We're holding a silent auction of some very special Conservatively themed art work specially created for this event. There will also be a special presentation that evening the likes of which you have never seen before!

Tickets for the Meet and Greet with Ann are available at $500 per ticket. This grants access to the entire evening, beginning with the Meet and Greet at 5:30 through the book signing. There are only 48 of these tickets available. Each table for the evening will seat 12 persons. Table sponsorships are available for $3500 per table. Table sponsorships include the entire evening’s events AND 2 tickets to the 5:30 Meet and Greet with Ann. Table sponsors will receive priority table assignment.

You may pay for your tickets online at their website or by mailing your check with a note as to the seating package you desire to: NFC PAC Attn: “An Evening with Ann” 236 Gardenridge Drive Franklin, TN 37069

Download a flyer for An Evening with Ann Coulter for more information.

Tennessean Column

Please see my guest column in today's Tennessean


Taxing the oil and gas industries is a roadblock to economic stability

I believe that we Tennesseans are forward-looking, innovative people. Just think of all the great marvels that came from our state: country music, the typewriter ribbon, the touch-screen monitor, miniature golf and nuclear research. Unfortunately, with a state unemployment rate averaging 10 percent, Tennesseans are lacking opportunities to utilize their ingenuity. President Barack Obama has said jobs are his top priority — well then, he can start creating them through an industry that already supports more than 9 million American workers: the U.S. oil and natural gas industry. Exploration and production of untapped domestic oil and natural gas resources would create hundreds of thousands of new jobs and generate more than $1.7 trillion in revenue. That's money desperately needed to help meet Tennessee's $1 billion budget shortfall, build roads and schools in our cities and fund health-care initiatives. People get it.

Here in the Volunteer State, we can begin by expanding and upgrading projects associated with Canadian oil sands. A study by the Canadian Energy Research Institute estimates that by allowing our neighbors to the north develop their rich and abundant resources, Tennessee could gain 7,000 new indirect and direct jobs — including well-paying jobs in refining — between 2011 and 2015. The study also projects that we'll see an added economic value of $598 million by 2015.

President Obama's recent decision to allow offshore energy development in the Outer Continental Shelf moves Tennesseans an inch closer toward those economic benefits, but we cannot afford to inch along. People understand this. In fact, 72 percent of registered voters are in favor of offshore drilling, according to a recent Rasmussen survey.

We want the president to take prompt action to ensure our state and nation will see recovery, while securing America's energy future and decreasing our dependence on foreign oil. His support for misguided policies, including cap and trade and $80 billion in tax increases on the U.S. oil and natural gas industry, are roadblocks to job growth and economic revival. These proposals would discourage investment and pass on added costs to consumers and businesses, while increasing our dependence on imported energy.

The president has offered rhetoric on harnessing America's oil and natural gas resources to breathe life back into our state and national economies. I sincerely hope he takes swift, but wise, steps to make that happen. As I imagine all of the great innovations that have yet to be born in our state, I know that Tennesseans are eager to put their skills to work.

State Rep. Susan Lynn, R-Mt. Juliet, represents the 57th Legislative District and is chairman of the American Legislative Exchange Council Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development Task Force.

Constitutional Amendment Protecting Freedom of Health Care Rights Passes Committee

(NASHVILLE, TN) – Rep. Susan Lynn this morning passed HJR 745 out of the House Commerce Committee. The measure is a Constitutional Amendment to the Tennessee Constitution that would prohibit laws or rules that would compel any person, employer, or health care provider to participate in any health care system.

The amendment is directed at protecting the rights of Tennesseans from any government that would require them to purchase a health insurance project.

"This bill is a necessary step in light of what we see our federal Government passing and attempting to enact," said Rep. Lynn.

The resolution will be heard next in the House Finance, Ways & Means Committee.

Representative Lynn serves House District 57, which consists of part of Sumner and Wilson Counties. She is serving in her fourth term in the Tennessee House of Representatives. Her work includes serving as on the House Government Operations Committee as well as serving on the House Commerce Committee.

###

AG Opinion: Constitutionally Valid

AG Opinion: Lynn's Health Care Freedom Bill Constitutionally Valid

(NASHVILLE, TN) – Tennessee Attorney General Robert E. Cooper, Jr. today issued an opinion that HB2622 – the Health Care Freedom Act sponsored by State Representative Susan Lynn (R – Lebanon) - is constitutionally valid; the Opinion number 10-47.

“The language in this bill was carefully crafted by the American Legislative Exchange Council and I was confident that the AG would conclude that it is constitutional,” said Rep. Lynn.

The bill today was deferred one week by the House Commerce Committee. It will be heard Tuesday, April 20th at 10 a.m.

Representative Lynn serves House District 57, which consists of part of Sumner and Wilson Counties. She is serving in her fourth term in the Tennessee House of Representatives. Her work includes serving as on the House Government Operations Committee as well as serving on the House Commerce Committee.

###

HJR704 Passes House 66/29

(NASHVILLE, TN) – State Representative Susan Lynn defended for an hour and a half on Monday night on the House floor the need for a House Joint Resolution to the U.S. Congress that expresses opposition to the institution of new federal review, oversight, or preemption of state health insurance laws, the creation of a federal health insurance exchange or connector, and the creation of a federal health insurance plan (public plan) option.

Days earlier the measure easily passed the Commerce Committee, with the committee recognizing that Tennessee's insurance laws stand to be preempted by the federal health care legislation and that Tennessee will have to implement a very complicated and expensive the federal insurance exchange should the federal legislation come into full effect.

A great deal of debate on the House floor centered around concerns that some members have concerning the uninsured. "The measure is not about the uninsured but about the hundreds of thousands that are insured and satisfied with their insurance coverage; coverage that stands to change due to the new federal law” stated Rep. Lynn. “Insurance laws are the state’s responsibility, not the federal governments."

The bills finally passed after an attempt to table the measure, and to amend the measure were successfully defeated, in addition, motions to re-refer the bill to committee were also held off. The final vote was 66 to 29.

Representative Lynn serves House District 57, which consists of part of Sumner and Wilson Counties. She is serving in her fourth term in the Tennessee House of Representatives. Her work includes serving as on the House Government Operations Committee as well as serving on the House Commerce Committee.

Link to video clip http://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default.aspx?BillNumber=HJR0704 Click on video clips. Click on Floor Video - Video. Once the video starts click on HJR0704 under the video.

Video from News Channel 4 http://www.wsmv.com/video/23135068/index.html
###

Anti-coercion bill passes Tennessee House

(NASHVILLE, TN) – Representative Susan Lynn (R-Lebanon) today passed the Freedom From Coercion Act on the floor of the House of Representatives.

The bill, passing with bi-partisan co-sponsorships, concerns current law which states that it is illegal to coerce a woman to have an abortion. The bill requires facilities where abortions are performed to post signage informing that it is illegal for anyone to coerce a woman to have an abortion.

House Government Operations chairman Susan Lynn (R-Lebanon) stated “This bill was inspired by a woman who was coerced to have an abortion at the age of 17 - thirty years went by before she sought help for her grief over the event. She subsequently learned that such coercion is not uncommon for women. This legislation is her attempt to try to make a difference. I am honored that I could play a part.”

The Senate version, sponsored by Senator Jack Johnson (R-Franklin), was passed in the Senate on the same day.

Representative Lynn serves House District 57, which consists of part of Sumner and Wilson Counties. She is serving in her third term in the Tennessee House of Representatives. Her work includes serving as on the House Government Operations Committee as well as serving on the House Commerce Committee.

###

Tennessean Column 4/1/2010

Labeling is just more government control


Last year, I passed an anti-menu-labeling bill that was subsequently vetoed by the governor. We overrode the veto in the House and Senate after reconvening in January, which put the law into effect in Tennessee.

As chairwoman of the American Legislative Exchange Council's Commerce Task Force, a national state legislator organization, I proposed and passed anti-menu-labeling model legislation for the states.

Now we learn that the federal health-care bill contains menu-labeling dictates for restaurant menus, menu boards, drive-through displays and vending machines. A few local and state governments have similar regulations. The evidence varies about whether menu labeling is effective.

Regulation will cost consumers

Some studies show that as few as one in six consumers actually use the information to make purchasing decisions. Harvard University removed menu-labeling information in its dining halls in the fall of 2008 due to concerns from parents and friends over students who developed eating disorders. As a result, other schools have avoided the idea altogether.

What can't be legislated are the motivations of consumers; for instance, another study showed that consumers significantly increased total energy, fat grams, carbohydrate grams and decreased protein and energy from protein when exposed to menu labeling information. It seems that people become overly concerned with calorie information rather than the more important matters of nutrition and variety.

Just as concerning as the misuse of information is the great monetary cost that consumers must suffer. Replacing menus, menu boards and handouts and testing food is expensive. Determining the number of calories in a food item is a matter of science — the food must be burned and the amount of heat it emits determines its calories. In several states the requirement has opened restaurants up to class-action lawsuits due to claims of inaccurate calorie and nutrition counts.
There are loopholes; menu specials, custom orders and ingredient substitutions are exempted —for now.

But where is the principle that allows the federal government to impose such a mandate on restaurants?

The fault is mainly due to a modern misinterpretation of the Commerce clause of the Constitution. Until roughly 1942, the Commerce clause was well understood to be a power of the federal government used only to remove impediments to trade between the states — such as tariffs charged by one state on goods moving through to another state. The idea was to limit state legislatures from restricting trade between each other, thus allowing consumers and merchants freedom to trade. It was never to allow the federal government to decide what commerce will be legal or not legal or what regulations will apply to trades and services.
In addition, such regulations are simply not anywhere part of the federal government's 30 enumerated powers. Further, there must be a constitutional violation of rights in order for government to force us all to incur such expense. What right is being secured by the imposition of menu labeling?

Is it even likely that anyone unschooled on proper diet will even appreciate the information on a menu board? Would not those that already understand know proper choices? Certainly people of good conscience are not fooled by their own purchasing decisions. Federal menu labeling is more big government control.

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20100401/OPINION01/4010331/1007

Susan's Weekly Newsletter

Please read my weekly newsletter March 11, 2010

Susan's Weekly Newsletter

Please read Susan's weekly newsletter, 2/5/10

Tennesseen Profile of Susan

Susan Lynn pushes state sovereignty for Tennessee
Lawmaker offers voice to libertarian outrage

State Rep. Susan Lynn says she isn't trying to fight the political battles of the Civil War again. But she isn't afraid to push to restore Tennessee's "sovereignty."

Lynn believes it's time Tennesseans reworked their relationship with the federal government. And she says one of her jobs as a state legislator is to open that dialogue, even if it means sparking confrontation with political leaders in Washington, D.C.

"For a very long time, the federal government has been growing and growing and becoming a bigger and bigger deal," Lynn said last week. "Maybe it's time to pull out the document. … Have we just allowed it and looked the other way when they have passed some laws, some acts, that are not what they're charged with doing constitutionally?"

With libertarian outrage toward the federal government seemingly on the rise — a force that is shaping everything from the debate over health-care reform to the field for this fall's elections — Lynn has become one of its foremost champions in the Tennessee legislature.

The Mt. Juliet Republican has pushed for a court challenge of Democratic-led health-care reform legislation, led a committee of lawmakers that accused the federal government of abusing its powers, pressed a U.S. senator not to support new fuel standards, and filed a bill that would ban the tagging and tracking of human beings.

And those are just a few of the causes Lynn has taken up over the past six months.

Critics have derided Lynn as, at best, an ineffective lawmaker distracted by ideological battles and, at worst, a grandstander who wants to reopen battles settled by the Civil War.

Last fall, the state Democratic Party described a Lynn-led initiative as "lunacy" that showed Lynn and other lawmakers had "embarked on the crazy train."

"There is a coterie of Republican legislators who stand off so far to the right that a moderate Republican would have a hard time including them in the party," Chip Forrester, the state Democratic Party chairman, said last week. "She certainly fits with that group."

But Lynn, who gave up her job as a small-business consultant to work as a state representative full time, says she is willing to trade short-term legislative victories if it means other lawmakers can be brought around to her way of thinking.

"With my views on free enterprise and my views on constitutional rights, I hope that I bring a lot to the conversation," Lynn said in an hourlong interview with The Tennessean last week. "I know that there's times when, maybe, things that I said one or two years ago, other legislators are saying it now. … When they hear it for the first time, it might seem ideological, but hopefully it's based in truth and other people will use that."

Rise to chairwoman

Ideologue or not, Lynn has risen to become the chairwoman of the House Government Operations Committee, a body that reviews regulations, oversees state policies and can recommend creating or terminating state agencies.

Lynn also is the only Republican to have returned registration papers in the race to succeed state Sen. Mae Beavers, R-Mt. Juliet, who has stated plans to run for Wilson County mayor. (Aubrey Givens, a Lebanon attorney, has registered for the Democratic primary.)

As a committee chairwoman, Lynn would already have been one of the most prominent lawmakers in the state House of Representatives this session. The position has frequently made her the prime House sponsor on bills dealing with government.

"She's very thoughtful and a good legislator," said Sen. Bill Ketron, R-Murfreesboro, who has co-sponsored eight bills with Lynn this session. "She researches very well."

Lynn also has raised her profile by inserting herself into national debates.

She and state Rep. Debra Maggart, R-Hendersonville, sent a letter to Attorney General Bob Cooper that urged him to consider legal action against the health-care reform bill, earning the two a mention on Fox News. And a public call she made for U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander to reconsider his stance on a low-carbon fuel standard was written up by The Wall Street Journal when it appeared that Alexander had changed his mind on the matter.

Lynn, 45, was first elected to the legislature in 2002. Despite having moved to Middle Tennessee only five years before, Lynn beat sign company owner Bobby Joslin in the primary and former Mt. Juliet City Manager Danny Farmer in the general election.

"One of the big changes you've seen in the legislature is that a lot of the communities that used to be rock-bed Democratic are now electing Republicans," said Pat Nolan, a longtime legislative observer who hosts a weekly politics show on Nashville television station WTVF. "Wilson County started changing over to Republican sooner than any other."

Two years later, Lynn faced a primary challenge from Mt. Juliet real estate agent Tom Wood, who said she was not conservative enough for the 57th legislative district. Lynn won even though Beavers, who had previously represented the area, had endorsed Wood.

"Both Senator Beavers and I have very strong views, but the number of things that we have agreed on far outweigh the things that we have disagreed on," Lynn said. "I respect Senator Beavers, and I respect her record of public service, and I am excited about her bid for Wilson County mayor. I look forward to working with her in the future."

Statewide attention was focused on Lynn in the aftermath of the surprise election of Speaker Kent Williams last year. Lynn had complained to Republican leadership that Williams had made an inappropriate remark to her in 2007, and after Williams, R-Elizabethton, joined with Democrats to choose himself as speaker, the file on that complaint was released to the news media.

Lynn says now that she had not intended for the complaint to be made public and that she now has a productive working relationship with Williams, who appointed her to lead the Government Operations Committee under his power-sharing plan for the House.
"Trust me, all of that never comes up," she said.

Government limited

Lynn says she believes government should act only to protect "your life, your safety, your welfare and even the morals of the community." But she places constraints on how much government should act in each of those areas.

Lynn opposes provisions of the federal health-care reform bills that would require individuals to buy health insurance, though supporters might argue that such a law would lead to longer life spans and promote the general welfare.

Lynn, who grew up Catholic in Newburgh, N.Y., but now describes herself a born-again Southern Baptist, also says that her definition of community morals is limited only to issues such as age restrictions on alcohol and the sale of wine in grocery stores. On the latter matter, Lynn says she supports letting cities and counties hold referendums.

"Right now, we leave it up to the communities to vote on whether to allow liquor stores," she said. "Why did the legislature make that law? The legislature made that law because we wanted each community to reflect their morals."

Lynn's government philosophy has sometimes led her to take up bills that have seemed out of the ordinary. This year, she has pushed a measure to ban any business or government entity from requiring people to implant a tracking device anywhere on their bodies.

Lynn said she filed the bill after hearing that businesses had marketed radio tracking devices as an alternative to security badges and a way to keep up with Alzheimer's patients. The conservative Eagle Forum and the American Civil Liberties Union support Lynn's bill.

"This is a product on the market, and it's not hard to look down the road and see that it certainly could become more and more prevalent," she said. "Maybe people start saying, to get insurance you have to have this (device)."

Last fall, Lynn chaired a joint Senate and House committee that sent a letter to lawmakers in the other 49 states urging them to support state sovereignty under the 10th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

The invocation of the so-called states' rights amendment led critics to say that she was trying to reopen the political battles of the 19th century, when Southern political leaders argued that states' rights protected slavery. The argument eventually led to the concept of nullification — the idea that states could declare federal laws unenforceable within their borders.

Lynn said she has not called for nullification, but she said the thinking behind nullification had merit. She said Northern states frequently resisted enforcement of federal laws such as the Fugitive Slave Act, which made it illegal to help slaves escape to free states.

Lynn is not alone in the legislature in expressing support for states' rights positions. A 10th Amendment resolution she sponsored last year passed the House on an 85-2 vote and the Senate unanimously.

These days, Lynn frequently finds herself one of several lawmakers sponsoring bills dealing with state sovereignty.

Earlier this month, she began to push for passing the Health Care Freedom Act, a bill that would have challenged the health insurance mandate. But before a hearing was held on that measure, the Senate passed the Tennessee Health Freedom Act, a similar measure sponsored by Beavers.

Lynn is now pushing for an amendment to the Tennessee Constitution that would declare a health insurance mandate illegal in Tennessee. For her, the mandate is simply another example of the federal government overreaching.

"They want to pass state laws that are really in the purview of the states," she said. "And I just think, if they want to be state legislators, they ought to run for the state legislature."

Susan's Weekly Newsletter

Read Susan's Newsletter 2/26/10

Susan's Weekly Legislative Newsletter

Read Susan's newsletter 2/19/10

Free Enterprise Constitutional Amendment

By State Representative Susan Lynn

Each of us grew up understanding that free enterprise is our economic system in the United States. So we can be forgiven for being a little confused lately because today the federal government is seeking to control the salaries of those employed by private business, to change the provisions of private of contracts, to nationalize banks, insurers and auto manufacturers, and to effectually eliminate any free market that may have still existed in healthcare.

Seeking to hold-on to the vestiges of the system that has made our country great, I recently drafted and passed model legislation at the American Legislative Exchange Council’s winter meeting to create a Constitutional Amendment on free enterprise; “It is the policy of the state of Tennessee that a free enterprise system shall govern trade and commerce in this state to promote the dispersion of economic and political power and the general welfare of all the people.” To date, only Utah has such a reassuring clause in their state Constitution.

By definition, a free enterprise economy is an economic system controlled chiefly by individuals and private companies; not the government.

Characteristics include economic freedom which allows people to decide how they will earn and spend their income; goods and services are produced and allocated through supply and demand by voluntary exchanges; private ownership of property and of the means of production is the key; and profit is not a bad word but greeted by freedom.

This wonderful system creates an incentive to work which causes capitalist societies to achieve a higher standard of living than do societies with other economic systems.

One ALEC member asked if this amendment was saying that there should be no regulation of business at all. Do we approve of stealing, of fraud, or abuse of natural resources I asked. No, whether done by an individual or a business such actions clearly violate the Constitutional rights of others. Unfortunately, such a question belies a misunderstanding as fundamental as the misunderstandings that have created the free-market killing regulations we see being enacted today.

HJR 722 will ensure that free enterprise remains the policy of our state and nation; this is extremely important. However, it is up to each to study our founding documents to gain a proper understanding of the role of government so that we don’t enact any laws upon people or business that are beyond of the principle of securing our Constitutional rights.

State Representative Susan Lynn is the Chairman of the Government Operations Committee in the Tennessee House and Chairman of the Commerce Task Force for the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC.ORG).

State Sovereignty Web Page

Please visit my new web page on my state sovereignty wrok. It is located at www.repsusanlynn.com, click on Policy at the top of the page.

Food Police Override

House Joins Senate in Overriding Veto of Menu Bill

http://blogs.knoxnews.com/humphrey/2010/02/house-joins-senate-in-overridi.html

Victory over the Food Police

A mention on MSNBC about the override of Gov. Phil Bredesen's veto of the anti-menu labeling bill to limit local authority on requiring calorie counts to be listed on restaurant menus last night.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35309622/displaymode/1176/rstry/35309629/

Vouching for real reform

Last year the General Assembly broadened the charter schools law in Tennessee giving hope to many more students in struggling schools. This year, what was working out to be a pretty disappointing piece of legislation on education reform has ended up providing genuine promise for the children of our state.

The first few sections of the Race to the Top bill may read well, but by comparison to current law, they do not vest the Commissioner of Education with any revolutionary new powers or responsibility for failing schools. The major item is that a name is coined for state governance over failing schools; “Achievement School District.”

The next part has an appearance of conflict of interest; a full 80% of the committee charged with creating new guidelines and criteria for which teachers and principals will be evaluated is made up of teachers and principals, and a few other education policy makers…no sweeping change here either. Quickly abandoned was the idea of a large group of assorted citizens such as parents and business people playing a role in education by developing an objective and effective standard outside the status quo.

Further, the new standard doesn’t have to lead to the dismissal of a poor teacher…it could, but only if a local school will actually act to dismiss him or her for a poor evaluation - that hasn’t been happening in low achieving areas and this bill won’t ensure that it does…or maybe it will…more on that later.

So where is the revolutionary change that will not just win $485,000,000 in grant money but much more importantly, will actually help students in low performing schools; raising Tennessee from the bottom of national education rankings to nearer the top?

The state has had the ability to take over a failing school for a very long time. But the threat of that actually happening was virtually zero because of funding - if the state did actually take over a school, the state’s taxpayers would have to foot the entire cost of running the school because there was no mechanism in the law to make the locals pay their portion of the cost for educating their students from a failed school that was taken over by the state.

Saving the day was a discrete amendment added to the bill that will allow for the Achievement School District to use state BEP funds and local funds to operate a school placed in alternative governance. Not only does this make it much more probable that the state will take over a failing school but the threat of takeover will more than likely force administrators whose teachers do not achieve annual yearly progress to make key changes about who should be teaching their students in order to avoid takeover.

Further, an “Achievement School District” breaks out of the status quo by not only allowing schools to be run by another governmental entity, but also by non-profits (opening the door to the Gates Foundation and others) and, strikingly, the DOE can even contract with individuals.

Including individuals was a curious provision which never really seemed to receive an answer that revealed a logical purpose in committee. Not until the funding amendment created the possibility that a school could really be placed in alternative governance and that the governance could be provided by an individual was it realized late last night that this seems to be assembling the parts for a voucher system for these long suffering students. If individuals can contract with the state to educate a student, that may mean that parents could be the contractor and use those funds to seek their choice of desired education for their child.

Although provided few clear answers, probably so as to leave the legislation sufficiently vague and aiding passage, this bill could be one of the most sweeping reforms that Tennessee has ever undertaken.

The hope of federal money is no reason to vote for a bill but it is no reason to vote against it either. In fact, until I realized what the assembling of these parts could do, I voted against the bill because I didn't like several parts of the bill. As I stated on the radio last week, the only reason to vote for a bill is if it is good policy for the people of our state which in the end HB5 turns out to be.

State governments are the great laboratories of reform, and many states will vouch that charter schools and vouchers give children trapped in low performing schools, or with special needs or learning disabilities real options for their education and their future. Why not break out of politics and status quo? Why not use education dollars as efficiently as possible by matching the needs of the child to the school that can best meet those needs?

13 States AGs Threaten Lawsuites - Click Link

By MEG KINNARD, Associated Press Writer Meg Kinnard, Associated Press Writer – Thu Dec 31, 12:45 am ET

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Republican attorneys general in 13 states say congressional leaders must remove Nebraska's political deal from the federal health care reform bill or face legal action, according to a letter provided to The Associated Press Wednesday...

Listen to Rep. Lynn on 1510WLAC AM this morning

Ben Cunningham & Ken Marrero, substituting for Steve Gill, talk to Susan about her work on State Sovereignty this morning @ 10 am, 12/2/10.

Click on Listen Live @ http://www.wlac.com/main.html

Benn Cunningham is a founder of Tennessee Tax Revolt.
Ken Marrero is the founder of of Tennessee Conservalliance.