Republican
Lawmakers Move Forward with Pro-Military Legislation
House lawmakers moved forward this week with multiple pieces of
legislation designed to help military members across the state.
One of those bills, set to be heard on the House floor next week, will
allow the five soldiers killed in the Chattanooga terrorist attack that
occurred in July to be eligible for the ‘Tennessee Fallen Heroes Medal’. Currently, the
medal is awarded to honor residents of Tennessee killed while serving on active
duty or engaged in military support operations involving a conflict with an
opposing foreign force.
As introduced, this new legislation expands on
this criteria to also allow the honor to be bestowed on those military men and
women killed on Tennessee soil during an attack specifically targeting service
members.
The medal is awarded solely by the Governor or
the Governor's designee to the immediate survivor of the recipient.
A second piece of legislation, the National Guard Force Protection
Act, enhances protection at Tennessee National Guard facilities and military
installations. The bill follows hearings regarding the safety of military
installations by the state’s top leaders.
To fund the bill, the governor’s budget includes $1.6 million for an
emergency phone systems, window film, magnetic locks, security camera systems,
privacy screens, and bollards to protect soldiers at state military
installations.
The legislation is set to next be heard in the House Finance, Ways
& Means Committee.
Helmet Bill to be Heard in Finance Committee
on Tuesday
A bill that may exempt motorcyclists from the requirement that they
wear a crash helmet will be heard in Finance Ways and Means Committee this
week. The proposed bill would
allow riders 21 years and older not insured with TennCare, to ride without a
helmet. Tennessee’s current law requires all motorcyclists to wear a helmet,
regardless of age or experience of the rider.
HB0700
by *Reedy, *Goins, *Weaver, *Casada, *McDaniel, *Rogers, *DeBerry, *Ragan,
*Keisling, *Brooks K, *Alexander, *Butt, *Hill T, *Windle, *Sexton C, *White D,
*Todd, *Sanderson, *Matheny, *Holt, *Powers, *Sexton J, *VanHuss.
(SB0925 by
*Roberts.)
Traffic Safety - As
introduced, exempts drivers and passengers over 21 years of age from the
requirement to wear a crash helmet while operating or riding in motorcycles,
motor-driven cycles, and motorized bicycles, if the person is covered by health
or medical insurance other than insurance through TennCare; makes a violation
of the helmet law a secondary offense. - Amends TCA Section 55-9-302.
Summary for *HB0700
Lynn Guest on News Channel 5’s Open Line
This week I was very proud to defend the pro-life position on Open
Line with Rep. Sherry Jones defending the pro-abortion side. Please
watch for yourself and provide some feedback.
The Charitable Vehicle Prep Tag
bill moved forward this week passing the full committee and is headed to the
House floor. The bill will assist
ministries that refurbish vehicles in order to give them away to needed individuals.
Under current law, a ministry
accepts a donated vehicle and must purchase a license plate in order to drive
it on the public roads to take it for repair and to test drive the
vehicle. Most often the ministry only has the car for a few weeks so the
purchase of the license plate for each vehicle they refurbish can add up to
quite an expense.
Enter the Charitable Vehicle Prep
Tag – much like a prep tag for an auto dealer which allows the dealer to use
the tag on any vehicle in inventory – this tag will allow ministries to use a
single tag for any vehicle they are refurbishing for donation to a needy
individual. This bill will save ministries a great deal of money.
The General Assembly is speaking up to support the Williamson
County lawsuit filed by former state Senator David Flower of the Family Action
Counsel of Tennessee through the resolution I filed called HJR529.
David’s lawsuit will hopefully end same sex marriage in
Tennessee. The legislature does not have
standing to sue to our resolution in support of this lawsuit is also a great
effort to defend separation of powers and the doctrine of
severability.
When the SCOTUS stated that Tennessee's marriage law was invalid they next also declared that same sex couples can now marry. But this action in reality violates separation of powers; the SCOTUS cannot make law by decree - that power is reserved for legislatures. Under the doctrine of severability, if the court is going to strike part of a law it cannot change the meaning of the law into something that the legislature had never actually voted to enact.
However, that is exactly what the Court did in this case, and
exactly why we, as lawmakers, need to support this lawsuit. Imagine the
implications for the future if we let this action go unchallenged and
unsupported; we as legislators would be giving into the court and allowing them
to make law. The language of the amendment that re-writes the resolution
is below.
Gallop Poll: 2/3rds of
Tennesseans Support State Government.
According to a recent Gallop poll -
roughly 2/3 of TN residents have confidence in our State government---some
states did not fare so well! Take
a look. Thank you to my friend
Robert Springer for bringing this to my attention.
House Republicans Call
for Creation Of Task Force Aimed At Improving Care For Stroke Patients In
Tennessee; Work Towards Improving AED Training
House Republicans this week joined together in support of legislation
that seeks to create a task force designed to study and implement stroke
best practices and treatment guidelines for the state.
Once created, the task force will be made up of
designated members from key stroke centers and hospitals around the state, as
well as various other health professionals.
The task force, with the assistance of the
Department of Health and the College of Public Health at East Tennessee State
University, will be responsible for making recommendations to both the House
and Senate Health Committees regarding improvements to the state’s treatment policies
surrounding those who suffer from a stroke.
Strokes kill over 128,000 people each year in the U.S. It is the fifth
highest cause of death in Tennessee and the leading cause of disability in the
state. The goal of the legislation is to ensure the rapid identification,
diagnosis, and treatment of strokes, and to help reduce the risk of preventable
complications and stroke-related deaths throughout the state.
Supporters of the legislation believe the task
force is a necessary addition to our state’s public health system, to insure
the state is providing for the needs of families and individuals who are
victims of a stroke.
Similarly, another piece of legislation has been
filed with a similar goal
in mind: helping to save lives across Tennessee.
Sudden cardiac arrest is one of America’s leading causes of death. For
every minute a person goes without defibrillation during a cardiac episode,
their chance of survival goes down 10 percent. According to studies, 50,000
lives can be saved annually by the availability and proper training of
automated external defibrillators (AEDs).
Under new legislation sponsored this year, a requirement would be
placed in state law for all public school personnel in the state who work in
facilities that have one or more AEDs to have an annual training on how to use
the machines along with information distributed informing personnel about the
location of AEDs and the school’s response plan during an emergency.
In addition, the legislation calls for schools to also conduct an
annual cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) drill for school personnel to
practice the use of these life saving measures. For students enrolled in CPR
classes, training for the use of AEDs will also be provided.
Early voting closes
Feb 23 Wilson County for the March 1 presidential preference primary.
Early voting closes
on Feb. 23 in four locations in Wilson County.
Vote Monday
through Friday, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Saturdays, 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Voting
locations;
Wilson County Election Commission office at
203 E. Main St. in Lebanon.
Mt. Juliet
Community Center at 1075 Charlie Daniels Pkwy. in Mt. Juliet.
Watertown
Community Center at 8630 Sparta Pike in Watertown.
Gladeville
Community Center at 95 McCreary Road in Gladeville.
Republican Majority
Continues Work On State Budget
Earlier this month, Governor Bill
Haslam delivered his annual State of the State Address to a joint convention of
the legislature this week, unveiling his budget for the 2016-2017 fiscal year.
Haslam addressed multiple issues during
the State of the State, the most prominent of which include job recruitment and
workforce development, a continued push to make government more efficient and
effective, and major investments in both K-12 and higher education.
Among other key points in the
Governor’s speech was a focus on a balanced budget, low taxes, fiscal
responsibility, and the proposal of 261 million in new dollars for
Tennessee public education, including $104.6 million for teacher salaries — the
largest investment in K-12 education without a tax increase in state history.
Including the current fiscal year’s
appropriation, Haslam’s proposal will invest more than 414 million in new
dollars in Tennessee schools. Additionally, Haslam proposed funding the 12th month
of health insurance for teachers and doubling the state’s recurring
contribution for technology needs at schools.
The Governor’s proposal also puts $100
million into the state’s Rainy Day Fund, bringing it to an estimated $668
million on June 30, 2017. Once passed, the plan will repay $130 million from
the state’s general fund into the transportation fund to help with future road
project needs.
Other notable budget investments are:
·
$24
million in state funds for the Employment and Community First (ECF) CHOICES
program to allow the state to serve more people currently on the Department of
Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities’ waiting list and others eligible
for services;
·
$12.8
million for facilities and homeland security upgrades for the Military
Department;
·
$10
million for the Department of Economic and Community Development’s Rural
Development Initiative; and
·
$1.27
million to increase the number of drug recovery courts from 41 to 50 and for
two additional veterans courts.
Rural Economic
Opportunity Act Moves Forward In House Committee Process
Legislation spearheaded by House Republicans
to spur economic development across the state moved forward this week in the
House committee process.
Known as the ‘Rural Economic Opportunity Act of 2016’, the legislation
has two main parts. First, the bill would implement a new program called ‘PREP’
or ‘Propelling Rural Economic Progress’. This innovative program would allow
grants from the PREP fund to be used to help rural counties build sites and
infrastructure to make their communities more attractive to prospective
companies.
Second, the legislation would restructure the county tier system
making it easier for businesses in rural counties to qualify for job tax
credits. This, in turn, would make it easier for businesses in those counties
to expand and hire new workers.
As the 2016 legislative session continues, House Republicans will
continue working to increase economic development opportunities in the state.
Additional information regarding this legislation can be found on the
General Assembly website at http://1.usa.gov/1TnY9AX.
Our Baby Ben
Two years ago today our grandson Benjamin was diagnosed with Type 1
diabetes at just 23 months. It's been a long road for our daughter and
son-in-law; for all of us really as we learn to manage the disease.
One thing that is frustrating for our daughter is that so many do not
know the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Type 1 is an autoimmune
disease; there is nothing one does to contract it nor can it be avoided. If
your body develops the antibodies, you will get the disease.
Several insulin injections a day are the life-long life support of the
Type 1 coupled with many finger pricks to check blood sugar. Sugar hasn't given
them diabetes it actually saves their life when they go low. Parents wake each
night at 2 am for blood sugar checks.
This disease is very expensive but thank God we have our Benny.
Without insulin every Type 1 diabetic would have drifted off into severe
illness and departed us.
Seeing him laugh and smile today with us and his sisters, he is so
full of love and sweetness, I just want to forget how gravely ill he was 2
years ago.
Today we celebrate Benny's life. We're so thankful to our heavenly
Father for this beautiful and wonderful little boy, nearly 4 years old now.
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