State Representative Susan Lynn To Serve On New Wellness Caucus

Panel tasked with improving health and well-being for Tennesseans

(NASHVILLE) — State Representative Susan Lynn (R-Mt. Juliet) today announced that she will serve on a new Wellness Caucus created by members of the Tennessee General Assembly and in collaboration with the Governor’s Foundation for Health and Wellness.

The caucus is chaired by State Representative Ryan Williams (R-Cookeville) and Senator Bo Watson (R-Hixson). It consists of 37 members — including 28 Republicans — from both the House and Senate who will study and propose new solutions to important health and wellness issues in communities across the state. 

While Nashville is considered a health care hub for our entire nation, Tennessee still remains one of the least healthy states in the country. Approximately one in four adults smokes, and one in five high school students uses tobacco. Additionally, 33 percent of the state’s population is classified as obese, and type-2 diabetes and high blood pressure are at near-epidemic levels in all regions of the state.

Caucus members will help shape future public policy so that Tennesseans impacted by some of these adverse health conditions are able to make lifestyle changes that will improve their overall health outcomes.

“As an elected official, the health and well-being of our residents is one of my main priorities,” said Representative Lynn. “I believe this opportunity will provide unique perspective into some of the health issues impacting our citizens; additionally, it will allow us to create new solutions to these issues which will lead to improved health trends across our state.”

For more information about the Governor’s Foundation for Health & Wellness, please visit: http://healthierTN.com.

Susan Lynn serves as the Chair of the House Consumer & Human Resources Subcommittee. Lynn is also a member of the House Consumer & Human Resources, House Finance Ways & Means and House Ethics Committee, as well as the Joint Fiscal Review Committee. She lives in Mount Juliet and represents House District 57, which includes Wilson County. Lynn can be reached by email at Rep.Susan.Lynn@capitol.tn.gov or by calling (615) 741-7462.

New Report on the Local Burden of Housing State Prisoners in County Jails

TACIR has completed its report on the financial burden and other effects on county governments from housing state prisoners in county jails, prepared at the request of commission members at the May 2016 meeting.

This report revisits the 2007 report Beyond Capacity: Issues and Challenges Facing County Jails.  TACIR staff conducted a examining the number of state prisoners being held in county jails and whether the number is increasing, capacities and overcrowded conditions in county jails, the cost borne by counties for medical care (including addiction treatment) of state prisoners held in county jails, whether the current amount the state reimburses a county for housing a state prisoner is reasonable, how the state chooses which prisoners are left in county jails, how state prisoners are assigned jobs like cooking or laundry service, and contractual obligations and limitations to housing state prisoners in prisons operated for counties by private contractors.

The final report suggests three recommendations:

First, Tennessee could improve access to the behavioral health services provided by the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services’ criminal justice liaison program by expanding the program statewide.

Second, Tennessee could target funding to improve outcomes by providing financial assistance to counties to help implement programs proven to reduce recidivism and improve outcomes for prisoners and communities, rather than only increasing per diem reimbursements to cover basic costs.

Finally, because adequate oversight and regulation of local jails is necessary for the state to balance its need for fiscally responsible management of the felon population with the responsibility to achieve the best prisoner and public safety outcomes, state law should be amended to give the Tennessee Corrections Institute clear legal authority to require local correctional facilities to comply with set standards, including authority for its Board Control to recommend that the Tennessee Department of Correction remove state prisoners from noncertified jails when conditions warrant.

This report is available on the Internet at http://www.tn.gov/tacir/topic/tacirpublications-by-date.

TNECD NOW ACCEPTING BROADBAND ACCESSIBILITY GRANT APPLICATIONS

Program to award $10 million to projects that expand broadband to unserved areas

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) announced that it is now accepting Broadband Accessibility Grant applications until November 17, 2017.

Established by the recently enacted Tennessee Broadband Accessibility Act (TBAA), this program aims to spread broadband access to more Tennesseans while promoting practices that increase deployment and encourage adoption. In total, $10 million is available in the first round of grants.

“Rural economic development is a top priority for TNECD and reliable broadband is a lynchpin of our efforts to encourage job growth in Tennessee’s rural communities,” TNECD Commissioner Bob Rolfe said. “About one-in-three residents in rural Tennessee do not have broadband access at recognized minimum standards. It is critical that we address this gap and ensure all Tennesseans have reliable internet access. Thanks to Governor Haslam’s leadership and the overwhelming support of the Tennessee General Assembly, TNECD will now be able to provide grants to help make broadband available to residents and businesses that currently go without it.”

The Broadband Accessibility Grants are meant to help offset the capital expenses of deploying broadband in currently unserved areas. Projects must serve locations without access to download speeds of at least ten megabits per second (10 Mbps) and upload speeds of at least one megabit per second (1 Mbps). Preference will be given to areas that are unlikely to receive broadband service without grant funding. Applicants must be authorized to provide retail broadband in the proposed service area.

Following the close of the application period, TNECD will hold a three-week online public comment period to receive additional input and information regarding submitted applications.

TNECD anticipates announcing grantees in January 2018 with projects underway in early in 2018.

More information on Broadband Accessibility Grants and TNECD’s broadband initiatives can be found here.

About the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development

The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development’s mission is to develop strategies that help make Tennessee the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs. To grow and strengthen Team Tennessee, the department seeks to attract new corporate investment in Tennessee and works with Tennessee companies to facilitate expansion and economic growth. Find us on the web: tnecd.com. Follow us on Twitter: @tnecd. Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/tnecd.

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School Bus Driver Shortage Solution?

News accounts of Wilson County Schools bus driver shortage are not unique; a similar situation can be found all over the state. No wonder too; driving a school bus is a great responsibility, that is filled with stress, distractions and is prone to criticism.

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The Lap and Shoulder Belt Bill may provide a solution to aid this stubborn problem. The school bus is the only vehicle on the road today for which a lap-shoulder belt is not federally mandated. The argument against school bus lap-shoulder belts wears thin as one considers that across the country there are about 20,000 injuries on school buses each year...a school bus accident locally last week certainly unnerved many. Parents wonder, "Why does my child leave the safety of my car where their car seat or lap-shoulder belt ensures the highest degree of safety, to get onto a school bus without any restraint system at all?
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Two weeks ago I observed a simulated but very real school bus accident in Indiana. A big rig was driven into the side of a school bus at 35 mph. The bus was fitted with cameras and other data collection equipment. In the bus, crash dummies were both belted and unbelted. The horrific crash proved "fatal" for some unbelted dummies while the belted remained safely restrained.
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A safety supervisor who began phasing in safety belts on all buses in his school district 5 years ago, told me of the benefits of the restraints beyond obvious improved safety. Because the students are buckled, discipline issues have reduced by 90%, and better behavior has considerably reduced driver distraction. Initially, only a few drivers wanted to drive the buses with restraints but as the other drivers saw how much improved the students' behavior was, they began to request buses with lap-shoulder belts. Before long all the drivers wanted safety belts on their buses.
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Bullying is now minimal on district school buses. The penalty for bullying is suspension from school, and suspension is often a catalyst for dropping out. In his district, the safety belts have positively affected student retention. Today, not buckling up is now the most common offense. Because the rule is that if they don't buckle they don't ride; parents quickly fix that problem because not riding inconveniences them.
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I asked if it was difficult to get the students to buckle up. He said that today, kids expect to wear a lap-shoulder belt so it wasn't hard at all. He added that even parents of kindergartners like the system as the first row or two are reserved for their little ones. A seat quickly converts from a lap-shoulder belt to a 5 point system. Parents get on the bus and buckle their wee one; upon arrival at school, the buckle is quickly released by the child with only 2 lbs of pressure.
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Besides overall safety, two of the most important daily effects are that driver satisfaction and retention has greatly improved - which helps avoid shortages - and many parents who had previously driven their children to school, now send their kids

 on the bus because the bus now has a safer and calmer atmosphere.
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Every day we entrust the safety of our community's children to our bus drivers. We count on them to ensure our children get to school and return home to us, each day, safely.
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We also know that we need to attract the best, and ensure our best want to stay, by making their jobs less stressful and more rewarding.
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The solution to both problems, it turns out, may be the same: let's pass House Bill 395 so that every student has a safe ride, and every driver has a safe bus.

GRANT AWARDED TO MT JULIET

Representative Susan Lynn today announced that the city of Mt. Juliet has received a grant from the Tennessee Department of Transportation to complete the second phase of the Woodridge Place Sidewalks Project.  The grant was submitted by the Mt. Juliet BPAC.  In recent months BPAC has also received the Safe Routes To Schools (SRTS) grant, twi the grants for the Cedar Creek Greenway projects and a grant to build a guard rail for the Eagle Park bicycle park for children.

State Representative Susan Lynn further commented “When the state legislature funds TDOT’s budget it makes grants like this possible.  I am very proud to be supportive of transportation and to be an advocate for these grants because I know how important these projects are to my constituents’ safety and quality of Life.” 

The project will be administered by the city of Mt. Juliet; the grant funds will enable Mt. Juliet to move ahead with engineering preparations and construction.

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The State of Education in Tennessee

• The state has the highest graduation rate in Tennessee history.
• The state has the highest average ACT composite in Tennessee history.
• More students than ever before are earning postsecondary credits while in high school.
• The state has continued to invest more in education, including a $100 million increase for teachers’ salaries and $22 million for English learners.
• The department’s Read to be Ready coaching network, which is helping educators to improve how they teach elementary-aged students reading and literacy skills, has expanded to include 200 coaches that serve 83 school districts, ultimately reaching more than 2,500 teachers who teach 44,000 students.
• This summer, over 9,000 elementary students who are not on track in reading are being served in statewide Read to be Ready camps across 107 school districts.
• The department, along with thousands of education community members across the state, developed a robust plan to transition to the new federal education law, the Every Student Succeeds Act, and aligned that plan to Tennessee Succeeds. It refines and deepens our work in areas like school improvement, how we support historically underserved student groups like English learners, and well-rounded school accountability.
• Through a new Ready Graduate indicator, we have a renewed focus on ensuring all students are truly ready for their next step when they graduate high school, whether that’s through taking early college courses, earning industry credentials, or meeting scoring benchmarks on the ACT or military entrance exam.
• Commissioner McQueen has now met with more than 13,000 teachers and visited 770 classrooms in 118 school districts through her Classroom Chronicles tour.
• And with the release of new scores from the most recent National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) science tests, Tennessee now ranks in the top half of all states on three key national assessments – a tremendous improvement from just a decade ago, when the state began to think differently about how it approaches education after receiving two “Fs” from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for how students were being prepared.

You can read more about the state of education in Tennessee on the department’s blog and in a letter she is sending to stakeholders this week. The strategic plan update is available on the department’s website.

TNReady high school scores improve across all subjects in second year of new assessment

Thousands of additional students now meeting or exceeding course expectations

NASHVILLE—Education Commissioner Candice McQueen announced today that Tennessee high school students improved across all subject areas – English, math, science, and U.S. history – on the 2016-17 TNReady end-of-course exams. Thousands of additional students are meeting course expectations compared to last year, and the state reduced the percentage of students scoring at the lowest achievement level across all subject areas.

TNReady is the statewide assessment administered to all students in grades 3-11. It is a more rigorous assessment, compared to past state tests, that is fully aligned to Tennessee’s academic standards, which are based on what students need to know and be able to do each year to ultimately be prepared for college and their careers. In 2015-16, high school students set a new baseline in the first year of TNReady, and as expected, their scores are beginning to increase as teachers and students adjust to higher standards that ensure students are ready for the next step in their academic journey.

“This growth is encouraging, and it shows our students are capable of reaching the high bar we’ve set with our expectations in Tennessee,” McQueen said. “It’s also promising to see not only overall improvement, but some bright spots in the performance of historically underserved student groups. The results from TNReady shine a light on what’s working and help us to identify where we need to better support students and teachers – so every student in Tennessee reaches his or her fullest potential.”

Students show growth in all end-of-course subject areas

Overall, scores improved in all subject areas and on nearly every end-of-course exam. Students’ scores on TNReady fall into one of four performance categories: below, approaching, on track, or mastered. Those students who score on track or mastered met or exceeded course expectations.

• In English, students take three end-of-course exams in high school: English I, II, and III. Results on each exam improved this year, and across all three tests, 34.3% of students performed on track or mastered, a jump from 30.4% in 2015-16. Students had the biggest gains in high school English, with more than 11,000 additional students scoring on track or mastered compared to last year.

• Across all high school math courses, 21.5% of students performed on track or mastered, up slightly from 20.8% last year. Altogether, over 4,000 additional students scored on track or mastered on high school math in 2017 compared to 2016.

• In high school math, districts choose one of two tracks: algebra I, geometry, and algebra II or integrated math I, II, and III. Integrated math combines algebra and geometry throughout the three courses.
• On four of the six math exams, the percentage of students who scored on track or mastered improved, and there were slight dips on two tests: algebra II and integrated math II. Notably, the districts participating in these two tests shifted as some districts continue transitioning to integrated math track.

• There are two end-of-course exams offered in science: biology and chemistry. Results on both improved. This year, 51.0% of students scored proficient oradvanced on the high school science exams – up from 48.9% last year. That means about 4,600 more students were at or above course expectations.

• The science exam has yet to transition to TNReady and includes the performance levels from the old TCAP: below basic, basic, proficient, andadvanced. In 2018-19, Tennessee schools will transition to new, more rigorous Tennessee academic standards in science, and that year, students will take a TNReady exam aligned to those higher standards.

• In U.S. history, there was also an uptick in the percentage of students who performed on track or mastered – 30.8% in 2017 compared to 29.9% in 2016. That means about 2,800 additional students are now meeting course expectations in U.S. history.

Student groups show encouraging growth and highlight areas to improve

This year’s results also show some encouraging performance from Tennessee’s historically underserved student groups. In particular, for end-of-course exams in English, all student groups – students with disabilities, English learners, economically disadvantaged students, and Black/Hispanic/Native American students – improved on TNReady.

In many cases, student groups had fewer students who scored in the lowest performance level, either below or below basic, compared to last year. For example, last year on English I, 33.7% of economically disadvantaged students scored as below, but this year that percentage dropped to 20.7%. Notably, the percent of student with disabilities scoring at the lowest level of achievement decreased in every individual content area and fell by over 19 percentage points in English I. 

And, in a couple of cases, performance gaps narrowed between student groups and all students. On high school science, Black/Hispanic/Native American students outpaced the larger student population, and on high school math, the gap between students with disabilities and all students also narrowed. The progress shown by students with disabilities is particularly encouraging given that there has been an increase in the number of students with disabilities who participate in TNReady over the past two years, since the elimination of the modified TCAP.

Transition to online assessments continues

For the first time this year, high school students in 24 districts took TNReady online. This was the first year of a three-year transition to online assessments, and in 2017-18, all high school students will take TNReady end-of-course exams online. Additionally, districts will have the option for students in grades 5-8 to take TNReady online in 2017-18 before fully transitioning those students to online assessments in 2018-19.

In consultation with national experts, psychometricians with Questar and the department analyzed the results this year to ensure that scores are comparable regardless of whether the student took TNReady online or on paper.

Additional information coming soon

The release of the statewide end-of-course results starts the cascade of additional TNReady information that will follow over the next few months. Within the coming weeks, school districts will receive their embargoed district-level end-of-course results, as well as TVAAS growth data and their parent and teacher score reports.District-level high school end-of-course results will be released publicly after districts have had a chance to review their data. This fall, the department will finalize the scores and release the results for grades 3-8 at both the state and district level.

For more information on TNReady and the results, including specific details and additional data about today’s announcement as well as more information on the 2017-18 assessment, please visit the department’s website at TNReady.gov. For media inquiries, contact Sara Gast at 615-532-6260 or sara.gast@tn.gov.

CHILDREN’S SERVICES EMERGES FROM FEDERAL COURT OVERSIGHT

HASLAM, HOMMRICH ANNOUNCE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN’S SERVICES EMERGES FROM FEDERAL COURT OVERSIGHT
Judge’s signature marks more than 16 years of sweeping foster care reform

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Commissioner Bonnie Hommrich today announced that after more than 16 years of system-wide reform and a massive turnaround, Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (DCS) is now free of federal court oversight.

U.S. District Court Judge Waverly D. Crenshaw has approved the historic agreement between the state and Children’s Rights, the New York-based advocacy group that in 2000 filed litigation known as the Brian A. lawsuit that charged that Tennessee youth in foster care suffered in an overburdened system, describing children in crowded congregate care shelters and social workers with overwhelming caseloads.

Tennessee now has a thoroughly reformed foster care system. The reform comes after years of collaboration with Children’s Rights and the Technical Assistance Committee, a panel of nationally recognized child welfare experts that served as the federal court monitor for the Brian A. consent decree.

“This is monumental for Tennessee’s children and the state. After years of intervention, the federal government is saying that Tennessee is providing service to children in a way that models what it should look like for the rest of the country,” Haslam said.

“This stage in our journey represents the hard work, commitment and innovation it has taken to get here. So on behalf of our children, families, staff and partners, I can say that we’re just thrilled and thankful,” Hommrich said. “But the work goes on. We will always have tough problems before us. At DCS, we promise to bring our full energy and attention to whatever lies ahead, and we will use the same focus and dedication that has brought us to this point today.”

The reform follows intense work with a wide range of institutions, including Tennessee’s private provider network, the state’s leading universities, the University of Chicago’s Chapin Hall Center for Children, the state’s juvenile courts and the Tennessee General Assembly.

DCS achieved its court-required performance during 2015, and the Brian A. agreement stipulated that Tennessee maintain that performance throughout 2016.

Highlights of the department’s reform include:

• Among the nearly 140 foster-care benchmarks DCS achieved are measures of time to reunification, time to adoption, re-entry into the foster-care system, length of time in placement, parent-and-child visits and case-manager caseloads.
• DCS emphasizes family-style placement for youth in foster care, in place of institutional settings such as orphanages.
• DCS has become a national leader in timeliness to adoption and in implementing a child-and-family teaming model that encourages birth parents, case managers, care providers and foster families to work together on behalf of a child.
• DCS has developed a process that has put the department on a path to a more professional workforce, with bachelor’s and master’s degree programs for case managers and supervisors.
• DCS has built a robust, modern case-management computer system, TFACTS, that handles everything from case notes, management tools to billing days. It replaced a patchwork of computer systems that did not always work together reliably.
• Although not a Brian A. requirement, DCS has achieved re-accreditation by the Council on Accreditation. Tennessee is one of the few states in the nation accomplish this.
• Tennessee is the first state in the U.S. to offer independent living services to 100 percent of the youth who age out of foster care. This program is an outgrowth of pioneering work with private provider Youth Villages.

Today there are approximately 7,300 children in Tennessee foster care. The department is also responsible for the approximately 1,100 youth who comprise the state’s juvenile-justice population. These youth were not part of the Brian A. suit.

For more information on the Brian A. lawsuit, please contact Rob Johnson at Rob.Johnson@tn.gov.


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OREA Publication on the IMPROVE Act

The state Comptroller has created a publication on the IMPROVE Act through the Office of Research and Education Accountability.

Link: http://www.comptroller.tn.gov/Repository/RE/OREA%20IMPROVE%20Act_July%202017.pdf 

Historically Low Unemployment in Tennessee

The unemployment rate in Wilson County is at an historic low; 2.2% and for the state it is 3.6%. As a member of the Workforce Development Board I am very proud to see these historic numbers. This means that Tennessee will be growing - both in population and capital investment in order to keep up with demand.

Simple Thoughts...

This may seem like a weird post but I sort of feel divinely inspired to write these words so here goes. 
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Until just recently, I never took much time to think about the powerful emotion of shame. Most probably think of shame as a very painful emotion, and if used as a cruelly by someone in order to hurt us shame is very painful. But when shame is experienced in the natural course of events either through our own conscience or due to instructive words from someone who genuinely cares for us or due to just ordinary conversation, it is a very constructive emotion if we allow ourselves to experience it, to learn and to grow because of it. 
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Shame helps us to understand when we have done something wrong or to realize that we want to improve ourselves. It helps us to correct our own behavior and actions, to strive harder, and to seek beneficial changes. 
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As Christians, shame should lead us to pray to our heavenly Father for forgiveness, to ask the Holy Spirit for guidance and to show us how to make changes in ourselves so that we can function better in our lives and relationships. 
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Some people are very shame-adverse. Unfortunately, being shame-adverse keeps children and adults from growing and from maturing to healthy relationships. 
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Psychologists say that people who have an aversion to feeling shame will do several frustrating things to avoid the pain of ever feeling this emotion. They can become very easily offended by what we consider to be normal conversation. They will blame-shift – that is they will immediately point out something we do wrong as if this makes any difference to the subject at hand. They will fog – which is to claim that they don’t remember the event or claim that it didn’t happen as we know it did. They will also keep mental lists which they quickly pull out in order to attempt to hurt us back by reciting our warts and faults which can be confusing, hurtful or irritating because all along we didn't realize the conversation caused them to feel shame and thus was painful to them. 
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The problem is, young or old, we all need to feel shame from time to time and to examine it. It is a tool to help us seek ways to make constructive changes in ourselves in order to achieve personal growth, and to develop integrity, healthy relationships and a clear conscience. Shame, when not used as a cruelty, is a very constructive emotion which helps us grow and mature. By diving in and fully allowing ourselves to feel shame we can know to pray and seek guidance. 
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I know that this is sort of weird post but due to some of my reading lately I felt strangely moved to write about this emotion – maybe I was divinely inspired to write these words for someone and they will help them and I will never know…I hope so. Or maybe I need to do some praying for me :-)

Speaker Harwell Communication on Proposed Metro Ordinances

Speaker Beth Harwell has just shared developing news with members regarding Metro's attempt to create a sanctuary city. The Speaker included the legal opinion which clearly says that the Metro Council's ordinance, if passed, cannot affect the Sheriff's duties - read it here; https://tinyurl.com/yawddqyx

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THE SPEAKERS COMMUNICATION TO THE MEMBERS

Members,

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Many of you are concerned about Metro Nashville’s proposed ordinance concerning immigration enforcement, and I want to share an update with you. Since last week, I have been talking to Metro Sheriff Daron Hall and Metro Council members opposed to the measure. At their request, Senator Tracy and I requested an Attorney General’s opinion.

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Today, I am pleased that Metro Legal Director Jon Cooper released an opinion stating that the ordinance is not enforceable. I have attached a copy of the opinion for your review.

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The Tennessean’s story on this development is online at: http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2017/06/27/nashville-immigration-ordinance-not-enforceable-metro-attorney-says/431407001/

It includes my comments:

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I strongly concur with Metro’s legal director, Jon Cooper. Sheriff Daron Hall’s powers cannot be restricted by the Metro Council. The sheriff is a state constitutional officer, and his duties are prescribed by the General Assembly. Our local, state, and federal law enforcement officials must be able to work together to keep our children, families, and communities safe, and I will make sure they have the power to do that.

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I will keep you posted on this issue. Thank you for working together to address this issue.

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Beth

Lynn Calls Out Pettiness of Opponent

I don't generally acknowledge the pettiness of opponents however today I probably need to say something.

My opponent sent a press release to the fake newspaper the Tennessee Star today condemning me for not signing on to a group press release by some legislators that condemned the Metro Council for their attempt to turn Nashville into a sanctuary city.
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However, Rep. Kevin Brooks and I issued much stronger press release of our own on Monday strongly condemning Metro's attempt to create a sanctuary city; https://tinyurl.com/ybdpo6gw
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The reason Rep. Kevin Brooks and I didn't sign-on to the group press release is because it wasn't very strong - for instance, they wrote "We implore you..." in the letter to the Metro Council. Well to implore is "to beg" or "to plead". Rep. Brooks and I felt that it is totally inappropriate for state legislators to beg the Metro Council not to pass the ordinances. We requested edits to change this wording yesterday morning to make the press release stronger but were turned down.
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Request for edits https://tinyurl.com/y8evpwe3
Request turned down https://tinyurl.com/y7ytldg8
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Rep Brooks noticed this morning that the Star wrote about the other legislators press release but not ours. His sixth sense felt that we should notify the Star of our press release which went out earlier than the group press release so he telephoned me. I agreed and we notified the Star this morning, and asked to be included in their article. https://tinyurl.com/ydcag354.  However, so far we have been ignored.
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Now the fake news Star has published an attempt by my opponent to zing me which he submitted to the Star some time today - he mistakenly calls me out for not standing up against Metro.
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My father's wise words come to mind regarding my opponent's petty actions; my father always said "If you are going to say something publicly, you had better be right!"
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Opponent - do your homework first.

Email to Fake News at 8:30 am

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Email Where Rep. Brooks and my Edits Were Turned Down

Email Where Rep. Brooks and my Edits Were Turned Down

So we issued our own press release opposing the metro Sanctuary city ordinances

click on the photo to make larger

Requested Edits to Matheny/Butt Press Release

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FULL TEXT OF MY EMAIL REQUESTING TO MAKE THE PRESS RELEASE STRONGER

Dear Jan,

I would like to request a couple of changes and the correction of a typo.  

I personally do not like the use of the word "implore" at the end of this resolution, and I request that it be changed in order to strengthen the last line.  The word implore means to beg, to plead or to pray.  I feel that the word implore is inappropriate for this letter. 

I propose to strengthen the last sentence to say something like;  

In conclusion, as members of the 110th General Assembly, we are writing to make you aware that if enacted, these resolutions are in clear violation of state law.  Further, state law grants citizens legal recourse against Nashville.  Finally, the Counsel can be assured that we, the co-signing members of the 110th Tennessee General Assembly, will take this matter up in the next half of the 110th General Assembly with the intent to strengthen the law. 

Also, there is a typo - "the proposed Resolutions are in violations"  it should read "in violation" 

I will never forget the Wilson's, a couple from Mt. Juliet who was killed by an illegal alien with 14 priors.  In order to give a relevant example from Tennessee I offer the​ paragraph below.

On June 8, 2006, Gustavo Reyes Garcia an illegal alien who had fourteen previous arrests, including four DUIs, slammed his SUV into a sedan driven by Sean and Donna Wilson of Mt. Juliet, Tenn., killing them both. At the time of the accident Mr. Wilson was driving Mrs. Wilson to her chemotherapy appointment.  This tragedy was the catalyst to finally end the issuance of drivers licenses to illegal aliens in Tennessee.  

Thank you everyone,

Susan Lynn

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From: Jan Kirk Wright
Sent: Monday, June 26, 2017 8:53 AM
To: Andrew Farmer; Andy Holt; Art Swann; Barry Doss; Beth Harwell; Bill Dunn; Bill Sanderson; Bob Ramsey; Bryan Terry; Bud Hulsey; Cameron Sexton; Charles Sargent; Courtney Rogers; Curtis Halford; Curtis Johnson; Dale Carr; Dan Howell; David Alexander; David Byrd; David Hawk; Dawn White; Debra Moody; Dennis Powers; Eddie Smith; Gary Hicks; Gerald McCormick; Glen Casada; Harry Brooks; Jason Zachary; Jay D. Reedy; Jeremy Faison; Jerry Sexton; Jim Coley; Jimmy Eldridge; Jimmy Matlock; John B. Holsclaw, Jr.; John Crawford; John Forgety; John Ragan; Judd Matheny; Kelly Keisling; Kent Calfee; Kevin Brooks; Marc Gravitt; Mark Pody; Mark White; Martin Daniel; Mary Littleton; Matthew Hill; Micah Van Huss; Michael Curcio; Mike Carter; Mike Sparks; Pat Marsh; Paul Sherrell; Rick Tillis; Roger Kane; Ron Gant; Ron Lollar; Ron Travis; Ryan Williams; Sabi Kumar; Sam Whitson; Sheila Butt; Steve McDaniel; Susan Lynn; Terri Lynn Weaver; Tilman Goins; Tim Rudd; Tim Wirgau; Timothy Hill; William Lamberth; Rick Tillis; Kevin Vaughan
Subject: Urgent Sanctuary Press Release- we need you

Good Morning Colleagues,

Representatives Judd Matheny, Bryan Terry and I have drafted this Press Release and currently have 23 Members committed to being named in this press release as supporters. If you want to be named in this press release (see attached) then my assistant Jan must have your signature stating you want to be named by 3.30 pm this afternoon.

We hope you will all read this press release and take the opportunity to join with us in alerting citizens and informing Metro and Davidson County that the General Assembly has no intention of allowing Nashville to become a Sanctuary City. It is our duty to protect our citizens and our state.

Please add your signature through your office by (today) Monday 3.30 pm and the press release will go out immediately following. Again, your signature will not be in the press release, this just allows us to use your name in the press release.

Thank you so much. It is an honor serving with you.

My Best, Sheila Butt

House of Representatives

State of Tennessee

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 26, 2017

Representative Judd Matheny-rep.judd.matheny@capitol.tn.gov (615-741-7448)

Representative Sheila Butt- rep.sheila.butt@capitol.tn.gov (615-741-3005)

Representative Bryan Terry- rep.bryan.terry@capitol.tn.gov (615-741-2180)

Republican Lawmakers Call For Metro Council Not To Enact Sanctuary City Ordinances

(NASHVILLE) — With the Second Reading of the Ordinances filed by Metro Councilmen Bob Mendes and Colby Sledge having passed and a vote pending from the Metro Council, we are compelled to make public the intent and purposes of this Ordinance and to make it known that as Representatives of the State of Tennessee, we soundly object to their their passage. Tennessee is currently being represented by the Thomas More Law Center in a lawsuit questioning the ongoing practice of settling refugees in Tennessee through various non-governmental organizations without the proper vetting, channels or protocol being followed.

The Ordinances would formally put policies in place that would officially make Nashville a Sanctuary City.

In essence, the Ordinances would:

1)     Prohibit Metro Nashville employees from inquiring into anyone's immigration status, effectively enabling illegal aliens to access public benefits they would otherwise be barred from using. This practice is not in line with State and Federal law and would a huge financial strain on our public benefit services and budgets.

2)        Prohibit Metro Council from continuing a contractual arrangement with the U.S. Marshals Service that enables the Davidson County jail to detain illegal criminal aliens for ICE pick-up, and would "require Metro to exercise its rights to terminate the contract, and negotiate new terms subject to Council approval." The Council could decide not to renew any contract that allows for compliance with ICE detainers.

While other states list crimes (generally those with acts of violence involving a weapon, anything involving terror, or any major drug offenses to name a few) that trigger cooperation with ICE detainers leading to deportation, the Metro Ordinance of Mendes would allow illegal immigrants who commit all types of crimes, without exception, to be released back into our communities instead of facing possible deportation by ICE.

Tennessee Code Annotated Section 7-68-103 states:

(a) A local governmental entity or official shall not adopt any ordinance or written policy that expressly prohibits a local governmental entity, official, or employee from complying with applicable federal law pertaining to persons that reside within the state illegally.

(b) An official shall not materially interfere with the ability of a local governmental entity, official or employee of a municipality or a county to comply with applicable federal law pertaining to persons that reside within the state illegally.

These proposed ordinances would be a clear violation of Tennessee law and it is our intent as legislators to protect the safety of all Tennesseans to the greatest extent. After the murder of Kate Steinle in California by an illegal immigrant who had already been convicted of seven felonies and deported five times, we should be actively encouraging our law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration authorities involving illegal aliens who commit crimes.

The proposed Ordinances are violations of current law and place Tennesseans at risk. The citizens of Nashville and Metro Davidson County should contact their Councilmen immediately and request that their respective Representatives vote NO on these two Ordinances. The passage of these ordinances may empower additional liberal enclaves to follow suit. It is important for Tennessee to take the lead in solving this issue now.

It is entrusted to the General Assembly to keep the citizens of our state safe, keep Tennessee financially sound, and to enact laws that will accomplish that end. We will not hesitate to act if these Ordinances should pass.

The following members of the TN General Assembly implore you NOT  to not pass this ordinance,  (23 members have added signatures to this press release)______________________________________________________________________

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Email Press Release on 6/26

Press Release Sent by Email on June 26 at 3:11 PM

Full text of above press release

House of Representatives

State of Tennessee

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 26, 2017

State Representative Susan Lynn 

 Wilson County Representative Expresses Strong Opposition to Metro Council Sanctuary City Ordinances

(NASHVILLE) — Representative Susan Lynn today expressed her disapproval of two ordinances proposed by Metro Councilmen Bob Mendes and Colby Sledge.  The ordinances would in effect make Nashville a sanctuary city.  “In 2009, the state legislature made it clear that sanctuary cities are prohibited in Tennessee. I voted for that law, and now some on the Metro Council are attempting to violate state law and greatly endanger our citizens.” Stated Lynn.

The Metro Resolutions have passed 2^nd reading, a third vote of approval would mean that they become city ordinance.  “The Sheriff of Davidson County is a Constitutional officer and as such he does not take direction from the Metro Councilmen on which laws to enforce – he has to enforce all of the laws. What I strongly object to is the intent to endanger the citizens.  Every night gang members cross the county-line and commit crimes in outer counties such as my district.  The councilmen would make this problem worse and I do not appreciate that.”  Lynn stated.

The first ordinance seeks to prohibit Metro Nashville employees from inquiring into the immigration status of anyone seeking services or for other reasons – this would be in violation of state law.  It could allow illegal aliens to access public benefits to which they are not entitled.  

A second ordinance would seek to end Metro’s agreement to cooperate with ICE detainers.  The intent is for the Davidson County jail to no longer detain illegal criminal aliens for ICE pick-up which Lynn believes would pose a huge danger to the community. 

Such non-cooperation is prohibited in TCA 7-68-103.  The law states that local governments are prohibited from adopting any ordinance that prohibits a local government or employee from complying with federal law pertaining to persons who reside within the state illegally.  It also prohibits interference with local government, an official or an employee who is attempting to comply with federal law pertaining to persons that reside within the state illegally.

In 2006, Gustavo Reyes Garcia, an illegal alien who had fourteen previous arrests, including four DUIs, slammed his SUV into a sedan driven by Sean and Donna Wilson of Mt. Juliet, Tenn., killing them both. At the time of the accident Mr. Wilson was driving Mrs. Wilson to her chemotherapy appointment.  Lynn recalls that this tragedy was a catalyst to finally end the issuance of drivers’ licenses to illegal aliens in Tennessee, and for the creation of other laws such as the sanctuary cities law.  

“I want to make the members of the Metro Council aware of the very real dangers and horrible impact such ordinances, if obeyed, could have on the lives of citizens. If enacted, these resolutions are in clear violation of state law.  Further, state law grants citizens’ legal recourse against Nashville.  Finally, the Counsel can be assured that I along with other members of the 110th Tennessee General Assembly, will take this matter up in January when the legislature reconvenes.”

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