Tennessee lawmakers bit off more than they could chew this session when it comes to classroom reform.
Capitol Hill Conversation – Reviving Wine in Supermarkets
This year’s proposal to allow wine sales in supermarkets and corner stores derailed last week. But supporters still have hope their Sleeping Beauty could be revived.
Capitol Hill Conversation – Reworking Workers Comp
State legislators begin the formal debate on a major overhaul to Tennessee’s workers comp system this week. The proposal from Governor Bill Haslam has been hashed out in meetings held over the last few months and now begins the journey through the General Assembly.
Capitol Hill Conversation – A New Day at DCS
Governor Bill Haslam’s DCS commissioner of two years resigned under mounting pressure over child death records. This week there is an interim at the helm, charged with watching out for Tennessee’s most vulnerable children. Lawmakers described the job as “impossible.”
Capitol Hill Conversation – The Starting Gun Bill
This week Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey wants to push through legislation from the last session that would give gun owners a way to legally store firearms in their vehicles. Last year, the issue was so divisive among Republicans, a top-ranking lawmaker was unseated in a primary election out of retribution.
Capitol Hill Conversation – A Glimpse at the State of the State
Monday night Governor Bill Haslam will make his annual State of the State address, when he gives his assessment of Tennessee’s state of affairs. The speech is largely about money and policy, and the governor has $300-$400 million in new tax revenue to play with this year.
Capitol Hill Conversation – Lobbyists Adapt to New Rules
Lobbyists at the state capitol remain in overdrive trying to find sponsors for their legislation before all the good ones were gone. A new cap on the number of bills that can be filed in the General Assembly is expected to alter how the legislature does business. And lobbyists are at the center of it all.
Capitol Hill Conversation – Blocking TennCare Expansion
After an opening gavel, the General Assembly is back to work. Whether or not to expand TennCare could be the most costly decision the body makes this year, and the first bill out of the gate would prevent Tennessee from expanding its Medicaid program as envisioned under the Affordable Care Act.
Capitol Hill Conversation – A Young Bunch
A new session of the General Assembly beginning this week means new faces, lots of them, particularly in the majority party. Half of the House Republicans have fewer than two years of experience, and this week they’ll be figuring out more than where the capitol bathrooms are.
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