Among the recommendations is to provide specialized treatment for mothers with addictions to painkillers. This comes months after the governor signed a bill that criminalizes pregnant women who harm their fetus by illegally using drugs without getting treatment.
Backlash Against Tennessee’s Electric Chair Law Fuels Death Penalty Opponents
A few dozen United Methodist clergy held a prayer vigil near the Capitol Tuesday. They were protesting Governor Haslam’s signing of law legalizing the electric chair as a backup to lethal injection.
Governor Finishes Promotional Tour Of ‘Tennessee Promise’ Bill Signings
Gov. Bill Haslam signed this bill into law today — for the seventh time. He’s been holding ceremonies around the state to talk about the push for more college graduates. The legislation will let any Tennessee resident attend community college for free.
Five Is Enough: Gov. Haslam Says Don’t Expect Any More Departures From His Cabinet
Governor Bill Haslam says he doesn’t expect any more departures from his cabinet, following the resignation of Steve Cates. The General Services commissioner is the fifth person to leave the administration since February.
With End Near, State Legislature Starts to Kill Off Contested Bills
A number of broadly supported proposals have failed to make it past Tuesday’s legislative hearings. As the self-imposed cutoff for the 2013 legislative session approaches this month, many bills lacking overwhelming support are being stopped in their tracks or put off until next year.
Attorney General Says Taking Away Vanderbilt’s Police Force Questionable
The Tennessee attorney general says legislation that would take away Vanderbilt University’s right to have a police force is “questionably suspect.”
Governor’s Online University Proposal a Flop in Senate Committee
Republican lawmakers are second-guessing a $5 million venture by Governor Bill Haslam to create an online university for Tennesseans. Haslam introduced the proposal to bring a branch of Western Governor’s University to Tennessee during his State of the State address in January.
Haslam: DCS Followed Legal Advice
Governor Bill Haslam continues to defend the Department of Children’s Services for its refusal to release certain case files last year. The agency is now under a court order to hand over the information.
State of the State: Overview
Tennessee’s governor laid out a budget proposal last night that’s primarily filled with moderate investments here and there. Most of the state’s added revenue will be taken up by rising costs in health care and education. But Governor Bill Haslam did propose a small raise for state workers and an injection of cash for the Rainy Day fund.
State of the State: Education
Governor Bill Haslam devoted roughly a third of this year’s State of the State to education, and he wasn’t just talking about children. But the speech did not flesh out any details of how a school voucher program would work in Tennessee.