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John Ray Clemmons

New House rules for Tennessee’s legislative session could limit speech and silence lawmakers for speaking off topic

By Blaise Gainey

January 10, 2024

Listen

Each year, lawmakers vote on a rules package that lays out the policies and procedures that must be followed. In the past, approving rules was not contentious, for the most part. But the current leadership has made several changes limiting speech on the Tennessee House floor.

Filed Under: Politics, WPLN News Tagged With: 113th Tennessee General Assembly, Cameron Sexton, Jason Zachary, John Ray Clemmons, Johnny Shaw, justin j. pearson, Justin Jones, Justin Pearson, tnleg, tnpol, William Lamberth

Tennessee judges reject Republican-drawn Senate districts, uphold House maps

By Blaise Gainey

November 27, 2023

The court found that the state Senate maps violate the constitution because lawmakers incorrectly numbered the legislative districts.

Filed Under: Politics, WPLN News Tagged With: Elections 2024, John Ray Clemmons, redistricting, tnleg

Science backs Mayor O’Connell’s later school start time policy. Critics say it’s a logistics problem.

By Catherine Sweeney

November 6, 2023

Since his election in September, Mayor Freddie O’Connell has announced that pushing back school start times is a cornerstone of the education policy he is promoting. He and others around the country have been trying to stress that teenagers aren’t lazy or to blame for getting too little sleep. It’s science.

Filed Under: Health Care, WPLN News Tagged With: Freddie O'Connell, John Ragan, John Ray Clemmons, MNPS, school start time

Republican Gov. Bill Lee calls for special session on ‘public safety.’ Democrats say it will do more harm than good.

By Blaise Gainey

August 8, 2023

The special session focused on public safety is officially happening. It’s set to begin Aug. 21 — as expected. Gov. Bill Lee is asking lawmakers to focus on preventing violent crime, but Democrats say it misses the mark.

Filed Under: Politics, Special Session 2023, WPLN News Tagged With: 113th Tennessee General Assembly, Bill Lee, firearms, guns, John Ray Clemmons, Justin Jones, mental health, tnleg, tnpol

Passenger rail in Nashville could generate nearly $20B, so Democrats are urging Gov. Lee to act

By Blaise Gainey

July 12, 2023

Tennessee House Democrats want Gov. Bill Lee to focus on bringing passenger rail to the state.  A government advisory commission study shows intercity passenger rail could improve mobility and grow the state’s economy. The ball is now in the governor’s court. 

Filed Under: Business, Politics, WPLN News Tagged With: Amtrak, Bill Lee, Federal Railroad Administration, John Ray Clemmons, railways, TDOT, Tennessee Department of Transportation, Trains, transportation

‘The Prince of Madison’: Tennessee Rep. Bill Beck dies at 61

By Blaise GaineyandRachel Iacovone

June 5, 2023

State Rep. Bill Beck

State Rep. Bill Beck has died. The Nashville Democrat was 61. Beck unexpectedly passed away Sunday after having a heart attack.

Filed Under: Politics, WPLN News Tagged With: Bill Beck, John Ray Clemmons, obituary

Lawmaker Asks For An Explanation Of Why State’s Top Vaccine Expert Was Fired

By Nina Cardona

July 13, 2021

bottle containing COVID-19 vaccine on a white backdrop

After the firing of Dr. Michelle Fiscus, the now-former medical director at the Tennessee Department of Health, Nashville Democratic Rep. John Ray Clemmons is calling for an explanation from the governor and the health commissioner.

Filed Under: Health Care, Politics, WPLN News Tagged With: Department of Health, John Ray Clemmons, Tennessee Department of Health

Tennessee Bar Association, Democrats Urge Legislature To End Push To Remove Judge Over Absentee Ballot Ruling

By Sergio Martínez-Beltrán

March 2, 2021

A new proposal in the Tennessee House of Representatives that seeks to remove a Nashville judge is receiving push back from the state’s lawyers and judges, as well as House Democrats.

Filed Under: Politics, WPLN News Tagged With: 112th Tennessee General Assembly, absentee voting, Cameron Sexton, Election 2020, Ellen Hobbs Lyle, John Ray Clemmons, Randy McNally, Tennessee Bar Association, Tim Rudd

Tennessee Democrats Celebrate Ruling On Absentee Voting For All

By Sergio Martínez-Beltrán

June 5, 2020

Tennessee Democratic lawmakers are celebrating a recent ruling that could allow universal absentee voting in the state. And they are pushing back against Republicans claiming the judge is legislating from the bench.

Filed Under: Politics, WPLN News Tagged With: absentee voting, Election 2020, John Ray Clemmons, London Lamar

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