Tennessee U.S. Rep. Mark Green Introduces Bill to Block Critical Race Theory Training in U.S. Military Service Academies

Tennessee U.S. Rep. Mark Green Introduces Bill to Block Critical Race Theory Training in U.S. Military Service Academies

Top Stories

DCRP Reorganization

From Jim Garrett, Chairman, Davidson County Republican Party:

Good evening, 

The Davidson County Republican Party will be reorganizing this month. Details of the reorganization are being finalized and will be announced shortly. This will be what is termed a Mass Convention with the first part of the day focused on District Caucuses and the election or appointment of District Chairmen and Precinct Captains. The District Caucuses will be followed by the Reorganizational Convention. 

During the reorganizational convention, our responsibilities are to elect the Officers and Regional Vice-Chairs to serve until the next reorganization in 2023. The positions up for election will be: 

• Chairman, 
•  1st Vice-Chairman, 
•  2nd Vice-Chairman, 
•  Recording Secretary, 
•  Communication Secretary, 
•  Treasurer, 
•  Vice-Treasurer, 
•  North Region Vice-Chair, 
•  North Central Region Vice-Chair, 
•  East Region Vice-Chair, 
•  West Region Vice-Chair, 
•  South Region Vice-Chair, 
•  South Central Region Vice-Chair, and 
•  Southeast Region Vice-Chair. 

 To qualify for office as County Party Chairman, a candidate must be: an individual who is actively involved in the Tennessee Republican Party, the County Republican Party, or any recognized auxiliary of either; be a citizen who has voted in all three of the last three (3) statewide Republican primary elections (August 2020, March 2020, and August 2018); be a registered voter in Davidson County, Tennessee. Also, per a recent change in the TRP Rules and Regulations, a candidate for Chairman must notify his intent to run for the position to the Chairman of the Contest and Credential Committee of at least seven (7) or more calendar days in advance of the reorganization convention. Failure to meet the seven (7) day deadline will result in the candidate NOT being considered for nomination for the position. 

To qualify for office as an Officer or Regional Vice-Chair, a candidate must be an individual who is actively involved in the Tennessee Republican Party, the County Republican Party, or any recognized auxiliary organization of either; be a citizen who has voted in at least three (3) of the last four (4) statewide Republican primary elections (August 2020, March 2020, August 2018, and August 2016); be a legally registered voter in Davidson County, Tennessee; for Regional Vice-Chair, be a resident from within the Council Districts comprising that Region. 

All Officer (except for the Chairman) and Regional Vice-Chair positions may be nominated from the floor of the convention. 

Voting records provided by the Davidson Co. Election Commission will be used to verify a candidate’s voting record. Should the candidate NOT have a sufficient voting record in this county, it will be the candidate’s responsibility to provide to the Contest and Credentials Committee a certified copy of the candidate’s most recent voting record from their previous address to satisfy this requirement. Failure to provide this record will result in the candidate’s name not being presented for nomination. 

If you wish to ask us a question, have a comment, or want to place your name in nomination for one of the positions mentioned above, you may reach us by phone or U.S. Mail at: 

Davidson County Republican Party 

P.O. Box 158419 

Nashville, Tennessee 37215-8419 

Phone: 615-933-1872 or via email at: DCRPReorganization@gmail.com . 

Regards, 

Jim Garrett, Chairman

Top Stories

TN Legislature Takes Steps To Lift Restrictions Limiting Access To Quality, Affordable Healthcare

The Tennessee Conservative, May 6, 2021- On May 5, the Tennessee Senate passed a bill that will reform state laws surrounding Certificate of Need for healthcare providers. 

A Certificate of Need, CON, is a permit that can establish a healthcare institute or facility in a designated location. It is also used when modifying an existing establishment. 

House Bill 948 “increases from 15 to 30 days the period in which a party or any member of the health services and development agency may file a notice to request the agency review an action of the executive director.” 

The CON reform bill passed with a 30-1 vote. It is sponsored by Representative Clark Boyd, while companion Senate Bill 1281 is sponsored by Senator Shane Reeves.  

“In my eight-county district, we had four of our seven hospitals close in the last decade,” Senator Page Walley said during the May 5 session. “To say the least, that put an extraordinary burden on our citizens for obtaining healthcare. When I was running one of the primary issues was ‘what can we do to reopen access to hospital services for our people?’ One of the impediments that we ran into had to do with obtaining a Certificate of Needs so my first piece of legislation that I brought had to do with just this; how can we expedite obtaining, or eliminate the need to obtain, a CON for rural hospitals which have closed and now we need to reopen.” 

According to the state’s health department, “Tennessee’s CON program seeks to deliver improvement in access, quality and cost savings through orderly growth management of the state’s health care system. The Division of Health Planning is charged with setting the standards and criteria for granting a CON in the State Health Plan. The Health Services Development Agency (HSDA) decides whether to grant or deny a CON using the standards and criteria.” 

Since the 1990s, the state’s certificate of need laws has prevented over 100 hospitals and ambulatory services from opening. The passage of this bill will streamline the CON process for healthcare facilities across the state. 

The Tennessee branch of Americans for Prosperity commended the Senate for passing HB 948. AFP-TN has been at the forefront of advocating for health care reforms. Last year, the grassroots group ran a robust ad and mail campaign in support of certificate of need and telemedicine reforms. 

The Deputy State Director James Amundsen issued a statement to show support for the bill passage. “The Tennessee Legislature should be commended for taking another important step to lift protectionist restrictions that limit access to quality, affordable health care. Although there is still much more work to be done to end the CON outright, it cannot be overlooked that this bill greatly streamlines the current process, eliminates several protectionist aspects for incumbent providers, and creates greater access to certain health services in Tennessee,” the statement said. “Most importantly, the eventual merger of the CON and licensure responsibilities into a single agency signals that our state is committed to helping Tennesseans get the care when and where they need it. We urge Governor Lee to sign this bill without delay.” 

 The bill now heads to state Governor Bill Lee’s desk.

Top Stories

Tennessee General Assembly approves cutting unemployment eligibility weeks, bump in bene

 By Jon Styf ,  (The Center Square) – The Tennessee General Assembly on the last day of the legislative session passed a bill that will cut the number of weeks Tennesseans are eligible for unemployment from 26 weeks to 12 weeks. The measure, House Bill 1039, also increases the weekly benefit amount.

Unemployed Tennesseans who made $26,000 or more before unemployment would see a $50 weekly bump in unemployment pay. Everyone else would receive a $25 boost. The current maximum weekly benefit is $275. The House initially approved a flat $25 increase to all weekly payments, but the Senate amended the bill Wednesday with the tiered increase before passing the legislation, 26-7. The House concurred with the Senate amendment Wednesday night, 71-19. The bill now will be sent to Gov. Bill Lee for approval. 

“It’s good for Tennessee businesses,” Sen. Jon Lundberg, R-Bristol, said. “It gives them the opportunity to hire people. It is good policy, in my opinion.” 

One topic discussed frequently in debating the bill was businesses struggling to fill job openings, especially with the current $300 weekly federal addition to state unemployment benefits. Lundberg said 254,000 jobs are listed open on Jobs4TN.gov. 

“They’re all looking for people,” Sen. Mike Bell, R-Riceville, said. “They’re looking for warm bodies. The jobs are out there, and it’s time we stop incentivizing people staying home.” 

The bill has a stipulation that if the state’s unemployment rate rises above 5.5%, the number of weeks an unemployed resident would get benefits goes up one week for every 0.5% the unemployment rate is above 5.5%. Unemployment benefits will be capped at 20 weeks. 

Sen. Jeff Yarbro, D-Nashville, pointed to the bill’s fiscal note, which said the bill would lower the amount of revenue brought in by Tennessee businesses. He also scoffed at the idea that Tennesseans are staying home instead of taking jobs because of the unemployment payments, saying this bill will mean Tennessee has the lowest unemployment benefits in the country. 

“This is a bad idea,” Yarbro said. “This is some real Ebenezer Scrooge stuff. We are cutting unemployment in half after 1 million people in this state have used this. “That’s not people who are lazy. That’s 1 out of every 3 workers,” Yarbro said. 

The bill would amount to an estimated savings of $33.5 million annually because of the reduction of benefit weeks. Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee Chair Bo Watson, R-Hixson, said federal COVID-19 relief was used to replenish the state’s unemployment trust fund. Watson said that money prevented the state from having to raise unemployment taxes on businesses by 300%. Watson said if the fund drops below $1 billion, it triggers an increase in unemployment tax rates. 

“We have not borrowed from the federal government,” Watson said. 

“Several states did that and now have to pay it back with interest.” Sen. Heidi Campbell, D-Nashville, pointed to approved legislation that increases expense reimbursements to lawmakers. “I think the optics of doing this at the same time as we are giving ourselves a raise, it’s bad optics,” Campbell said. 

“I think it’s morally wrong for us to reduce the benefits,” Sen. Brenda Gilmore, D-Nashville, said. “People draw unemployment for no other reason than they have worked. “If you’ve not ever been in that situation where you’ve had to draw unemployment to survive, walk in their shoes and then vote your conscience,” Gilmore said.

Top Stories

Nashville Young Republicans May Meeting

Event by Nashville Young Republicans 

Bold Patriot Brewing Company 

Tuesday, May 11, 2021 at 6 PM CDT

Anyone on or off Facebook Come join the Nashville Young Republicans at the Bold Patriot Brewing Company (410 39th Ave N)! We'll be joined by Sammie Arnold from the Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development (ECD).

More infomation and RSVP

Top Stories

What happened to the Kraken?

 

I found it in Nashville at Frugal McDougals!

Top Stories

Today Is The Event, Register! – Conversation on Critical Race Theory

From Latinos For Tennessee: For years progressives have been cementing critical race theory – the idea that America is racist and irredeemable – in college campuses, Hollywood and schools in the East and West Coast. 

Now critical race theory has arrived in Tennessee! 

Latinos for Tennessee has assembled an impressive list of speakers, including: 

• Robby Starbuck – an award-winning director, producer and editor. Robby is also Cuban American and an advocate for life, liberty and human rights. 
• Justice Enlow – Miss Tennessee 2020, activist. 
• Rev. C.L. Bryant – minister and former radio host. 
• Dr. Ming Wang – award-winning optometrist surgeon, author and refugee from communist China. 
• Danny Vargas, CEO of VARCom Solutions and nationally recognized Latino commentator and political analyst. 

Register here. 

“Freedom is never one generation away from extinction” – Ronald Reagan. 

 In Liberty, 

 Raúl López

Top Stories

Wall Street Journal: The Music City Meltdown

The Music City Meltdown 

A decade ago Nashville’s rise seemed inevitable, but fiscal recklessness left the city ill-prepared to absorb the pandemic’s economic blows. 

By Steven Malanga April 28, 2021 - For more than a decade, Nashville, Tenn., has been one of America’s hippest and fastest-growing cities. Anchored by the country-music industry and boosted by a hospitable state tax climate, the city and surrounding region attracted businesses and residents. While its music scene made it a tourist mecca, Nashville also lured a generation of college-educated transplants, earning a position as one of the country’s new “brainpower cities.” 

These days Nashville is making its way onto other, less distinguished lists. The Institute for Truth in Accounting recently ranked it one of the country’s five worst “sinkhole” cities, with $22,000 in debt per resident. Its bonded debt alone has increased by more than $1.25 billion in 10 years. City leaders have used deficit financing to balance Nashville’s books and spent much of the city’s reserve funds. The Tennessee comptroller has threatened a state takeover, and even the Biden administration’s lavish stimulus isn’t enough to plug Nashville’s budget hole. 

Amid all this, angry local groups are trying to spur a special election to roll back a gigantic property tax increase. What was once called a miracle in Music City increasingly looks like a meltdown. (read more)

Top Stories

Metro Council approves incentives for Oracle Corp., propelling record-setting jobs deal to the finish line

Metro Council approves incentives for Oracle Corp., propelling record-setting jobs deal to the finish line. I would have voted in favor of this deal. We did not have to give away the store to get this deal. This is a win for the city and by all accounts the best economic development deal the city has ever realized.

Top Stories

Farewell to the Tennessee State Fair

by Rod Williams - This year the Tennessee State Fair will be combined with the Wilson County Fair and will take place Aug. 12-21 in Lebanon at the James E. Ward Agriculture Center. This is still subject to approval by the state legislature and approval by Gov. Bill Lee but there is little doubt that will happen. Gov. Bill Lee allocated $5.3 million in his proposed budget to move the fair to Lebanon and to fund improvements to facilities and upgrades to road and traffic infrastructure. 

Wilson County will still have Wilson County-only events and competitions in addition to State Fair exhibits and State competitions. The Wilson County Fair regularly draws about half a million people and is considered one of the top county fairs in the country. This will be the first time since World War II that there has not been a Tennessee State Fair held in Nashville. 

Last year, due to COVID-19  concerns the fair was closed but still had some events in Nashville but was not open to the public. In closing the Fair to the public last year State Fair Manager Scott Jones noted that in addition to Covid-19 concerns, an additional challenge of hosting the fair on the Nashville Fairgrounds site was the fact that the midway footprint had been reduced in size in order to make way for the construction of the new MLS stadium. 

When the MLS stadium was approved, the loss of the State Fair was predictable.  This is a sad loss for Nashville but good for the State Fair.  The Nashville State fair site is only 117 acres of land while the James E. Ward Agriculture Center is 267 acres. With the MLS stadium taking up a large chunk of that 117 acres and several acres cut out of the fairground footprint and given to the MLS developers, the loss of the State Fair was almost inevitable. The site is simply no longer suitable for a state fair.

It did not have to be this way, we could have expanded the site and located the MLS stadium elsewhere, and saved and improved the site.  Even prior to the MLS stadium the Fairgrounds was small. There was no room for an equestrian feature which most successful State Fairs have. Our State Fair has never had the prestige of many other state fairs. I like the idea of the State Fair being in the state's capital city, but Lebanon is probably a better fit. 

There has always been an element in Nashville that was embarrassed by County music, Gun and Knife shows, flea markets, stock car racing, fairs, and our southern and rural identity. They wanted Nashville to be "Athens of the South;" not "Music City, USA.  With an influx of rootless, progressive, Millenials who also share some of the same contempt for our Tennessee values and identities as the old elitist genteel Nashvillians, the old Nashville was doomed. Starting in 2013 when Mayor Dean proposed redeveloping the site as a residential and office park, many city leaders were determined to drive the State Fair from Nashville.  They succeeded. It happened.

While I regret Nashville's loss of the State Fair, it is probably for the best for the State Fair.

For more on the loss of the State Fair and long-time effort to save the fairgrounds, as reported in this blog, see this link. For more on this most recent development see this link, this link, this link, and this link. 

Top Stories

Second Amendment sanctuary bill passes Tennessee House, heads to Lee. He should veto it.

(The Center Square) May 4, 2021 – The Tennessee House voted Monday evening to make the state a Second Amendment sanctuary. The House adopted Senate Bill 1335, which passed last week in the Senate. 

It “affirms that any law, treaty, executive order, rule, or regulation of the United States government” that violates the Second Amendment is unenforceable. That violation would have to be determined by either the Tennessee or U.S. Supreme Court.  Any official that would then attempt to enforce the unconstitutional law would then be subject to ouster. The bill now will head to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk. 

“Contrary to the messaging that’s out there, Democrats are not for taking your guns away from you,” Rep. Antonio Parkinson, D-Memphis, said while supporting the bill. “So let’s end that bad messaging that y’all are putting out there about us.” 

Parkinson’s lone complaint about the bill was it didn't include an amendment, which was withdrawn, preventing gun buybacks. “It’s only law-abiding citizens who show up,” Parkinson said. “It’s exploitation of poor people.” 

Rep. Bo Mitchell, D-Nashville, said he was hoping the legislation would not affect any federal ban on bump stocks. Bill sponsor Rep. Scotty Campbell, R-Mountain City, said what would be affected by the bill could be determined only by either supreme court.

“I know what I would like to see," Campbell told Mitchell. "That would be much different than what you would see.” Mitchell said he would like to see bump stocks banned, especially after the Waffle House shooting in Antioch in 2018 that killed four people and injured four others, and wouldn’t want this bill to stand in the way of enforcing that ban. Mitchell also said he felt the court would take at least three years to make a ruling on something like a new law. 

“We don’t want to bury several more people because of bump stocks,” Mitchell said. “I hope every law enforcement agency in this state does their job and enforces that ban.” While Senate discussion of the bill centered around whether the bill was nullification of federal law and whether that was possible. The House did not discuss nullification.

Rod's Comment:  I have reservations about this bill.  If the bill stated that violations would be determined by the U.S. Supreme Court, I would support it. If Congress passes a gun restriction and the Supreme Court says it violates the Second Amendment, and the administration attempts to enforce it anyway, it would be responsible and proper to refuse to enforce the law in Tennessee. That would be supporting the Constitution. That is much different, however than if the Tennessee Supreme Court finds that it violates the Constitution. 

To declare a federal law "null, void, and unenforceable in this state," is nullification regardless of whether one calls it that or not.  There is no legal basis for the theory of nullification.  The Supremacy Clause of the Constitution makes it clear that federal law is superior to state law.  Article III of the Constitution says the federal judiciary has the final power to interpret the Constitution.  Clearly, the power to determine the constitutionality of federal laws lies with the federal courts, not the states.  States tried that argument prior to civil war and that should have laid that theory to rest, but it was argued again in the era of forced integration in the South and still comes up from time to time.  In 2018 California used the nullification theory to oppose a Trump immigration policy. 

There is some wiggle room for a state to oppose a federal law without crossing the line into nullification.  States can simply ignore federal law or refuse to cooperate with federal law enforcement agencies.  We see this in sanctuary cities that fail to cooperate with federal authorities in the enforcement of immigration laws and in state legalization of marijuana. Tennessee could choose to not enforce federal gun control laws; that is much different than saying a law is unenforceable. 

Governor Lee should veto SB1335. 

Top Stories

NFIB COVID-19 Survey: Small Business Recovery Working Towards Pre-Crisis Levels

NASHVILLE (May 3, 2021) – The NFIB Research Center released its latest COVID-19 survey on the impact the pandemic has had on small businesses. This survey is NFIB’s 17th  survey in the series. Included in this edition is an update on small business SBA programs, paid sick or family leave, supply chain disruptions, sales levels, and more.  

“Many small businesses have taken advantage of the SBA Programs devoted to helping small employers during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Holly Wade, Executive Director of NFIB’s Research Center. “Now that many of those programs are wrapping up, small businesses are turning their attention back to their normal daily operations. It is crucial that Congress and the Administration don’t enact policies that will hurt the small business recovery.” 

State-specific data is unavailable, but NFIB State Director Jim Brown said, “NFIB members in Tennessee have received several lifelines, and some may need more. In particular, independent restaurants and other businesses are being impacted disproportionately by the severe labor shortage. Many have closed, and many remain in survival mode. NFIB will continue to fight against proposals that harm small businesses trying to recover and for proposals that help them make it through this crisis.”

Key findings:

SBA Programs 

The vast majority (82%) have submitted a PPP loan forgiveness application for their 2020 PPP loan.  

• Eleven percent responded that they were not ready to apply yet and 8% were ready, but their lender was not accepting applications yet. 

As the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 expanded the PPP deadline, about 15% of those small business owners who did not receive a 2020 first-draw PPP loan applied and received one in 2021. 

• Thirty-seven percent of those who received a first PPP loan in 2020 received a second PPP loan in 2021.  

Among small business owners who have not yet applied for a first PPP loan, 7% are still planning to apply. 

• Eleven percent are still considering if they will apply.  
• The remaining 82% are not planning to apply for one. 

Of those who have received a first PPP loan but have not applied for a second, 10 percent are planning to apply for one and 16% are considering it. 

• Some of those still waiting to apply are likely holding off until they are certain their first PPP loan forgiveness application is successfully processed and finalized. 

General awareness of the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) has increased over the last month, but unfortunately most small employers are unfamiliar with the credit.  

• Only 8% of small business owners are very familiar with the ERTC and another 41% are somewhat familiar.  
• Fifty-two percent of small business owners are not at all familiar with the ERTC. 

Only 5% of small employers have taken and 11% are planning to take the ERTC for 2020. 

• Two percent of small employers have taken and 15% are planning to take the ERTC in 2021. 

Paid Leave

About half (53%) of small business employers have had an employee take COVID-19 related sick or family leave. 

• Seventy percent of small employers who had an employee(s) take COVID-19 related sick or family leave reported it being paid leave. 
• Thirteen percent reported it being unpaid leave and 17% reported it being a mix of both paid and unpaid leave. 
• Forty-three percent of owners providing paid time off for COVID-19 sick or family leave have claimed the tax credit.  

Sales Levels 

Sales levels are 50% or less than they were pre-crisis levels for 14% of small businesses with another 22% at sales levels of 51% - 75% pre-crisis. 

• Thirty-eight percent of small businesses are back or nearly back to where they were with sales between 76% -100% of pre-crisis levels. 
• About one-in-five (21%) are exceeding pre-crisis sales levels.  

Fifteen percent of owners report that conditions are back to normal now. 

• Another 8% of owners anticipate it taking until the first half of 2021 and 29% anticipate sometime in the second half before economic conditions return pre-crisis levels.  
• About one-third (36%) of small business owners are less optimistic and expect conditions not to fully improve until sometime in 2022 and 12% after 2022. 

Three-fourths (75%) of small businesses report that they will be able to operate for more than a year in current economic conditions. 

• On the other hand, 12% of owners report that they will only be able to continue business operations for six months or less under current economic conditions and another 13% for 7-12 months.  

Supply Chain Disruptions 

When asked if supply chain disruptions are impacting their business, 26% of small business owners reported it having a significant impact. 

• Thirty percent of owners reported it having a moderate impact on their business and 29% said it has had a mild impact on their business. 
• Fifteen percent of owners reported supply chain disruptions as having no impact on their business.  

Staffing

Nineteen percent of small employers are currently experiencing a significant staffing shortage and another 19% report having a moderate staffing shortage. 

• Forty percent of owners are not experiencing a staffing shortage. 

Of those experiencing a staffing shortage, 20% had significant loss of sales opportunities and 25% had a moderate loss of sales opportunities because of the staffing shortage. 

• Thirty-five percent of small businesses had a mild loss of sales opportunities and another 20% had no loss in sales opportunities.  

COVID-19 Vaccine

About half (51%) of small business owners have been vaccinated and another 3% plan to get vaccinated as soon as it is available to them. 

• This is a significant increase from March when 26% of owners had received a vaccination. 
• Nine percent report that they will also get vaccinated, but not right away. 
• Thirty-seven percent report that they will not get vaccinated.  

Forty-six percent of small employers will encourage their employees to get vaccinated and 3% report that they will require their employees to be vaccinated. 

• Another 2% are considering encouraging or requiring the vaccination.  

Amazon’s Impact on Small Businesses 

About one-quarter (24%) of small businesses report that Amazon directly impacts their businesses.  

• Of those directly impacted, 12% report a significant negative impact on their business with another 21% reporting a moderate negative impact. 
• Forty percent report the impact as mildly negative. 
• On the other side, 5% report the impact as significantly positive, and 6% moderately positive. 
• Seventeen percent of those impacted report that the impact is mildly positive. 

Thirteen percent of all respondents compete with Amazon for sales of their products or services and 1% sell on the Amazon platform. 

• Almost one-in-10 (9%) of small employers report competing with an Amazon distribution center for employees.  
• About half (54%) of small businesses purchase inventory or supplies for their business through Amazon.  

This publication marks NFIB’s 17^th Small Business COVID-19 survey assessing the health crisis impact on small business operations, economic conditions, and utilization of the targeted small business loan programs. The first series was published in early March 2020 with subsequent publications every 2-4 weeks, found here. The full survey of the 16^th edition is available here. 

About NFIB

For more than 75 years, NFIB has been the voice of small business, advocating on behalf of America’s small and independent business owners, both in Washington, D.C., and in all 50 state capitals. NFIB is nonprofit, nonpartisan, and member driven. Since our founding in 1943, NFIB has been exclusively dedicated to small and independent businesses and remains so today. For more information, please visit www.NFIB.com. 

Top Stories

The Citizens' Guide to the Metro Budget.

Metro government makes it easy for the average citizen to understand the Metro Budget. To understand where the money comes from where the Mayor proposes spending it, see the Citizens' Guide to the Metro Budget.

Top Stories