Action Items!

 Actions for Week of December 17, 2023

• Support TN Public Schools – School superintendents, school board members, parents, local elected officials, and members of the public have started pushing back on Gov. Lee’s plans to expand school vouchers across the state. Details of the Education Freedom Scholarship Act can be found here. It appears the governor and Republican supermajority have been swayed by millions of dollars spent by out-of-state pro-charter school groups and lobbyists. For information on vouchers and how they are failing, see this article by the Economic Policy Institute; this story by WBIR TV; this op-ed from Idaho; and a report from Arizona.

  1. Support your local public schools by signing this letter.

  2. You can also ask the TN Realtors RPAC (a big political donor in TN) to oppose rejection of federal education funds by signing this letter.

  3. Consider signing this National Justice Campaign petition.

• Good News!

  1. TN stands to benefit from the Administration’s plans to replace water service lines containing lead over the next 10 years.

  2. A group of Catholic nuns are suing Smith & Wesson over its sale of assault weapons.

  3. The Administration is supporting the Haudenosaunee Confederacy’s request to compete under their own flag in the 2028 Olympics. Once known as the Iroquois, they created the game of lacrosse, which becomes an Olympic sport in 2028.

  4. Wayne County Schools in West Virginia are converting the entire system to solar power.

  5. The race is on to produce low-emissions steel and H2Green Steel of Sweden is leading the way.

  6. Almost 200 countries agreed to a plan at the COP28 meeting to transition away from fossil fuels.

• Educate Yourself

  1. Learn how the bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed 2 years ago is rebuilding America.

  2. Read about the unexpected plan by oil companies to tackle climate change by cutting methane emissions.

  3. Read about the Administration’s proposal to overhaul how welfare benefits are paid out in order to close loop holes and end abuses.

  4. Restoring voting rights after a felony is rare in TN and just got harder.

  5.  A school board in Texas has removed books from the curriculum that include information on the climate crisis and are critical of the oil industry.

  6. Some legislators in Missouri have introduced a bill that will charge women with murder if they have an abortion.

• Knoxville Juvenile Detention Center – ProPublica and WPLN/Nashville Public Radio recently published an expose on the Richard L. Bean Juvenile Service Center for its practice of punishing kids with isolation/seclusion, and its failure to comply with state and federal laws and rules. Lawmakers are calling for an investigation and we can offer comments in support of that effort. The Juvenile Justice Center operates under a board of trustees and the City of Knoxville. Consider contacting Mayor Kincannon and these board members with your feedback:

  1. Mayor Kincannon: mayor@knoxvilletn.gov

  2. Mr. Tim Irwin: tim.irwin@knoxcounty.org

  3. Ms. Brenda Ghosten: bghosten@pretendemail.com

  4. Mr. Marcus Rudolpf: mrudolph@knoxvilletn.go

  5. Mr. Billy Stokes: billy@stokeswilliams.com

  6. Ms. Sherry Mahar: smahar@gmail.com

• Petitions to Sign

  1. This petition demands that OTC birth control be covered by insurance.

  2. This petition asks the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to work harder to reduce transportation pollution.

  3. This petition asks the Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly to work towards ending orphanage trafficking.

  4. This petition demands more action to combat the rise of polio.

  5. This petition supports enactment of the School Lunch Debt Cancellation Act.

  6. You can sign this letter to the Amarillo City Council about passing unborn sanctuary ordinances that harm women.

  7. This petition asks TN legislators to permanently end the grocery tax in this state.

• Good News!

  1. 81% of investments in green energy from the IRA climate law are in poorer counties, with former coal towns benefiting particularly.

  2. US Fish & Wildlife Services will use the Endangered Species Act to protect wolverines in the lower 48 States.

  3. TN Tech University has received a $10 million grant to study ways to use smart grid technologies in our local communities.

  4. The White Houses announced this past week a program to cancel another $5 billion in student debt for >80,000 students.

  5. TN Democrats are asking the Dept. of Justice to investigate allegations of a bribery scheme on the part of Gov. Lee and then speaker of the House (Casada) in their efforts to pass the original school voucher bill in 2019.

• Educate Yourself

  1. The TN State Supreme Court blocked a ruling by a lower court that the TN State Senate district map is unconstitutional and must be redrawn by January 31, 2024. It is likely the gerrymandered districts will remain in place for the 2024 election.

  2. TN Attorney General (Jonathan Skermetti) is leading the opposition to HHS’ proposed Placement Rule, which creates new requirements that ensure state welfare agencies place LGBTQ+ youth in their custody in safe environments.

  3. Chronic wasting disease in white-tailed deer continues to spread in TN. In 2022, 813 of 20,762 samples tested in TN were positive. CWD is a fatal prion disease, similar to bovine spongiform encephalopathy ("mad cow" disease). CWD causes progressive neurologic symptoms in deer and other cervids, such as elk and moose. No human cases have been reported, but health officials urge people to avoid eating meat from sick animals and take precautions when butchering the animals.

  4. Did you know that a 12-year-old with special needs was recently handcuffed and hog-tied in a home run by TN DCS?

  5. Learn how ten states have almost achieved universal healthcare, i.e. uninsured rates <5%.

Actions for Week of December 3, 2023

• Be Forewarned about Agenda 47 – Currently, 45 is far ahead in the race for the Republican nomination for the presidency. Please start to educate yourself about 45’s plans (if elected) to put loyalists in key government positions so he can expand his powers and punish his opponents. The government-in-waiting is orchestrated by the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, which has published a 920-page policy book on priorities and implementation. The plan includes the following:

  1. Suspend the Constitution; invoke the Insurrection Act on his first day so he can dispatch the military against any demonstrations that oppose his policies; and establish a dictatorship that would be very difficult to overturn.  

  2. Create detention camps for undocumented immigrants, cancel work permits, end support services, and deport millions.

  3. Restrict activities of labor unions.

  4. Rescind all Biden Administration regulations on the fossil fuel industry, and prohibit all environmental, social and governance investments by private companies.

  5. Use the Dept. of Justice to prosecute people who oppose him, including Pres. Biden and other political “enemies”.

  6. Fire federal employees by reclassifying them, and create a new civil service test that demands loyalty to his policies.

  7. Enact restrictions on free speech at universities and revoke colleges accreditation unless they meet conservative standards.

  8. Pass a national abortion ban and transitional care ban for trans youth.

  9. Stop all support to Ukraine and allow Putin to take over the country.

  10. Based on this plan, re-election of 45 would end democracy as we know it in the USA. The Economist is calling 45 the world’s greatest danger in 2024.

• Good News!

  1. League of Women Voters TN, Victor Ashe and Phil Lawson (both of Knoxville) have filed a federal lawsuit that requires TN voters to be “bona fide” members of a political party to vote in open primary elections. The law is designed to intimidate and prevent people who are not registered in a political party from voting in primary elections.

  2. Kansas’ governor is pushing to expand Medicaid to save rural hospitals there. North Carolina launched Medicaid expansion for >600,000 people this past week.

  3. Bureau of Land Management is banning cyanide bombs on public lands.

  4. The Georgia Supreme Court refused to approve rules for a new commission that could discipline and remove prosecutors, such as Fanni Willis.

  5. EPA is proposing a rule that requires lead pipes in all US water systems to be removed within 10 years.

  6. Kenya has created a new nationwide tree planting holiday (November 13th) to help reach its goal of planting 15 billion trees by 2032.

• Educate Yourself

  1. Consider reading this riveting article Terror on Repeat that looks at the devastation caused by AR15 shootings. Also consider reading Jodi Picoult’s book, Nineteen Minutes, that examines a school shooting.

  2. 84% of schools approved so far by the TN student voucher program are religiously affiliated.

  3. Read how 5 Rwandan artists are using their creations to call for justice and how the UK’s program to deport migrants to Rwanda has been declared illegal.

  4. Courts in Maryland and Oregon have struck down gun-control laws in both states.

  5. Did you know that the railroad industry is intimidating employees who want to put safety before speed?

  6. Learn about New Disabled South, an organization fighting for disability justice in 14 Southeastern states.

Actions for Week of November 26, 2023

• Education Vouchers & TN Surplus Funds – The governor this week announced his legislative priority for 2024 is for school vouchers to be applied across the whole state, with all students (regardless of financial status) being able to obtain $7000 of tax payer money for private school tuition starting in 2025-26. These vouchers could even be applied to unaccredited schools. Consider contacting Gov. Lee with your feedback at https://www.tn.gov/governor/contact-us.html or 615-741-2001. You can also contact Gov. Lee  through this link to ask him invest TN’s $1.9 billion surplus funds as new educational funds in his next appropriations bill. Here are some potential priorities provided by the TN Education Report:

  1. Raise teacher salaries by 20%.

  2. Provide free school breakfast and lunch for all students.

  3. Invest in pre-K reading programs.

• Petitions to Sign

  1. This petition asks Enviva, the world’s largest producer of biomass wood pellets, to stop destroying Southern forests.

  2. This petition urges strengthening of the Endangered Species Act.

  3. This petition requests SCOTUS dismiss Moore v. United States lawsuit because it would shelter earnings on foreign investments from taxes.

  4. This petition demands U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Land Management revoke their hastily approved permits for the Donlin Gold Mine. It insists on an immediate halt to its operations and asks for a comprehensive, indigenous-led environmental review.

  5. More than 70,000 childcare centers could close because of the end of COVID relief funds. This petition urges Congress to act now to invest in childcare.

  6. Ask Rep. Burchett to cosponsor HR 5774, the Energy Innovation & Carbon Dividend Act by signing this letter.

• Good News!

  1. A TN court has ruled that Republican-drawn state Senate map is unconstitutional and must be redrawn. See details of the ruling here. Lawmakers must enact a new map by 1/31/24.

  2. Arizona, Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina and Utah are creating state-level climate corps fellowships that will provide professional development opportunities as states transition to green economies.

  3. A federal judge blocked Texas’ READER Act that banned certain books in public schools.

  4. Forty HBCUs have received a $124 million donation from Blue Meridian Partners to increase enrollment, graduation rates and employment rates.

  5. The White House is creating the first-ever initiative on Women’s Health Research, to be lead by Dr. Jill Biden.

  6. Patagonia company is a major supporter of fighting climate change and has just designed their warmest coat ever made from trash.

• Educate Yourself

  1. You can read the 5th National Climate Assessment report here.

  2. Sadly, Nashville and Shelby County have withdrawn their lawsuits against TN’s school voucher bill, which may make expansion of vouchers next year easier.

  3. Did you know that Gov. Bill Lee recently spent $117,000 of taxpayer dollars to take an entourage to Europe for an economic development trip? That is 7x the amount former Gov. Haslam spent when he made a similar trip.

  4. More than 650 scientists have signed a letter urging the President to commit to more ambitious US climate actions.

  5. Learn how United Healthcare is denying rehab care to Medicare patients.

  6. House Republicans recently passed an amendment to prevent the CDC from studying  gun violence. Hopefully, it won’t make it through the Senate.

 Actions for Week of November 19, 2023

•  Joint Working Group Hearings – More hearings were held this past week on whether TN should reject Federal education dollars. It was sad that parents, teachers, and educational organizations were not allowed to speak to the committee. Instead, two out-of-state organizations spoke on Wednesday, the James Madison Institute and the Center for Practical Federalism that are states-right organizations that promote the idea the federal government wrongly interferes with states. They particularly abhor protections for the LGBTQ community. Both organizations support ignoring federal rules/regulations and filing lawsuits. 

a. You can watch videos of the presentation on Nov 14thby TDOE here describing how federal grants are administered/distributed and complications and potential detriments to rejecting federal funds. Questions like whether TN can pick and choose fed funds were addressed. You can watch presentations on Nov 15th by State Comptrollers here (describes dollar amounts of federal ed funds and how they are allocated, as well as ramifications and potential lawsuits if federal funds are rejected),  and by Center for Practical Federalism & James Madison Institutehere

b. As of Friday, co-chairman Sen. Lundberg appeared to be backing off from rejecting federal funds; however, he expects the committee to continue to meet and investigate federal rules and regulations tied to acceptance of the funds. Dates have not been set yet for future hearings. Committee members from the House, however, are much more interested in rejecting the funds. Expect Rep. Ragan to file some bills in the next legislative session. 

c. It is worthwhile reaching out to legislators on the committee again to give them feedback. Also consider copying our local Reps and Senator. You can also send a letter to legislators through this link and this link. Here is contact information for Taskforce members:

i. Sen. Lundberg (co-chair): 615-741-1648, sen.jon.lundberg@capitol.tn.gov

ii. Sen. Akbari: 615-741-1767, sen.raumesh.akbari@capitol.tn.gov

iii. Sen. Hensley: 615-741-3100, sen.joey.hensley@capitol.tn.gov

iv. Sen. Powers: 615-741-2374, sen.bill.powers@capitol.tn.gov

v. Sen. White: 615-741-6853, sen.dawn.white@capitol.tn.gov

vi. Rep. Moody (co-chair): 615-741-3774, rep.debra.moody@capitol.tn.gov

vii. Rep. Ragan: 615-741-4400, rep.john.ragan@capitol.tn.gov

viii. Rep. Hill: 615-741-2050, rep.timothy.hill@capitol.tn.gov

ix. Rep. Slater: 615-741-2534, rep.william.slater@capitol.tn.gov

x. Rep. Glynn: 615-741-2043, rep.ronnie.glynn@capitol.tn.gov

• Take Health Survey - Blount County Community Health Initiative (BCCHI) is the County Health Council designated by the TN Department of Health. BCCHI has been tasked with identifying priority health issues through a Community Health Assessment. This survey will assist BCCHI in that assessment, and your participation isvaluable and greatly appreciated. Survey is available here. 

• Good News!

a. Deforestation in the Amazon fell 22.3% in the past year.

b. It took 100 years, but the US Army has overturned convictions for 110 Black soldiers because they were denied fair trials.

c. Pennsylvania is offering funds for residents and businesses to convert lawns to meadows.

d. Lisa Franchetti is the new chief of naval operations and is the first woman to be a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

e. Dept. of Veterans Affairs met 92% of their 2023 goal to house 38,000 homeless veterans.

f. Danica Roem was elected State Senator in Virginia, the first openly transgender person to serve in the Senate.

• Educate Yourself

a. Learn more about Liminal and the Best of TN here. 

b. Recently, authors of a George Floyd biography were not allowed to tell the whole story to Memphis high school students or to handout copies of the book because of TN’s laws banning teaching of systemic racism. 

c. US food insecurity increased in 2022. 

d. Did you know that rural areas have a higher number of swingable voters than expected? 

e. A federal judge ruled the Willow oil drilling project can move forward in Alaska.

f. Book recommendation: The United States of Appalachia: How Southern Mountaineers Brought Independence, Culture, and Enlightenment to Americaby Jeff Biggers.

Actions for Week of November 12, 2023

• TN Task Force on Federal Education Funds Hearings – This past week, a combined Senate and House committee met to discuss whether to reject federal education funds. The rationale for rejecting these funds is that they come with “unspecified strings” attached. These funds support K-12 education in several ways: 

• Title I, which funds programs for economically-disadvantaged students

• Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which provides resources for students with disabilities

• The Child Nutrition program, which funds school lunches, breakfasts, snacks, and milk

• Title II, which supports effective instruction

• Perkins V, which goes toward career and technical education

Videos of each of the hearings can be viewed at this website. Scroll down the page. This video contains very informative data and discussions on the effect of rejecting funds. The task force will meet again on Nov 14th & 15th and live stream video can be viewed through this same website.

Some eye-opening statements were made by legislators during the hearings last week, such as the belief that children receiving free meals are wasting food and that perhaps feeding students should be linked to test performance. With respect to the latter, it was implied that if no beneficial link is found, then feeding students need not be a priority. 

Note that TN already underfunds schools by ~$1.7 billion per year, and federal funds currently account for ~$1.9 billion per year. In 2019, federal funds accounted for 11% of district revenues, with an average of $7.9 million per district or $1230-$2540 per student. For details on dollars received by major school districts and all counties in TN, see the interactive map in this report.  In 2019, Blount County received $10, 053,435. Note that poorer and urban school districts rely more heavily on federal funds, e.g. Shelby County received $192,576,506. Overall, TN ranks 20th in their dependency on federal funds compared to other states. If Ed funds are rejected, most monies would go to other states. 

Representatives of TN schools urged the task force to invest more in education and to add that money to federal funds. School leaders struggled to offer how they might deal with shortfalls. Although the state presently has enough surplus revenue to make up the $1.9 billion federal dollars, revenue projections have been missed the last 2 quarters and revenues are currently stagnant. In addition, even if the state rejects federal funds, it is still required to abide by federal civil rights and anti-discrimination laws that pertain to delivery of public education. 

Please consider contacting these members of the Task Force with your feedback on rejecting federal education funds. 

1. Sen. Lundberg (co-chair): 615-741-1648, sen.jon.lundberg@capitol.tn.gov 

2. Sen. Akbari: 615-741-1767, sen.raumesh.akbari@capitol.tn.gov 

3. Sen. Hensley: 615-741-3100, sen.joey.hensley@capitol.tn.gov 

4. Sen. Powers: 615-741-2374, sen.bill.powers@capitol.tn.gov 

5. Sen. White: 615-741-6853, sen.dawn.white@capitol.tn.gov 

6. Rep. Moody (co-chair): 615-741-3774, rep.debra.moody@capitol.tn.gov 

7. Rep. Ragan: 615-741-4400, rep.john.ragan@capitol.tn.gov 

8. Rep. Hill: 615-741-2050, rep.timothy.hill@capitol.tn.gov 

9. Rep. Slater: 615-741-2534, rep.william.slater@capitol.tn.gov 

10. Rep. Glynn: 615-741-2043, rep.ronnie.glynn@capitol.tn.gov 

• Good News!

  1. A 3-judge panel has ruled that state takeover of the Nashville airport violated the TN constitution. 

  2. Federal court rejected a lawsuit aimed at eliminating North Dakota Tribal Nation legislative districts.

  3. The Administration has announced a historic investment of passenger rail services.

  4. The Justice Dept has notified Alabama that they cannot prosecute people who help women travel out of state for an abortion.

  5. Illinois, Minnesota, and Michigan have recently passed clean energy bills.

  6. EPA is funding studies on toxic “forever chemicals” in agriculture.

• Educate Yourself

  1. Did you know that expanding Medicaid would decrease uninsured Tennesseans by 27%. 

  2. TN Attorney General has filed a motion asking a judge to throw out a lawsuit by NAACP and 3 residents denied their voting rights. 

  3. Learn about the High Desert Water Bank that pumps water diverted from the California aqueduct to be stored in basins that refill a large underground reservoir in the Mojave Desert. 

  4. Although ballot initiatives recently passed in Michigan and Ohio that enshrines the right to an abortion in the state, GOP legislators are making plans to try and overturn the will of the people. 

  5. Read about Elevated Access, a nonprofit organization that connects volunteer pilots (often military or former military) with women who need to travel out of state for abortions. 

A high school in Robertson County may have violated the 1st Amendment when 5 student athletes (basketball) were required to wash the feet of fellow teammates while subjected to preaching by a religious organization member. 

Actions for Week of November 5, 2023

• Support Bills that Facilitate Voting – These bills have been filed in the House. Please ask Rep. Burchett to support and cosponsor them.

  1. Time Off to Vote Act (HR 5322) that requires employers to give workers at least 2 consecutive hours of paid time to vote in federal elections

  2. Expanding the Vote Act (HR 5295) that expands access to more translations of elections materials

  3. People Over Long Lines Act (HR 5291) that requires waiting times at the polls to be no more than 30 minutes

  4. Youth Voting Rights Act (HR 5293) that removes certain barriers young people face in voting and having their ballots counted

  5. Sustaining Our Democracy Act (HR 5292)  that provides $20 billion to help states and local governments support election administrations

  6. Unhoused VOTE Act (HR 5294) that reduces barriers to voting faced by thehomeless

  7. Election Mail Act (HR 2897) that improves delivery and processing of election mail

  8. Voters on the Move Registration Act(HR 5290) that gives Americans information on registering to vote when they move

• Good News!

  1. The Administration is now regulating 400,000 miles of gas gathering lines.

  2. The FCC is proposing new rules to penalize broadband companies if they discriminate on how they provide access and charge for internet services to poor versus rich communities, i.e. digital redlining.

  3. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services agency will start issuing 5-year work permits to asylum seekers instead of 2-year permits.

  4. Starting in 2024, New Jersey’s pharmacies will sell over-the-counter birth control without a prescription.

  5. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing development of a new conservation area in the Everglades.

  6. A consortium of countries has pledged to raise $12 billion to protect coral reefs.

• Educate Yourself

  1. Did you know the TN state legislative panel meets this month to  consider whether to  decline $1.8 billion  in federal education funds to avoid complying with federal regulations on serving low-income, disabled and English-learning students? State Senate budget chair (Sen. Bo Watson) is warning the panel that to do so will send TN tax dollars to other states.

  2. Costco is offering members online health checkup for as low as $29.

  3. Learn 9 mindboggling facts about wealth disparity in the world, such as how the richest 1% own half the world’s wealth and 81 billionaires have more wealth than >50% of the world combined.

  4. Read how some Texas counties are passing ordinances against people using their roads to travel out of state to get an abortion.

  5. Learn how Florida teens are fighting to prevent their county from loosening wetland protections.

Maine will vote in November on whether to replace its two investor-owned electric companies with a statewide nonprofit utility that supports mitigating climate change.

Actions for Week of October 29, 2023

• Here We Go Again – In honoring of the victims of mass gun violence in Lewiston ME this past week, please take these actions. 

  1. Ask our Senators to support and cosponsor the Assault Weapons Ban of 2023 (S.25). Ask Rep. Burchett support the comparable House bill (H.R. 698). Contact information is below.

  2. Sign Everytown’s petition asking Congress to reinstate the assault weapons ban.

  3. Sign Change.org’s petition asking Congress to ban assault weapons.

• Good News!

  1. The Energy Department is awarding $7 billion in grants for clean hydrogen hubs, and a $3.5 billion project to strengthen the electric grid has been announced.

  2. For a second time SCOTUS upheld the administration’s ability to regulate ghost guns. SCOTUS also upheld a Missouri ruling that deemed the state’s law limiting state and local enforcement of federal gun laws is unconstitutional.

  3. ACLU won a settlement whereby the US government agrees to compensate thousands for migrant families that were separated at the border during the 45-era, and prohibits return of the policy for 8 years (even if 45 is re-elected).

  4. Voter turnout increases in states that send a mail ballot to every voter.

  5. Massachusetts recently passed a sweeping gun control bill.

  6. More than 42,000 people have applied for the 20,00 jobs in the American Climate Corps.

• Educate Yourself

  1. Whale strikes by boats are increasing due to warming of the oceans.

  2. A new bill will be introduced in the TN General Assembly in January dealing with student math scores. It would look very similar to the third-grade retention law implemented for reading last year, but does not call for retaining students.

  3. Learn about the impact of the end of COVID pandemic-era benefits on childcare, Medicaid, etc.

  4. Read how defending a host of bad bills passed by the TN General Assembly are costing taxpayers thousands of dollars in legal fees.

  5. Learn about ERIC, the organization dedicated to improving accuracy of voter rolls and why some states are deciding to no longer use the service.

Read how a grant from the state of California will help the Ujamaa Farm Collective provide farmers of color with land to cultivate.

Actions for Week of October 22, 2023

• Support a Cease Fire – As a ground invasion looms, civilians in Gaza are bearing the brunt of the Israel vs Hamas war. You can send a letter to Rep. Burchett demanding a cease fire through this link. You can also email the White House through this link.  Scroll down for contact information for our Senators.

• Offer Comments on Foothills Parkway Extension – The National Park Service (NPS) is accepting comments through November 18th for the proposed construction of Foothills Parkway Section 8D in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The park is preparing an Environmental Assessment for extending the parkway within the existing NPS-managed corridor approximately 9 miles from Wears Valley to the Spur near Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.  To learn more about the proposed Section 8D project, visit the NPS planning website and review the scoping newsletter and documents.  Click on the Comment Now button on this page to leave a comment. Note that a proposed connector road from Section 8D to Metcalf Bottoms has been abandoned.

• Good News!

  1. Duke Energy in North Carolina will allow homeowners and renters to reimburse the utility over time for more efficient heat pumps, water heaters and other home upgrades. Under the program Duke will buy the new appliance or whatever improvements are deemed appropriate for participating households. Over the course of up to 12 years, customers then pay the company back through their utility bills.

  2. California has created an Ebony Alert system to help find missing Black youth and women ages 12-25 years.

  3. Temporary protected status has been extended for refugees from Afghanistan, Cameroon, and South Sudan until mid-2025. 

  4. New Jersey is mandating that any employer with >50 employees must provide coverage for abortions.

  5. Texas has eliminated the sales tax on menstrual products and diapers.

  6. SCOTUS has upheld the ability of US Climate Policy to take into consideration the social cost of carbon, which attempts to quantify the potential harm that pollution has on flood damage, health effects, etc.

• Educate Yourself

  1. Read the chilling expose on how Leonard Leo and his Federalists Society has succeeded in placing conservative judges in key positions, including SCOTUS, and filing extremist challenges to laws before those judges.

  2. The number of guns seized in schools is soaring.

  3. Did you know that big cities in the South are more segregated than rural counties?

  4. TN ranks 49th amongst all states in helping struggling families and children.

  5. Read about the Sedition Hunters, a group of private citizens who are helping the FBI track down people who attacked the Capitol on January 6th.

  6. Understand how the TN charter school commission is following Gov. Lee’s priority of privatizing schools. Will Jackson-Madison County Board of Education file a lawsuit against the commission?

Actions for Week of October 15, 2023

• Support IDEA Full Funding Act – HR.4519/S.2217 amends the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to ensure public schools receive full-funding of per-pupil costs of special education. Please contact our MoCs and ask them to cosponsor and support these bills. Contact information below.

• Contact Sen. Tuberville – Sen. Tuberville (AL) is blocking >300 nominations to important military posts, including several in the Middle East because of the military’s policy of providing abortions to female soldiers in need. Please contact Sen. Tuberville to request he stop blocking these nominations. Send an email through this link or call his Washington DC office at 202-224-4124. 

• Good News!

  1. EPA recently announced two new measures to reduce HFC chemicals used in refrigerators and air conditioners.

  2. Learn how religious leaders can play a bigger role in the battle against climate change because “more religious” people tend to be climate change deniers.

  3. Read the ACLU’s report on EdTech surveillance, entitled “Digital Dystopia”.

  4. EPA has announced a Clean School Bus Rebate Program that will award $500 million for purchase of zero-emission and/or clean school buses, along with charging stations.

  5. Did you know. Rep. Justin Jones has filed a federal lawsuit against Speaker Sexton and others for blocking him from speaking and removing him from committees?

  6. The Gov. of Arizona has rescinded water leases in the Colorado River basin by Saudia Arabian companies that grow alpha in the state for export.

• Educate Yourself

  1. Read how solar panels may help farms save water.

  2. Did you know that in the last 10 years gun deaths of US children rose 87%?

  3. Life expectancy is dropping in the USA and is far behind peer countries. Read the article to see where TN stands with respect to other states.

  4. Learn about the TN millionaire (Willis Johnson) who funded troops sent from South Dakota to the Texas-Mexico border.

  5. Read the story of a trans-teen from TN affected by the ban on medical transitional care.

  6. The federal government is reporting that TN state government has underfunded TN State University (an HBCU) by $2.1 billion.

Actions for Week of October 8, 2023

•  Petition Smith & Wesson – Yesterday Smith & Wesson held an open house at their new factory in Blount County. S&W moved it’s main headquarters from Mass to TN because Mass is considering legislation that would ban the manufacture of assault weapons in the state.  Blount County, Maryville and Alcoa offered S&W a very sweet deal to move here. S&W is the largest gun manufacturer in the world; it manufactures assault rifles and they will be assembled here; and its weapons are second only to Glock in their use in violent crimes.  Tickets to the open house yesterday for the general public cost $25, with the proceeds going to 5 local charities. Students Demand Action purchased 400 of those tickets, so there would be far fewer attendees than S&W planned for. SDA also hired a plane to fly over the open house trailing a banner that read “Tennessee’s new killer business. Guns are the #1 killer of kids.”

Thanks to everyone who attended the prayer vigil and press conference sponsored by local clergy and Students Demand Action yesterday to demand an end to gun violence. Students and the speaker from Nashville, as well as local speakers, were very compelling. Please consider signing this SDA petitionasking S&W to conduct a human rights impact assessment study on their products. You can also text Smith to 64433.

• Petitions to Sign

  1. This link provides a way for you to ask the ATF to expand background checks for gun sales.

  2. This petition supports statehood for Washington DC.

  3. This petition urges Congress to pass the recently reintroduced John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.

  4. This petition urges House Republicans to not extend the 45-era tax cuts that benefited the rich.

  5. This petition asks world leaders to end the global food crisis.

• Good News!

  1. A federal judge denied a request to block drug pricing negotiations by Medicare.

  2. Massachusetts is banning the purchase of single-use bottles by all its state agencies.

  3. Biden Administration is committing $200 million to help reintroduce salmon to the Columbia River.

  4. New York City passed a mandatory composting law that could lead the way for organic waste collection in other US cities.

  5. The bill in Texas that prohibited drag shows was struck down by a federal judge, and a Montana state judge blocked a ban on gender-affirming care.

  6. Alabama has a new Congressional districts map imposed upon them by the courts that will add a second, predominantly Black district.

• Educate Yourself

  1. Unfortunately, a federal judge rejected a request from families and medical providers to block TN’s ban on gender-affirming care.

  2. Did you know that the USA has gender equity gap <73% and ranks 43rd in the world, behind countries like Columbia, Belarus, and Liberia?

  3. Read how Michael Bloomberg is investing $500 million in his energy transition campaign, with the goal of closing down all coal plants in the USA, while Bill Clinton and Zv Aviram are launching a climate fund with $1 billion in start-up money.

  4. Gov. Lee’s appointed TN Public Charter School Commission has over ruled two local school boards’ denial of applications made by Hillsborough in their districts. Read more about the American Classical Education programs here.

  5. TN is the worst state for disenfranchising Black and Latino voters, and is one of the hardest to obtain an absentee ballot form.

  6. Learn how elimination of pharmacy benefit managers in Kentucky is helping independent pharmacies and saving Medicaid millions.

Actions for Week of October 1, 2023

• Support Goldie’s Act – HR.1788 is a bipartisan bill that requires the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to report and punish instances of suffering physical or psychological harm to animals more stringently than they have in the past. The bill is named after a golden retriever (“Goldie”) that was left to suffer by a puppy mill breeder in Iowa and was later euthanized. Please request Rep. Burchett support and co-sponsor this bill. See contact information below.

• Petitions to Sign

  1. Consider signing this letter that demands Florida cease and desist hate and division in the state. This letter is a product of recent racist shootings in Jacksonville FL.

  2. This petition encourages the President to expand Medicare drug cost negotiations to more medications and this petition urges Centers for Medicare/Medicaid to negotiate the lowest prices possible.

  3. This petition urges the Senate to hold hearings on the unethical and potentially illegal conduct of SCOTUS Justices Thomas and Alito. For the latest expose on Justice Thomas, read this ProPublica article.

  4. You can send comments to the Army Corps of Engineers asking them to stop the Dakota Access pipeline through this link.

  5. This petition and this petition urge Congress to fully fund WIC. Changes to WIC benefits could cut food access to millions of parents.

• Good News!

  1. Gov. Hochul of New York recently signed a package of 10 voting rights laws.

  2. New York University is divesting from fossil fuels.

  3. The University of TN is expanding its TN Promise Scholarships, making 2/3 of high school seniors eligible for free tuition and fees.

  4. Pennsylvania is ending state funding for anti-abortion counseling centers.

  5. Mississippi Supreme Court struck down a part of HB.1020 that would have allowed white state officials to appoint 4 unelected judges to serve in Jackson MS, which is 80% black.

  6. Pres. Biden vetoed 2 bills that would have ended protections for the endangered prairie chicken and northern bat.

• Educate Yourself

  1. Speaker Sexton & Leader McNally announced this week that a 10-member working group has been formed to explore rejection of $1.9 billion in annual federal education money. He remarked that doing so would free up TN from federal “strings” but could not name a single requirement that is harmful to TN schools. Likewise, the governor was also unable to come up with any objection to specific federal requirements. Take a look at this interactive map of the funds each TN school district received in recent years. Prior to COVID, federal funds ($10,169,913) accounted for 9.6% of the BC School district budget. In 2022, it ($21,702,041) accounted for 16.4% of the budget.

  2. Learn about Pen America, an organization dedicated to fighting censorship and defending books, writers and authors.

  3. Read about NativeBioData.org, a consortium that works with native scholars to protect data and educate them about proper research protocols. It’s motto is “research for natives by natives”.

  4. Learn how crop insurance prevents some farmers from adapting to climate change.

  5. Did you know that TN Republican, Steve Gill, went to a Russian-occupied region in Ukraine to observe a sham election there?

Actions for Week of September 24, 2023

• Support Reproductive Freedom – Several bills have been filed in the House to support women’s’ reproductive health. Please contact our MoC and ask him to support these bills. Contact information below. You can also sign this ACLU petition that asks Congress to defend reproductive freedom.

  1. HR. 782 is the Ensuring Women’s Right to Reproductive Freedom Act that affirms  everyone has the right to travel across state lines to seek abortion care.

  2. HR. 3420  is the My Body, My Data Act of 2023 that creates privacy standards so personal health data stays personal. 

  3. HR. 4303 is the Abortion Justice Act, which removes systemic barriers to care and addresses disparities and systemic racism in reproductive health care.

  4. S.1606 is the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act includes 13 bills that provide funding for social determinants of health, extending WIC eligibility, local organizations working to improve maternal health, etc.

• Contact Know County Commission –A resolution has been filed Consideration of a Resolution of the Commission of Knox County, Tennessee, expressing the Commission's commitment to protecting the innocence of children. Initially introduced by Commissioner Rhonda Lee, it's now sponsored by Lee and Carson Dailey. It was sent on with no recommendation from Commissioners at last week's Work Session and will be voted on this Monday, September 25th  at the monthly County Commission meeting. It lays a potentially dangerous foundation for further actions such as banning books, closing public libraries, villainizing certain groups of people and infringing on residents' First Amendment rights. In fact, this resolution has been introduced in other communities in the country with similar consequences. You can contact all commissioners at once by using commission@knoxcounty.org. Please be brief, polite, rational and reasonable. Also include your full name, address and phone number.

• Good News!

  1. The Platinum Rhino Conservation Project, a private 21,00-acre farm owned by John Hume in South Africa and all 2,000 of its white rhinos have been purchased by the nonprofit, African Parks.org.

  2. This past week, the President created the a new White House office dedicated to gun violence prevention. Rep. Justin Jones from TN was there for the announcement.

  3. The White House also announced the creation of the American Climate Corps, which will train young people in the skills needed to work clean energy jobs.

  4. The Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohicans will buy back some of its original land in the Berkshire Mountains of western Massachusetts using a state grant to help communities prepare for climate change.

  5. Hundreds of people recently formed a human shield around a library in Cork, Ireland to block anti-LGBTQ+ protestors.

  6. Taylor Swift asked her fan base to register to vote on September 19th in honor of National Voter Registration Day. Within 24 hours, 35,000 folks had registered.

• Educate Yourself

  1. In advance of this week’s Huddle meeting, consider watching this panel discussion on Parties vs People. It contains insights on the antics of state and national government. Panelists were Jackie Calmes (moderator), Mickey Edwards (R-OK), John Edward Porter (R-IL), David Skaggs (D-CO), and Charlie Stenholm (D-TX). It was presented in partnership with The National Archives, Feb 2013.

  2. Read about Gov. Lee’s $20 million grant program for expecting mothers and families.

  3. Did you know that clean energy manufacturing is booming in TN?

  4. Learn about the Equity 2 Prosperity preschool program helping low-income families in Memphis.

  5. Read about Operation Saving Democracy, a prodemocracy PAC created by former national security and military leaders that is dedicated to defeating Trumpism at the ballot box.

  6. Learn how a branch of William & Mary College expanded by seizing a Black community in Newport News VA.

Actions for Week of September 17, 2023

• Support Ethan’s Law – HR660 is a federal gun safe storage bill. It is named after Ethan Song of Connecticut who was accidentally killed by an unsecured firearm in a neighbor’s home. The bill was filed by Sen. Blumenthal (S.173) and Rep. DeLauro of CT and has 205 cosponsors in the House.  Last week Rep. DeLauro advanced the bill through a procedural move and is forcing a vote on it once the House returns from fall recess. Please ask our MoCs to support the bill. See contact information below.

• Survey on Regenerative Education in Townsend –  Great Smoky Mountain Institute at Tremont and Three3 invite you to participate in a survey on regenerative education and practices in the Townsend community bordering GSMNP. Goal of the survey is to understand what connects Townsend as the gateway community to GSMNP, and to learn how the Institute at Tremont can best expand regenerative education and practices in the Townsend community. Visit this website to take the survey.

• Good News!

  1. Nashville elected its first transgender metro council member, Olivia Hill, and a majority of seats will now be held by women.

  2. Three women and the Center for Reproductive Rights have filed a lawsuit against TN’s abortion ban.

  3. The US won an injunction preventing the sale of after-market devices that allow AR-15 style rifles to shoot as fast as machine guns.

  4.  An independent, court-appointed expert will redraw Alabama’s congressional map for the 2024 election because state lawmakers refused to draw a map that includes 2 majority-Black districts. In another ruling, Florida’s congressional map was also struck down for reducing Black voting power.

  5. The NLRB is rescinding 45-era policies that dragged out union elections.

  6. Massachusetts has launched a new program (Mass Reconnect) that makes community college free for residents >25 years old.

• Educate Yourself

  1. Did you know conservative groups are drawing up plans to dismantle the US government should 45 be re-elected?

  2. Moms Demand actions researchers have discovered that in the late 1800s numerous communities passed strict regulations on concealed carry of guns, which should have been used as precedent in recent SCOTUS rulings.

  3. Texas towns are passing or considering passage of ordinances that prohibit women from using their roads to travel to states where they can obtain an abortion.

  4. After the enhanced child tax credit was allowed to expire, child poverty rate skyrocketed. It was 9.7% in 2021 prior to the tax credit expansion. With the expanded tax credit, the poverty rate 5.2%. It is now 12.4%.

  5. Read the newly published evidence that green-house gases are impacting polar bears and how the findings may help strengthen climate lawsuits that are a new mechanism for combatting climate change.

  6. Learn about Project RAISE, a new state program, designed to improved access to mental health services for rural students in TN.

Actiona for Week of September 10, 2023

• Provide More Input on BC Comprehensive Plan – Consultants plan to close the comment period on the plan at the end of the month. If you haven’t participated so far, please do so. Also consider revisiting the interactive map to offer likes/dislikes on comments made by others. Feel free to share these links with others. 

  1.  Visit this link to Vote on your Future Vision of BC. You can pick 7 phrases/words that describe your preferences for the county.

  2. Visit this link to complete a Plan Survey.

  3. This link takes you to the interactive map of the County. Zoom in and click on the icons to see comments already left by some of our neighbors. A key to the icons is at the top of the map. To offer a new comment, click on the appropriate icon at the top, slide it to the desired location and write your statement. For statements that pertain the entire county, drag the icon to any open spot on the map.

• Petitions to Sign – 

  1. Consider signing this letter to the TN Realtors PAC that has been contributing heavily to legislators that did not take meaningful action on gun safety.

  2. This petition promotes passage of the ebike Act, which provides a federal tax credit for ebikes. 

  3. This petition supports the OLIGARCH Act that establishes a wealth tax with 4 brackets. 

  4. TN State Fair was held in Wilson county August 17-26th. Heat indices were very high, which created stress for participants, attendees, and animals, and reduced attendance. Consider signing this petition, which asks them to move the fair to later in the fall when it is cooler. 

  5. This petition asks Florida leaders to cease and desist from hate and division. Neo-Nazis were publicly demonstrating again this weekend in FL. 

  6. This petition asks lawmakers to pass laws that disarm hate and keep assault weapons out of the hands of violent extremists.

  7. This petition requests ATF include in its new rulings a provision that online gun and gun show sales are required to have background checks. 

• Good News!

  1. A federal judge rule against voter suppression bills in Texas and Georgia.

  2. The Administration is making $45 million available from IRA for coastal habitat restoration for tribes and underserved communities, and a new national marine sanctuary at Chumas Heritage is also proposed.

  3. 58% of Ecuadorans voted to halt new oil drilling in Yasuni National Park, at the eastern edge of the Amazon rainforest.

  4. The Dept of Energy will invest $15.5 billion to retool existing auto factories for the transition to EVs.

  5. Pres. Biden canceled 7 controversial oil and gas leases in ANWR that were granted at the end of the 45 administration.

  6. Anna Gomez was confirmed to sit on the FCC, bringing the agency to a full complement of commissioners for the first time in 2.5 years. 

• Educate Yourself

  1. For the first time black teen suicide rate by firearms has surpassed that of white teens. 

  2. Learn how TN organizers are working hard to take back the State from the right. (Thanks, Doug.)

  3. Learn about the research on effects and outcomes of Education Savings Accounts (school vouchers). 

  4. Did you know that fracking is linked to increases in cases of childhood lymphoma?

  5. Hillsdale has appealed denials in Maury and Madison County TN of their charter schools. 

Did you know a Georgia teacher was fired for reading a book on gender identity in class? The book is My Shadow is Purple by Scott Stuart. Action for Week of September 3, 2023

• Support GusNIP Flexibility Act 2023 – The Gus Schumacher Nutrition Program (GusNIP) was established in 2019 to provide grants from 2019-23 to local food programs so that SNAP recipients can purchase twice as much fresh produce and locally-grown foods with their SNAP dollars. Since 2019 GusNIP has provided >$270 million to 197 projects, including here in TN. GusNIP Flexibility Act continues to double SNAP dollars and expands the program. Please ask our Senators to support this bill. See contact information below. Please also contact Sen. John Boozman of Arkansas, who serves on the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry, because he objects to the 50/50 matching funds contained in the bill. Email address is https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/e-mail-me . Here are some talking points:

Express your support for the GusNIP Flexibility Act of 2023 to expand access to fresh fruits and vegetables, especially for rural communities.  Consuming more fruits and vegetables can lower the risk of chronic medical conditions.  In fact, the latest national evaluations shows that GusNIP participants consume more fruits and vegetables than the average American.  Diabetes and other diet-related health costs in this country are estimated to be >$10 billion. Incentivizing folks to purchase more fruits and vegetables not only improves their health but is an investment in our farmers. As we look towards the new Farm Bill, it’s clear we should seize the opportunity to build on the past success of the GusNIP program.

• Good News!

  1. A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit by conservative religious groups in Ohio that sought to prevent transgender students and teachers from using their gender identity bathroom.

  2. The PACT Act that was passed 1 year ago to benefit veterans exposed to burn pits has greatly expanded monthly disability payments.

  3. Massachusetts has levied a 4% income tax on millionaires to pay for free lunches for all K012 students.

  4. The Administration has extended temporary legal status for Ukrainians living in the USA.

  5. The Administration moved this past week to expand background checks for gun purchases by clarifying who qualifies as a firearms dealer and is therefore required to conduct federal background checks. 

  6. The first 10 drugs selected for Medicare price negotiations were announced. Will these negotiations prevail over the lawsuits filed by multiple drug companies? 

• Educate Yourself 

  1. The 2018 farm bill expires Sept. 30th but the deadline for passage of a new bill has been temporarily extended. The following articles provide information on what Congress is working on:

     1. Will we have a farm bill by the end of the year?

     2. Will the debate over SNAP benefits hold up the bill as it did in years past?

     3. 10 Proposals that could reshape the food system.

     4. Can the Farm Bill create solutions to the adverse effects climate change is having on US farms? 

  2. Learn about DC Central Kitchen’s efforts to combat food insecurity through food trucks and the Healthy Corners program. 

  3. Did you know that Black families have just 1/8th the wealth of typical white families?

Action for Week of August 27, 2023: Please Read This Summary of TN Special Session on Gun Violence

Although expectations were low the Special Session might accomplish something helpful this past week, the whole affair has been a farcical disaster.

Daily Events

• Monday, Aug 21st – Visitors soon became aware something different was going on when the tunnel connecting capitol buildings was closed to the public for the first time ever and visitors were directed to just a few entrances. The number of people allowed into the Capitol was only a fraction of what has previously been allowed and visitors were met by hundreds of TN Highway Patrolmen (THP) in the rotunda, hallways, and gallery. As people entered their water bottles were taken and  water fountains in the Capitol were turned off. Access to bathrooms was limited. The public was kept out of the west side of the House gallery under the excuse space was needed for the media. The Capitol press corp issued a formal announcement saying the space was not needed by them and they did not want to be used as an excuse to keep the public out. Interestingly, guns and proud boys were allowed in the capitol. Rep. Hemmer was told by THP that at one entrance alone on this day 25-30 guns were allowed in.

  1. The House session started with passage of new rules that enacted “3-strikes you’re out“ penalties for members “causing material disruption” that could silence a representative for the remainder of the year. The public would no longer be able to carry 8.5x11” paper signs, raise their voices, or demonstrate emotions without risking removal.

  2. Rep. Keisling (R-Byrdstown) and Rep. Richey (R-Maryville) tried to forward a motion to adjourn before the session ever started but Speaker Sexton was irritated by it; did not allow it to move forward; and Rep. Keisling was stripped of his committee chairmanship.

  3. The Senate adjourned for the day 20 minutes after it opened. Sen. Bowling (R-Manchester) tried to adjourn the whole session because she didn’t want to be in Nashville on her wedding anniversary. Her motion was not filed in time.

  4. In the meantime, Gov. Lee left town to attend a fund raiser. He tried to avoid NewChannel 5 reporters as he arrived at the event, only to find them also camped out behind the building. The optics were so bad, he never got out of his car. He has been MIA all week but finally issued this statement on Thursday.

•  Tuesday, Aug 22nd – When women showed up with 8.5x11” signs at the House Subcommittee Civil Justice meeting they were forcibly removed by THP upon the order of Rep. Russell (R-Vonore). The rest of the room was cleared when some of the audience applauded when a bill allowing guns in schools was tabled. Videos of the eviction were widely published by national media.

• 1. Videos also soon circulated of Covenant School moms sobbing in the hallway, as even those scheduled to testify were evicted.

  2. In the Education Committee, no bills submitted by Democrats were allowed to be heard. A bill must be seconded to be heard and debated in committee, and there is only 1 Democrat in that committee. Despite Rep. Parkinson (D-Memphis) begging for just one Republican colleague to second the bills so they could be heard, no one would do so. 

  3. In the Senate Judiciary Committee, 20 gun safety bills sponsored by Democrats were tabled without debate. A total of 52 bills were tabled by this committee.

  4. We had been warned ahead of time that the Senate planned to only take up 2-4 bills because Leader McNally felt all those filed in the House should be moved to the January 2024 session. This turned out to be the case.

  5. The Senate Commerce and Labor Committee, which was supposed to hear a bill on mental health coverage, was adjourned in 36 seconds.

  6. House and Senate committee schedules were not published in a timely fashion this week, so there was little advance warning as to what bills would be considered.

• Wednesday, Aug 23rd – ACLU filed a lawsuit against the restrictive new House rules and won a temporary injunction against the rules.

  1. Rep. Farmer (R-Sevierville) evicted the entire audience in the Civil Justice Committee room when they verbally objected to HB7064 being moved forward. The bill sponsored by Rep. Chris Todd would have allowed retired law enforcement and military to carry guns anywhere on school property, buses, at athletic events, on field trips, etc.

     • The bill was amended to allow anyone with 8 hrs of gun safety training to carry a gun in any school building or bus. At one point when Rep. Todd received pushback on the bill, he commented  that Covenant students would have died even if the shooter hadn't had a gun. He said with a car the shooter  "probably would have driven over those kids when they went to recess”.

     • Fortunately this bill failed in the Education Administration Committee by a vote of 9-9.

  2. The Senate passed just 4 bills, one of them to pay for the Special Session. See below.

• Thursday, Aug 24th – The House moved many more bills forward, none of which restrict access to guns or make substantial investment in mental health services.

  1. SB7089/HB7070 passed House & Senate, which pays the legislators and staff for the duration of the Special Session.

  2. SB7086/HB7013 passed House & Senate. It changes from 30 days to 72 hours the time frame within which a clerk of the circuit or general sessions court must notify the TBI of the final disposition of criminal proceedings against a person.

  3. SB7085/HB7012 passed House & Senate. It directs the department of safety to provide free firearm locks to Tennessee residents upon request; requires department-approved handgun safety courses to contain instruction on the safe storage of firearms; exempts the retail sale of firearm safes and firearm safety devices from sales and use taxes beginning November 1, 2023.

  4. SB7007/HB7072 passed House & Senate. It directs the administrative office of the courts (AOC) to define and develop a centralized system of case management, document management, electronic case filing, electronic payment methods, data reporting, and any other capability deemed necessary for collection and reporting of all state and local court public case level data.

  5. HB7003, HB7033, HB7032, HB7038, HB7030, HB7026, HB7034, HB7023, HB7063, HB7072, HB7035, HB7073, HB7007, HB7008, and HB7002, also passed the House but it is doubtful the Senate will take them up.

  6. Rep. Bowling got her way and Senate adjourned until Monday.

To Make Matters Worse

• Per Gov. Lee’s office, data from the survey where 20,000 people offered their comments about what they wanted to see accomplished in the Special Session were not shared with legislators, unless the legislator requested them.

• HB7071 that passed the House redefines mass shootings as killing of 4 people in a public place. It excludes gang shootings, shootings in residential buildings, etc. This bill sponsored by Rep. Sexton would falsely lower the statistics on gun violence in TN. Someone could kill 10 members of your family at a home and it would not be counted as a mass shooting. Let’s hope the Senate does not take up this bill. Ever.

• No Extreme Risk Protection Order (Red Flag) bills advanced and it looks like nothing substantive will be passed in this session.

• The Special Session is costing taxpayers ~$58,000 per day in legislative pay, plus pay for support staff pay and hundreds of state patrolmen.

• Sen. Oliver (D- Nashville) sent a letter to TN Attorney General asking whether use of THP to silence members of the public is legal and whether rights of the public have been violated. AG Skrmetti offered the opinion that 1st Amendment rights were not infringed and is supporting Speaker Sexton. Others have also questioned the legality of using THP against the public.

• Read the Propublica expose on How TN’s justice system allows dangerous people to keep guns – with deadly outcomes.

What Happens Next?

• Monday, Aug 28th – Special Session resumes.

  1. The House and Senate are at an impasse. The House is blaming the Senate for not acting and the Senate refuses to evaluate complicated bills over such a short period of time. Because the House bills that have been moved forward are in the House funding bill, it does not match the funding bill passed in the Senate, which means a conference committee must hash out the differences.

  2. Negotiations between the two chambers were to continue this weekend as to whether any more House bills would be taken up by the Senate. Both chambers must pass adjournment resolutions to end the Special Session.

• Based on results of the WKRN Channel 2 poll, 79% of responders gave legislators an F and 83% gave them a failing mark.

Be Forewarned

• Democracy is Dying in TN – In the absence of weak leadership by Gov. Lee and Sen. McNally, Speaker Sexton is rapidly becoming the most powerful politician in TN. Rules he passed and  actions he took this past week pushed the state ever closer to authoritarian rule. Note that Rep. Sexton wants to be the next governor.

• Our Legislators Aren’t Listening – Several legislators (both Rep and Dem) expressed frustration that the supermajority is no longer responsive to the public. Because they are so assured of re-election and their campaigns are so heavily funded by the gun industry and out-of-state influencers, they feel free to act on their donors’ priorities, not on the wishes of their constituents. The Covenant School parents and hundreds of others learned this hard lesson this week.

• Legislator Behavior is Appalling – Repeatedly this week, Republican leadership, committee chairmen and members treated the public and their colleagues very poorly. Witnesses testifying at committees were often demeaned, dismissed, or treated condescendingly. Democratic colleagues were often disrespected or treated discourteously.  Speaker Sexton was openly ill-mannered/rude towards the Senate, snide towards the public, and dictatorial to representatives offering differing views. The sessions were very difficult to watch.

Other Matters

• Good News!

  1. Organizations and voters have filed a lawsuit in Tennessee arguing the congressional and state Senate map are gerrymandered, and voters have filed lawsuit in Wisconsin Supreme Court claiming state district maps are partisan gerrymanders.

  2. A federal judge dismissed the State of Utah’s lawsuit asking that Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante Monuments be shrunk to the size proposed by 45.

  3. The Two Justins have been chosen as public icons by Harper’s Bazaar. Read the inspirational article here.

  4. Despite Arkansas rejecting AP American studies because it may violate Arkansas law on prohibited subjects, Little Rock school district and 5 others are going to teach it anyway.

  5. The nation’s largest clean ammonia production plant is going to be built ins rural Mingo County, WV and will bring good jobs to the area. The investment was spurred by the Inflation Reduction Act. Clean energy projects are also booming in TX.

  6. The Louisiana governor is ordering the parole board to consider mass clemency for death row inmates.

Actions for Week of August 20, 2023

• Petition to TVA – TVA is holding a board meeting on Thursday, August 24th from 9AM-1PM EDT.  At the meeting they will make important decisions about power planning for our region. TVA has the largest planned gas buildout in the nation by 2030. Tell TVA to use renewable energy like solar and battery storage or wind, which is already cheaper and more reliable than volatile and polluting methane gas (“natural gas”). Please sign this petition and offer a personal message urging them to choose renewable energy over gas.

• Offer Comments on Little River Dam Removal – Here is a link to the report issued by US Army Corp of Engineers on possible removal of low rise dams on the Little River. See also this article in the Daily Times. The Corp could change their mind on removal of Peery’s Mill dam in Walland if they receive enough negative input from the community. Please take a moment to email the Corp and encourage them to stay with their plan to remove the dam. Email address: CorpsLRNPlanningPublicCom@usace.army.mil . Comments must be offered by Thursday, August 31st.  

• Good News!

  1. SCOTUS has ruled that the federal government can regulate ghost guns.

  2. UT’s College of Nursing has obtained a mobile health unit for rural health outreach and education. (Thanks, Heather)

  3. US farmers are buying into Biden’s climate program because it is based on monetary incentives, rather than punitive carbon emission measures.

  4. Illinois has passed a law giving tribal nations forcibly removed from the state in the past to have final say in how and when ancestral remains will be repatriated.

  5. Pres. Biden is creating a new national monument around the Grand Canyon in Arizona. The Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument protects almost 918,000 acres of land important to a dozen Native American tribes.

  6. In a huge decision, a judge ruled in favor of Montana youths who sued because the state is violating their right to a clean and healthy environment. Congratulations to these kids!

• Educate Yourself

  1. TN has picked Student First Technologies to help run the state’s school voucher program even though it has no experience with education savings accounts.

  2. Did you know that WEE1Tactical has manufactured an AR-15 rifle (called the JR-15) for use by children as young as 5 years. Well, Illinois is passing legislation to ban advertising for firearms directed towards children.

  3. You can download a free copy of the Socia-Emotional Behavior (SEB) Interventions book for teachers and parents here.

  4. Read this Channel 5 (Nashville) expose on the racism in TN’s General Assembly.

  5. On the first anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act, read how it is reshaping the USA and the World.

  6. Consider watching this video on the Inequality Trap from Concerned Citizens Presents. (Thanks, Joe)

Actions for Week of August 13, 2023

• Please Contact Elected Officials – Consider repeatedly calling and emailing these and other officials before the end of the week in support of common sense gun laws.

  1. Sen. Art Swann – Sen. Swann has been one of the few Republicans to publicly support ERPO laws, gun permitting, safe storage, etc. 615-741-0981, sen.art.swann@capitol.tn.gov

  2. Sen. Richard Briggs – Sen. Briggs also supports these measures. 615-741-1766, sen.richard.briggs@capitol.tn.gov

  3. Rep. Bryan Richey – Rep. Richey is against all measures that affect gun ownership and carry. 615-741-3560, rep.bryan.richey@capitol.tn.gov

  4. Rep. Jerome Moon – Rep. Moon has not spoken publicly on the issue but usually votes the way his caucus tells him to. 615-741-5481, rep.jerome.moon@capitol.tn.gov

  5. Rep. Gloria Johnson – Rep. Johnson is a strong proponent for gun safety, permitting laws, and has repeatedly filed ERPO bills. 615-741-2031, rep.gloria.johnson@capitol.tn.gov

  6. Contact Information for Others – Visit the TN GA website.

• Petition to Sign - Consider signing this petition from Everytown urging the TN General Assembly to pass meaningful legislation.

• Travel to Nashville –

  1. Rise and Shine is looking for volunteers to be gallery attendants and managers; coalition room attendants and managers; speak with legislators directly; and monitor the video livestream from home. To see what slots/jobs are available and to sign up visit this website.

  2. Southern Christian Coalition is asking folks to meet at Legislative Plaza at 8:30AM CDT (9:30AM EDT) to form a prayer circle. Volunteers are needed to hold hands and encircle the capital. You can RSVP here.

  3. Moms Demand Action is carpooling from Knoxville. Contact Lori Heisler via Facebook if you want to ride with them. Moms@SpecialSession has reserved a room at Cordell Hull where folks can get acquainted and take collective action. Wear a Moms Demand Action or red shirt. Details are available on Knoxville Moms Demand Action Facebook page.

• Write a Letter to Editor – If you’d like to write an LTE this week to the Daily Times or Knoxville News Sentinel, here are some suggestions from Moms Demand Action

• Good News!

  1. LoWV-TN, TN NAACP and African American Clergy Collective of TN have filed a federal lawsuit against the gerrymandered congressional and state Senate districts in  TN.

  2. Biden administration has expanded Pell grants for students in prison.

  3. A $1 billion solar project is planned on a former coal mine site in Eastern KY that could power 500,000 homes.

  4. $8.5 billion in federal grants are being offered to states and territories to provide rebates for energy-efficiency upgrades to homes. Will TN participate in this program?

  5. The Texas abortion ban bill has been ruled as too restrictive in cases of pregnancy complications. The judge has charged the state with changing the law.

  6. A Court of Appeals has struck down Mississippi’s permanent disenfranchisement of felons because it violated the 8th Amendment against cruel and unusual punishment. 

• Educate Yourself

  1. Story Corps is facilitating conversations between Congress members from opposing political parties. One of the first participants was Rep. Burchett.

  2. Learn about the 2 pilot programs being launched by USDA to increase affordable housing on tribal lands.

  3. Would you believe the EPA has approved a Chevron fuel ingredient that is highly carcinogenic?

  4. The federal Teacher Loan Forgiveness program is not helping to attract or retain teachers. Current TN teacher shortage is >1000 and ~3000 positions are filled by people with an emergency teaching credential.

  5. Here’s an update on the status of the Farm bill and how its passage may be affected by  Congress’ monthlong recess in August.

  6. A federal appeals court has ruled the Kentucky law forcing trans kids to detransition can go into effect.

Actions for Week of August 6, 2023

• Support DACA Bill – H.R. 16, the American Dream and Promise Act,  provides a pathway to citizenship for some undocumented residents who are DACA recipients and a more secure legal status for those who have TPS (temporary protected status). Please request Rep. Burchett support and co-sponsor this bill. 

• Petitions to Sign

  1. This petition urges Congress to pass legislation setting term limits on SCOTUS justices.

  2. Texas has filed a lawsuit aimed at shutting down Planned Parenthood health centers in the state by claiming they defrauded Medicaid. This petition asks the state to drop the lawsuit.

  3. This ACLU petition supports drag performances as free speech and this one supports protection of trans care.

  4. COP 28 is the UN Climate Change Conference that meets in Dubai in November. This petition requests the Biden administration push for withdrawal of Sultan Al Jaber as president-designate. See the petition for details.

  5. This petition supports proposed changes that strengthen the Endangered Species Act.

  6. This United Farm Workers petition asks OSHA to implement heat standards.

• Good News!

  1. Justin Jones and Justin J. Pearson were re-elected to their TN House seats by overwhelming margins (80% & 90% respectively), and former Indivisible activist, Aftyn Behn, won her primary for the open House district 51 seat. Aftyn has a good chance of being elected to the seat held by the late Rep. Bill Beck.

  2. Do you know what agrovoltaics are? They are initiatives to install solar panels on agricultural land in ways to benefit both, e.g. allowing animals to graze around them, providing shade for animals and waterways.

  3. California has banned state-funded travel to 26 states that recently passed anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.

  4. Ford and the South Korean company, SK ON, are receiving a $9.2 billion federal loan to construct BlueOval battery manufacturing plants in TN and KY. Battery capacity produced by these plants could reduce gasoline consumption by 455 million gallons. In addition, 7 auto manufacturers are teamimg up to install 30,000 high-speed EV chargers by 2030 in the USA and Canada.

  5. A judge blocked Montana’s drag ban bill and Michigan passed a law banning conversion therapy.

  6. Teachers are suing TN over the law that restricts what they teach about race, gender and bias, i.e. prohibited concepts law.

• Educate Yourself

  1. Here is information on the books targeted for banning in TN. A list is provided for each County.

  2. Learn about the $64 billion that House Republicans want to cut from the next public education budget.

  3. It’s not just TN. Other red state attorney generals want to access out-of-state medical records, so they can enforce bans on abortion and gender-affirming care. And some states are considering using digital surveillance data (e.g. traffic cameras, hotel reservations, tolls paid, etc.) to track folks who leave the state for such care.

  4. Members of Congress are redirecting billions of dollars in federal water funds to their political pet projects. Money is being redirected from poorer, needier communities.

  5. Learn about who is spending the most cash to influence lawmakers in TN General Assembly.

  6. Did you know that Henry County TN’s Medical Center is closing its ob-gyn unit?

Actions for Week of July 30, 2023

• Offer Comments on BC Comprehensive Plan 2023 – Planning consultants are asking for public input on Blount County’s future growth. According to the BC government website, “The Comprehensive Plan is the overarching, visionary document that guides future growth and development within Blount County. The County is currently updating the Plan to more adeptly address the issues and opportunities facing the community.” Visit this website to find 3 ways to offer comments, ideas and vote for your future preferences. Note that the plan pertains to the unincorporated areas of the County, not the cities. Please keep this in mind when providing feedback.

a.       Visit this link to Vote on your Future Vision of BC. You can pick 7 phrases/words that describe your preferences for the county.

b.       Visit this link to complete a Plan Survey.

c.       This link takes you to an interactive map of the County. Zoom in and click on the icons to see comments already left by some of our neighbors. A key to the icons is at the top of the map. To offer a new comment, click on the appropriate icon at the top, slide it to the desired location and write your statement. For statements that pertain the entire county, drag the icon to any open spot on the map.

d.      Plan to attend one of the Open Houses scheduled for Monday, August 21st from 4-7 PM at Heritage High School or Tuesday, August 22nd from 4-7 PM at William Blount High School.

•  Spread the Word – So far the County has done little to publicize the efforts underway to develop a strategic growth plan or to recruit public input. Please email/forward the information in Action 1 to your neighbors, friends, and families residing in BC. Please also consider printing the flyer below and posting it at local businesses, schools, churches, and other public places.

• Good News!

a.       The ACLU and others reached settlements in lawsuits challenging the 45-era use of military and treasury funds to build sections of the southern border wall. The central provisions of the settlement are a commitment by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to stop further construction of the border wall in areas impacted by Trump’s illegal funds transfers; to mitigate harms to communities and wildlife caused by the construction; and to protect endangered and threatened animal species harmed by this border wall construction.

b.       Pueblo land in Chaco Canyon is now excluded from new oil and gas leases for 20 years.

c.       An Executive Order signed this week removes prosecution of sexual assault complaints in the military outside the chain of command.

d.       Deforestation in Brazil’s Amazone decreased 34% in early 2023 as Pres. Da Silva instituted tougher environmental policies.

e.       4Ocean has pulled >30 million pounds of plastic trash from the world’s oceans.

f.        Young voters are becoming more progressive. If they turn out to vote, it could be a bad sign for 45’s re-election attempt.

• Educate Yourself

a.       Since the abortion ban in Texas, infant mortality increased 11.5% in 2022 in the state.

b.      The impact of Black teachers on Black students is larger than previously thought.

c.       US Senators have sent a letter to the federal judge that chairs the rule making committee of the Judicial Council asking that the practice of “judge shopping” be stopped by how cases are assigned in single-judge divisions.

d.       Learn about the Farmville VA detention center for undocumented immigrants and the FreeThemALL VA coalition working to close it down.

e.       Consider reading this article on extremism in TN politics.

f.        Learn how a law recently passed in TN has created uncertainty over who now governs Nashville’s airport. This is another attempt by the General Assembly to punish Nashville.

Actions for Week of July 23, 2023

• Blessing Boxes in BC Need Supplies – Some of the local blessing boxes are running low or they are completely empty. Help our neighbors in a time of need by stopping by one of the convenient blessing boxes near you and dropping off a few shelf-stable food items. Click this link to see a list of box locations in Blount County.

• Petitions to Sign, Survey

  1. This petition urges Facebook and Instagram to do more to protect users from hate speech.

  2. You can urge Congress to work together on voting rights by signing this petition.

  3. You can thank Gov. John Bel Edwards of Louisiana for vetoing a bill that would have banned gender-affirming care for minor by signing this letter.

  4. This petition supports the Abortion Justice Act filed in the House.

  5. Consider adding your name to this Moral Declaration issued by the Center for Public Theology & Policy.

  6. Consider taking a few minutes to complete this TN for All education survey.

• Good News!

  1. Can the methods used in Houston to combat homelessness serve as a nationwide template?

  2. Caster  Semenya, the cis-gender track athlete from South Africa, won her appeal against testosterone limits but whether she will be able to race in the Olympics again is unknown.

  3. Toyota is creating a solid-state EV battery with 754-mile range that cuts emissions by 39% that they hope to have it available by 2027.

  4. Illinois’ Pretrial Fairness Act that eliminates cash bail and makes more people eligible for pretrial release has been upheld by the state’s supreme court.

  5. Families from The Covenant School in Nashville have created 2 nonprofit organizations to promote school safety and push legislation to enact firearm restrictions in TN.

  6. An indigenous-led group is creating a new urban farm on a previous superfund site.

• Educate Yourself

  1. The 2024 Almanac of American Politics will be published soon. Here is the chapter on Tennessee, courtesy of TNJ: On the Hill.

  2. Here are the TCAP scores for school districts in TN.

  3. Learn about Red Wine & Blue, a national women’s group dedicated to lifting people up. Take a look at their upcoming events.

  4. TN Supreme Court ruled against a man given clemency in Virginia for a felony and had his voting rights restored but when he moved to TN he was denied voter registration.

  5. Congress may preserve an OSHA loophole that endangers workers on small farms.

  6. What’s behind the gains in 4th grade reading scores in Mississippi?

Actions for Week of July 16, 2023

• Support Passage of an ERPO Law in TN – You can send a message to state legislators through this link.

• Medicare Survey – Physicians for a National Health Program are asking participants in Medicare to take a survey that will provide PNHP with information on our experiences with Traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans. You can take the survey here. Thanks to Heather for bringing this to our attention.

• RECOUP and Failed Banks Bills – Two bills have been introduced in Congress to limit bonuses paid to CEOs of failed banks. Details of RECOUP Act (S.1329) are provided here. Information on S.1045, the Clawback Act can be found here. Please request our Senators support and co-sponsor these bills. Contact information below.

• Good News!

  1. Switzerland has approved a bill targeting net zero emissions by 2050.

  2. Nineteen states and cities have passed measures to raise the minimum wage.

  3. In the wake of SCOTUS decision eliminating Affirmative Action, UNC Chapel Hill is offering free tuition to students whose families make <$80,000/year.

  4. A Court of Appeals has once again temporarily blocked construction of the Mountain Valley Pipeline in the Jefferson National Forest.

  5. A Nevada judge denied a request to block the 2024 presidential primary and return to caucuses.

  6. Columbia TN police have arrested two people for posting KKK flyers at local black churches.

• Educate Yourself

  1. Learn about the Carbon C.R.E.W. Project and the webinars they are hosting on July 25th, July  26th, and August 7th.

  2. Dollar General stores are stifling economic growth in Black and rural communities.

  3. Maternal deaths in the USA have doubled in the last 2 decades, with Black mothers dying at the highest rate.

  4. Read how the lawsuit over the firing of a gay Catholic school teach may test the latest SCOTUS ruling on discriminating against the LGBTQ community. One appeals court has already allowed a Catholic school to fire a lesbian counselor.

  5. Learn about Flip the Vote and what strategies they are developing for the 2023-34 election cycle.

  6. Hillsdale has resubmitted applications for charter schools in Madison and Maury Counties, TN. They’re not giving up. Also watch your mailbox for a fund raising appeal for Hillsdale College.

Actions for Week of July 9, 2023

• Support Federal Equality Act – In light of the recent SCOTUS ruling allowing discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community, please request Rep. Burchett support and co-sponsor H.R. 15 The bill would expand federal civil rights law to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination in areas such as public facilities, education, federal funding, employment, housing, credit, and the jury system. Contact information below.

• Petitions to Sign –

  1. You can add your support of the Public Lands Rule at this website. Here is some background information.

  2. This CCL petition asks Congress to address permitting reform to boost transmission projects and speed up deployment of clean energy.

  3. This petition oppose efforts to remove the lesser prairie chicken from the Endangered Species Act.

  4. This petition urges the Peruvian Congress to protect indigenous peoples in the Amazon River basin.

  5. This petition asks Congress to pass the Equal Rights Amendment.

• Good News!

  1. Reproductive freedom advocates delivered more than 700,000 signatures from Ohio residents requesting a November 23rd referendum on whether to enshrine abortion access to the state’s constitution.

  2. The first Muslim woman, Nusrat Jahan Choudhury, has been confirmed to a federal judgeship. As of June 1st, 130 out of 164 people nominated by Pres. Biden have been confirmed as judges, the second-most since Pres. Reagan. As of July 1st, the number is 136 out 170 nominees, with 100 in US District Courts.

  3. The Washington State Supreme Court upheld the state’s Voting Rights Act.

  4. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library will be sending free books to all Illinois kids <5 years old.

  5. Civil Rights advocates have filed a federal lawsuit against Harvard’s legacy admissions.

  6. A federal judge has blocked a Florida law setting limits on voter registration.

• Educate Yourself

  1. In a 2-1 decision, the 6th Circuit Appeals Court allowed TN’s ban on transitional care for transgender folks to go into effect yesterday. They cited the Dobbs decision 9 times in the decision.

  2. Read the UN report on how the world can end plastic pollution.

  3. Learn how the impending federal Farm bill could impact climate change.

  4. This article from the Brookings Institute explores how younger voters will impact elections and what is happening to the white evangelical vote.

  5. Environmental advocates recently rallied in Chicago in support of coal ash rules reform. Coal ash is not just a southern state problem.

  6. The President has devised a new plan to bring debt relief to student loan borrowers using the Higher Education Act.

Actions for Week of July 2, 2023

• Support S. 747 –  The Citizenship for Essential Workers Act would provide a fast, secure path to citizenship, with immediate change in status to legal, permanent resident for essential workers. List of essential workers is provided here. Please contact our Senators and ask them to cosponsor this bill. Contact information below.

• Petitions to Sign –

  1. SCOTUS ended Affirmative Action this past week. This petition and this petition ask colleges and universities to continue their efforts to diversify their student bodies and provide equal opportunities for all.

  2. This ACLU petition urges Congress to pass legislation protecting abortion access and reproductive freedom.

  3. You can ask the Girl Scouts to move their convention out of Florida to protect LGBTQ+ scouts from anti-LGBTQ+ laws in the state by signing this petition.

  4. Sign this petition to add Amanda Gorman’s book of poetry, “The Hill We Climb” to every recommended reading list in the country. The book has been banned in some Florida schools.

  5. This petition asks Congress to enact term limits for SCOTUS justices.

• Good News!

  1. The Biden Administration has allocated $115 million to rebuild the Jackson MS water system.

  2. The Veterans COLA Act of 2023 was signed by the President. This bipartisan law ensures veterans’ benefits will keep pace with rising costs.

  3. Federal judges in TN and KY temporarily blocked laws that would ban gender-transition care for minors. Of course, the TN State Attorney General is appealing that decision.

  4. Another law passed by the TN GA was blocked this past week – the one banning automatic payroll deductions for teacher union dues.

  5. Although SCOTUS handed down some terrible rulings this past week, these 4 decisions are considered good ones:

SCOTUS upheld the Indian Child Welfare Act, a cornerstone of tribal sovereignty.

         ii. The radical independent state legislature theory was rejected.

         iii. A lower court ruling that protects people with gender dysphoria under the Americans with Disability Act was allowed to stand.

         iv. SCOTUS refused to hear an appeal that would require girls attending a public charter school to wear skirts because they are                     “fragile vessels.”

          v. Here is a summary of some of the 2023 SCOTUS rulings.

• Educate Yourself            

  1. Do you know the story behind the SCOTUS ruling allowing discrimination against LGBTQ folks? The website designer and supporting organizations filed a hypothetical, preemptive suit. The state of Colorado prohibits discrimination by private businesses and the website designer didn’t want to live by that rule. The problem is that the woman was never asked to create a wedding website for a same sex couple, had never been sanctioned by Colorado, and had no standing to bring a suit before the court. Based on court precedent, SCOTUS should never have taken the case. However, SCOTUS ruled that creative businesses can refuse to sell products and services if they disagree with the message the customer/client wishes to convey, which is considered a free speech right of the business owner. After filing the suit, website designer (Lorie Smith) said a client asked her to make a gay couple website and complained when she didn’t. The person identified as the client is straight, has been married to his wife for 15 years, and made no such request. Historically, SCOTUS has never given advisory opinions and this case sets a very dangerous precedent by opening the door to widespread discrimination based on personal, religious beliefs.

  2. SCOTUS also declined to take up a case challenging Mississippi’s life-time voting ban for felons that was enacted in the 1870s to prevent Black people from voting. The ban remains in place.

  3. Read how the World Bank Group is enabling the deaths of endangered chimpanzees in Guinea.

  4. You can watch the Liminal Plan launch video here.

Actions for Week of June 25, 2023

• Offer Comments on BC Comprehensive Plan 2023 – Planning consultants are asking for public input on Blount County’s future growth. According to the BC government website, “The Comprehensive Plan is the overarching, visionary document that guides future growth and development within Blount County. The County is currently updating the Plan to more adeptly address the issues and opportunities facing the community.” Visit this website to find 3 ways to offer comments, ideas and vote for your future preferences. It’s easy and doesn’t take much time. Also plan to attend the late July/early August Huddle meeting dedicated to this subject. 

• This is a repeat item: Contact Gov. Lee -   Gov. Lee has recently been waffling about the Special Session on Gun Violence that he called for August 21st. According to the Tennessean, 13,000 public comments have been offered so far, and they overwhelmingly support passage of various gun safety legislation. Only ~2000 comments are opposed and of these, 30% were submitted by out-of-state folks. In comparison, 98% of comments supporting gun legislation are from TN residents. If you subscribe to the Tennessean, you can read the article here. Please use this public comment form to encourage the governor to not back down and express your support for gun safety legislation. Also consider contacting our local Reps & Senator with your support of the session: 

  1. Rep. Bryan Ritchey: 615-741-3560, rep.bryan.richey@capitol.tn.gov 

  2. Rep. Jerome Moon: 615-741-5481, rep.jerome.moon@capitol.tn.gov 

  3. Sen. Art Swann: 615-741-0981, sen.art.swann@capitol.tn.gov 

• Good News!

  1. On the anniversary of the Dobbs decision, the President issued an executive order improving access to free and affordable contraception.

  2. SCOTUS has upheld California’s offshore fracking ban.

  3. A lawsuit has been filed against the EPA for its failure to regulate seeds coated with toxic neonics pesticides.

  4. U.S. Mint is featuring a Native Hawaiian woman on a quarter,  Edith Kanakaʻole, who was a Hawaiian cultural icon, teacher and composer, and the USPS is issuing a stamp honoring John Lewis.

  5. The EPA has reversed a 45-era proposal to relax clean-air regulation on the recycling of plastics and toughened rules on chemicals used to break up oil spills. 

  6. Read how Carbondale IL has become a center for providing abortions for residents from surrounding states.  

  7. Federal judges struck down Indiana’s and  Arkansas’ ban on gender-affirming care; Florida’s ban on Medicaid coverage for gender-affirming care; Florida’s ban on drag shows, and Wyoming’s ban on abortion pills.

• Educate Yourself

  1. Read the investigative report from ProPublica on Justice Alito taking luxury trips with a billionaire who had cases before the Supreme Court , and how his trip to the Vatican was funded by a group that supported overturn of Roe. 

  2. A whites-only group, Asatru Folk Assembly, has purchased 70 acres in middle TN upon which to build their corporate and ecclesiastical headquarters.

  3. Did you know that Vanderbilt Medical Center turned over transgender patient medical records recently to the TN Attorney General’s office without notifying patients ahead of time? 

  4. A report from the University of TN quantifies the staggering economic costs associated with child abuse and neglect in the state. 

  5. To receive free access ot the K-12 Education Landscape Report compiled by standtogether.org, click on this link. 

  6. Check out the Climate Action NOW app. You can download it here. 

Read what baby boomers can do about climate change. Actions for Week of June 18, 2023

• Contact Gov. Lee -   Gov. Lee has recently been waffling about the Special Session on Gun Violence that he called for August 21st. The TN Faith & Freedom Coalition, gun lobbyists and legislators (including Rep. Bryan Richey) are pressuring him to cancel the session. So far, no bills have been filed and no one has stepped forward to sponsor any bills, e.g. red flag laws. Please use this public comment form to encourage the governor to not back down and express your support for gun safety legislation. Also consider contacting our local Reps & Senator with your support of the session:

  1. Rep. Bryan Ritchey: 615-741-3560, rep.bryan.richey@capitol.tn.gov

  2. Rep. Jerome Moon: 615-741-5481, rep.jerome.moon@capitol.tn.gov

  3. Sen. Art Swann: 615-741-0981, sen.art.swann@capitol.tn.gov

• Comment on TVA on Kingston Coal Plant Conversion – TVA is seeking comments by July 3rd on whether to replace the Kingston Plan with a natural gas plant and pipeline or multiple solar installations.  To read the full draft environmental impact statement, click here. You can submit your comments online; via email (tvainfo@tva.gov), or by mail to Chevales Williams, Tennessee Valley Authority, 1101 Market Street, BR 2C-C, Chattanooga, TN 37402. Comments received, including names and addresses, will become part of the administrative record and will be available for public inspection. Interestingly, this past Thursday environmental groups sued TVA for bad faith in soliciting comments on this subject because it appears they have already made their decision. It is doubly important you offer comments on this situation.

• Good News!

  1. Reps. Justin Jones and Justin J. Pearson overwhelmingly won their primary elections this past week.

  2. The TN teachers’ association has filed a lawsuit over the bill passed in the last GA session that banned teachers from paying dues via a payroll deduction. The intent of this measure is to weaken the teacher union. Payroll deductions are already voluntary.

  3. The White House has published an Executive Action Plan for strengthening economic opportunities for military and veteran spouses, care givers and survivors.

  4. The TN Justice Center has been awarded $631,214 grant from the USDA to implement a WIC Community Innovation and Outreach Program.

  5. Infrastructure Bill funds are being allocated to plug thousands of abandoned oil wells.

  6. The Indiana bill banning transitional care for transgender youth has been blocked by a judge, which is a similar outcome to the ban in FL.

• Educate Yourself

  1. Did you know the Oklahoma State Board approved setting up a religious charter school to be funded by the state, despite a law prohibiting such schools? Legal challenges are in the works.

  2. Learn about Planned Parenthood of TN’s BlackOrg Organizer Program.

  3. This report explains how 7 of 8 boundaries for a safe and just world have been breached. Is planet earth no longer salvageable?

  4. Tennessee teachers are leaving in droves. Vacancies are up 16% since last year.

  5. An effort is afoot to undermine ERIC, the Electronic Registration Information Center than verifies voter registrations between states.

  6. Check out the invest.gov website that highlights where private and public funds are being invested in infrastructure across the USA.

Actions for Week of June 11, 2023

• Support Medicare for All Act -   HR3421/S1655 is a bipartisan bill that so far has 112 cosponsors in the House and 14 in the Senate. Visit this website to learn what is contained in the bill. Please contact our MoCs and ask them to also cosponsor this bill. See contact information below. You can also email Rep. Burchett through this link.

• Petitions to Sign

  1. This petition urges gun manufacturer, Ruger, to conduct a human rights impact assessment of their products as requested last year by their shareholders.

  2. Ask Rep. Burchett to support gun safety legislation through this petition.

  3. This petition asks Congress to ban use of artificial intelligence in weapons systems.

  4. This petition supports the protection of the trans community.

  5. Consider signing this petition that calls on President Biden to fight for compassionate immigration reform.

  6. This petition asks YouTube to reinstate and strengthen their policy on preventing election misinformation.

• Good News!

  1. SCOTUS struck down Alabama’s Congressional map for diluting the voting strength of Black voters. Read the decision here. Alabama must add a 2nd majority-Black district. Will this decision impact the gerrymandering lawsuit against TN’s districts?

  2. Civil rights of Medicaid and Medicare recipients were upheld in a SCOTUS ruling this past week. Ruling cited an 1871 civil rights law.

  3. After recent mass shootings in Serbia, thousands for weapons were voluntarily turned in.

  4. A federal judge has temporarily blocked portions of Florida’s law banning transitional care for transgender minors. Could this ruling help the case filed here against TN’s ban?

  5. USDA has awarded a grant to provide rural healthcare in Boone County West Virginia.

  6. The Bexar County TX Sheriff’s Office has filed several counts of unlawful restraint for transporting migrants last fall from TX to Martha’s Vineyard.

• Educate Yourself

  1. Was the expulsion of TN State Reps. Jones and Pearson and attempted expulsion of Rep. Johnson unconstitutional?

  2. We’ve heard a lot about the national debt and debt ceiling lately. Learn about what climate change means for the federal debt.

  3. Visit this interesting interactive guide on rights that SCOTUS has established in the past (e.g. right to an abortion) that could be taken away under conservative justices.

  4. Washington Monthly has published Part 1 of the Myth of the Responsible Gun Owner.

  5. This article on the science of reading explains measures to consider when teaching reading.

  6. This past week an appeals court ruled that the US cannot ban people convicted of nonviolent crimes from owning guns.

Actions for Week of June 4, 2023

• Support HJR 54 -  This We the People Amendment would end the concept of “corporate personhood” and limit the financial and lobbying roles corporations currently have in politics since the 5-4 Supreme Court decision in 2010 (Citizens United ruling) that gave corporations First Amendment rights.  Please contact Rep. Burchett and ask him to cosponsor this bill. Contact information is below.

• Support S. 1354 – The Childcare for Working Families Act aims to increase access to affordable childcare and ensure workers are paid a living wage. Please contact our Senators and ask them to cosponsor this bill. Contact information below.

• Good News!

  1. A federal judge (appointed by 45) ruled Friday night that TN’s ban on drag shows is unconstitutional.

  2. Juliana v U.S. is going to trial in Montana, starting June 12th.  Let’s hope these kids prevail!

  3. Arkansas librarians and book sellers have filed a lawsuit against the book ban law recently passed in the state. Parents in Arkansas have also filed a lawsuit for the censoring of LGBTQ books in schools.

  4. Arizona Supreme Court struck down a challenge to its no-excuse mail-in voting law.

  5. Illinois is poised to become the first state to outlaw book bans.

  6. The administration is developing the first-ever USA national strategy to combat antisemitism.

• Educate Yourself

  1. Did you know that 5 Republican members of the TN Congressional delegation voted against the debt ceiling bill? They include Reps. Burchett, Rose, DesJarlais, Harshbarger and Ogles.

  2. Read this report on the proposal to remove the low rise dams on the Little River.

  3. Learn about the TN Student Solidarity Network of activists.

  4. SCOTUS ruled last week to severely limit the EPA’s authority to protect wetlands under the Clean Water Act.

  5. Texas passed a law allowing the Secretary of State to take over election duties in Harris County, which encompasses Houston. Texas also passed a bill that outlaws school assignments that involve direct communication with local, state or federal officials. 

  6. These books are considered pornography under Florida’s new book ban bill.

Actions for Week of May 28, 2023

• Provide input on Blount County’s Comprehensive Growth Plan – participate in the survey and share your ideas.  The Comprehensive Growth Plan is a vision for our community’s future with long-range goals, objectives and policies.  Review this slide show for more information.

• Support S. 1354 – The Childcare for Working Families Act aims to increase access to affordable childcare and ensure workers are paid a living wage. Please contact our Senators and ask them to cosponsor this bill. Contact information below.

• Support S. 747 –  The Citizenship for Essential Workers Act would provide a fast, secure path to citizenship, with immediate change in status to legal, permanent resident for essential workers. List of essential workers is provided here. Please contact our Senators and ask them to cosponsor this bill. Contact information below.

• Call TN House D20 Rep. Richey - 615-741-3560 and tell him we want solutions to the gun violence, not thoughts and prayers.  Rep Richey is trying to stop the Special Session on public safety and gun violence.

• Good News!

  1. TVA is awarding $2.6 million in grants to schools to help with energy bills through their School Uplift program.

  2. Abortion clinics in Virginia, Montana & Kansas have sued to preserve access to mifepristone.

  3. The FDA advisory panel backs over-the-counter sales of a birth control pill.

  4. Finally, after 10 years of litigation, workers forced to work without personal protection during the cleanup of Kingston coal ash spill have reached a settlement with Jacobs Engineering.

• Educate Yourself

  1. Nearly 25% of US students don’t identify as heterosexual, a 13% increase since 2015.

  2. Read about the Black Farmer Fund that is investing $20 million to help Black farmers.

  3. Read about how the latest Supreme Court ruling weakens the Clean Water Act and the EPA’s ability to protect wetlands.

3rd Grade Retention – test scores by county.Actions for Week of May 21, 2023

• Provide input on the Blount County Comprehensive Plan.  The County is currently updating it's Comprehensive Plan to more adeptly address the issues and opportunities facing the community. They are asking the public to assist the County's planning team in understanding the community preferences and desires for the future. 

• Support Do No Harm Act – HR 2725 restores the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) to its original purpose, which is to protect religious exercise while ensuring religious freedom is not used to erode civil rights protections. The legislation comes amid a sharp rise in the misapplication of RFRA to justify discrimination in a wide range of scenarios. The Do No Harm Act limits the use of RFRA in cases involving discrimination, child labor and abuse, wages and collective bargaining, access to health care, public accommodations, and social services provided through government contract. Please contact Rep. Burchett and ask him to cosponsor it. Contact information is below.

• Petitions to Sign

  1. Sign this petition to Rep. Burchett demanding action on safe gun laws.

  2. This petition asks Customs and Border Protection to uphold rights of pregnant, nursing and postpartum migrants.

  3. You can sign the people’s brief here that is supported by Planned Parenthood to demand mifepristone continue to be made accessible.

  4. This petition demands corporations stop advertising on Fox News.

  5. Support the EPA’s effort to impose stronger vehicle emission standards by signing this petition.

• Good News!

  1. The White House has created an Office of Environmental Justice.

  2. A settlement has been reached between the Sauk-Suiattle Indians and the city of Seattle, with the city agreeing to provide passageways for salmon around hydroelectric dams on the Skagit River.

  3. Minnesota is passing a bill that would prohibit multinational corporations from spending money on state elections.

  4. Amazon delivery drivers in California unionized and negotiated their first contract with the Teamsters, increasing their wages from $20 to $30 by September.

  5. The FDA is considering making birth control pills over the counter.

• Educate Yourself

  1. Read this Economic Policy Institute summary on the status of school vouchers across the country.

  2. Learn how farmers in central California have recharged groundwater by catching atmospheric rivers.

  3. Learn about the Movement Voter Project, which is gearing up for the 2024 elections.

  4. Learn how a miner’s son in Zambia took on a UK corporation causing pollution in Zambia.

  5. Did you know that Central Appalachia has one of the highest concentrations of state and federal prisons in the USA, and plans are in place to spend millions more on a new prison.

  6. This article provides details on what happens once TCAP scores are released for 3rd graders.

  7. Here's  information on Hillsdale College - "The Christian Liberal-Arts School at the Heart of the Culture Wars" and an update on which TN counties are saying yes or no to charter schools.

Actions for Week of May 14, 2023

• Attend public session on proposed updates to Blount County's comprehensive growth plan, Tuesday, May 16, 6:30pm, at the County Courthouse Commission Room. This is an opportunity for public involvement in the plan update process.

• Special Session on Gun Violence -   Gov. Lee has called for the legislative special session dealing with gun violence to start on August 21st. Please provide him feedback through this public comment form.

• Support the Words Matter Act (HR 8863)  – This bipartisan bill would replace the words “mentally retarded” with “intellectual disability”. Please contact Rep. Burchett and ask him to cosponsor the bill. Contact information is below.

• Send Rep. Burchett a message: Reinstate the assault weapons ban NOW

• Good News!

  1. The USDA is loaning millions of dollars to rural colleges and universities that are in danger of closing.

  2. Two Latina judges are being nominated to federal appeals courts.

  3. FEMA will pay extra to states that use low-carbon material materials after disasters.

  4. Gov. Brad Little of Idaho vetoed a bill that would have allowed parents to sue libraries and interfere with youth access to library materials.

  5. A Utah judge blocked implementation of the state’s abortion clinic ban.

  6. A federal court blocked a Kansas voter suppression law that prevented organizations from sending mail-in ballot applications to voters. Meanwhile, the Delaware Senate approved a constitutional amendment to allow no-excuse mail-in voting, and Connecticut is adding 14 days of in-person early voting.

• Educate Yourself

  1. Read how the governor’s bill that raises minimum teacher pay contains a “poison pill” designed to weaken teacher unions.

  2. Is the national debt ceiling unconstitutional? Can President Biden invoke Section 4 of the 14th Amendment that states “The validity of the public debt of the United States … shall not be questioned” to ignore the debt ceiling?

  3. A sheriff’s office in rural Kentucky has hired the detective who killed Breonna Taylor.

  4. Did you know that planting hedgerows helps farmers sequester carbon, manage pests, and provide habitat for pollinators and wildlife.

  5. Future doctors are avoiding red states with abortion bans, especially when applying for OB-GYN residencies.

  6. Iowa legislature has passed a bill to roll back child labor protections. Arkansas rolled back protections in March.

  7. Read about "a new southern strategy to repair our democracy."

Actions for Week of May 7, 2023

Support HR 698 – This is the Congressional Assault Weapons Ban bill of 2023.  Please contact Rep. Burchett and ask him to cosponsor it. Contact information is below.

Support Environmental Justice - The A. Donald McEachin Environmental Justice for All Act will address the disproportionate burden of toxins and pollutants on communities of color, low income communities, and indigenous communities across the country. Let’s ask our Senators to co-sponsor S.919, and our Representative to co-sponsor H.R.1705. MoC contact information is provided below. You can also sign a petition supporting the bill.

Good News!

1. 1. Alaska’s Supreme Court has prohibited partisan gerrymandering.

   2. A Senate Committee advanced Julie Su as the nominee for Labor Secretary.

   3. Washington State has abolished the death penalty and banned assault/semi-automatic weapons.

   4. A federal court in Washington State ordered the FDA to make no changes restricting access to mifepristone.

   5. SCOTUS ruled that West Virginia cannot enforce a ban on transgender student athletes.

   6. A Vanderbilt University poll shows that Tennesseans overwhelming support safe gun legislation. Former Republican Sen. Bill Frist has joined the movement to address gun safety in TN.

Educate Yourself

1. 1. Penny Schwinn is resigning as TN Education Commissioner. She is being replaced by Lizzette Reynolds, vice president of ExcelinEd, which is a school choice organization in TX. This is another move to promote private schools in TN.

   2. A civil complaint has been filed in Cumberland County over Speaker Sexton’s residency.

   3. Read the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Guide on how to deal with youth radicalization/extremism.

   4. SB1059/HB841 recently signed by Gov. Lee puts book publishers, sellers, and distributors at risk of Class E felony charges for providing school materials that could be deemed obscene. “Obscenity” is not clearly defined in the bill.

   5. Read how the 150-year-old Comstock Act that banned the mailing of contraceptives, lewd materials and drugs that induce abortions could provide a pathway for effectively banning abortion nationwide – even in states where the procedure is legal.

   6. A Nebraska state senator (Megan Hunt) is under investigation by the Accountability & Disclosure Commission because she has a transgender child and anti-transgender bills are under consideration in the state legislature. Florida passed a bill allowing trans kids to be taken from their parents.

Actions for Week of April 30, 2023

Support DC Statehood – HR.51 and S.51 provide for admission of Washington DC as the 51st state. The bill was introduced by Sen. Carper and Rep. Norton. One of the provisions of the bill is to grant the citizens of D.C. the right to select judges to fill vacancies on D.C. courts, including the D.C. Court of Appeals, which has had one seat vacant for over nine years. The legislation would also designate the areas surrounding the White House, the Capitol, the Supreme Court, and the National Mall as the seat of the federal government. That area would be the “Capital” and remain under the control of Congress, as mandated by the Constitution. Please ask our MoCs to support this bill. Contact information is below.

Oppose National Sports Ban – HR 734 passed the House last week and moves onto the Senate. It forbids the participation of transgender girls in sports on girls’ teams. Please contact our Senators and voice your opposition to this bill. Contact information is below.

Good News!

a. Michigan recently passed a number of gun safety laws. 

b. Red Barn Wind Park in Wisconsin will generate enough energy to power 50,000 homes.

c. Both the ACLU-TN and Dept. of Justice filed lawsuitsagainst the ban on transitional transgender care for minors in TN. 

d. The ban on transgender care in Missouri was blocked by a state judge. 

e. SCOTUS has blocked a bid by big oil to push climate lawsuits away from states, which allows numerous lawsuits to proceed. 

f. Campaign for Accountability is requesting criminal investigation of Speaker Sexton. 

Educate Yourself

a. Learn about Forward TN’s Open Advocacy Tool. It makes contacting local, state, and federal officials easy. 

b. The trial has begun on whether the TN state maps were gerrymanders to unfairly benefit Republicans.

c. Learn about Red Wine & Blue, an organization to lift up women. A button on their website allows you to join the group. Also check out their virtual events.

d. Thanks to Marilyn, read a summary of how the TN General Assembly treated climate issues this session.

e. Check out this article provided by Joe on how home prices are rising faster than wages. 

f. Unfortunately, the ERA did not make it through the Senate this past week (again).

Actions for Week of April 23, 2023

1. Support Assault Weapons Ban – S.25 resurrects the assault weapons ban that was allowed to expired.  It passed the House last summer on a bipartisan vote. Please ask our Senators to support this bill. Contact information is below. 

2. Petitions to Sign

   1. Request US Congress to take action on common-sense gun legislation by signing this petition. 

   2. This petition asks the Knox County School Board to raise the pay for custodians to $15/hour. 

   3. This petition asks the FDA to use its enforcement discretion to keep mifepristone on the market. 

   4. This petition, this petition, and this petition ask the courts to protect access to mifepristone.

3. Good News!

   1. Swiss insurance giant, Chubb, will require emissions reductions before writing insurance policies for oil & gas producers.

   2. A startup company has raised $18.4 million to place small turbines in irrigation canals that generate electricity. 

   3. The President plans to expand healthcare coverage provided by Obamacare and Medicaid to DACA recipients. 

   4. New auto/truck emission standards recently released will force car companies to rapidly accelerate transition to electric vehicles.

   5. SCOTUS will not block the $6 billion student loan settlement for 200,000 borrowers that were defrauded by their schools.

4. Educate Yourself

   1. SCOTUS heard arguments this week on the Groff v. DeJoy case, which could empower conservative, religious works to seek accommodations from their employers at the expense of their co-workers and the business. 

   2. Learn about new rules issued by the White House on rule making that have big implications for climate and other environmental rules. 

   3. Read about the State Financial Officers Foundation with is spear-heading the campaign to blacklist companies the embrace environmental, social, and governance factors (ESG) in their business practices. And learn how much money states lose when they enact anti-ESG laws. 

   4. Learn how the Biden Administration is trying to protect cities from state-led efforts against self-governance against them. 

   5. Missouri’s attorney general plans to restrict gender-affirming care not only for minors but also for adults. 

Actions for Week of April 16, 2023

1. Call for passage of an Extreme Risk Protection Law – Here is contact information:

- Gov Bill Lee: 615-741-2001, email using this form.

- Lt Gov Randy McNally, (615) 741-6806, lt.gov.randy.mcnally@capitol.tn.gov

- Sen. Ferrell Haile, (615) 741-1999, sen.ferrell.haile@capitol.tn.gov

- Sen. Jack Johnson, (615) 741-2495, sen.jack.johnson@capitol.tn.gov

-  Speaker Cameron Sexton, (615) 741-2343, speaker.cameron.sexton@capitol.tn.gov

- Jeremy Faison, (615) 741-6871, rep.jeremy.faison@capitol.tn.gov

- William Lamberth, (615) 741-1980, rep.william.lamberth@capitol.tn.gov

Here is a sample script you can use: Hello, my name is x and I live in xx. I support an ERPO (Extreme Risk Protection Order, Red Flag) law for our state. Families and law enforcement need a tool to temporarily separate loved ones at extreme risk of harming themselves or other people from their guns. A judge is involved every step of the way. ERPOs are saving lives in other states and we need one here. I am asking you to support an ERPO law for our state too.

2. Letters to Send & Petitions to Sign 

a. Urge the TN Senate to vote No on SB1443 through this link. It is up for a full vote tomorrow, April 17th. 

b. Ask the TN House to vote No on HB306 through this link. It is up for a full vote tomorrow, April 17th. 

c. Several bills are before the House Finance, Ways & Means committee that are anti-trans, anti-implicit bias training, anti-pronoun, and anti-trans TennCarecontracting. You can speak out on all of them through this link provided by TEP. 

d. This petition by Faithful America calls for the resignation of Speaker Sexton. 

e. You can email state legislators through this link asking them to pass gun safety laws. 

f. Here’s a petition from Forward TN asking legislators to act on gun violence.

3. Good News!

a. New Jersey Gov. Murphy signed executive order EO326 that makes it safe for transgender folks and providers fleeing other states. Minnesota will also soon become a sanctuary state for the transgender community. And Colorado passed 3 bills protecting abortion and transgender care. 

b. The President announced $450 million to develop renewable energy projects on current and former mining sites.

c. A chancery court has temporarily blocked the TN bill cutting the Nashville Metro Council from 40-20.

d. A federal judge has ruled that a Christian teacher has no right to misgender a student.

e. Walmart will add EV charging stations to thousands of stores by 2030. 

4. Educate Yourself

a. TN is losing its Title 10 federal funds for family planning and reproductive health services because of its abortion ban. TN will have to make up about $9.5 million.

b. Black farmers in TN claim they are not being offered what their farmland is worth for taking it to build roads to the new Blue Oval City Ford plant.

c. SCOTUS declined a request from voters in Kansas to review a state court decision that allows racial gerrymandering of districts there. 

d. Read the 50 Reasons why TN Matters in the Long Haul Struggle for Democracy and how the TN legislature is not the only one broken. 

e. Did you know that having armed officers in schools does not decrease the chance of gun violence?

Actions for Week of April 9, 2023

Be Prepared to Act – If Nashville and Memphis vote to reappoint Reps. Jones and Pearson to the GA and they are denied their seats, we will be mounting another call/email/letter campaign to every Representative in the State. 

Petitions to Sign

a. This petition urges Congress to vote No on HR1, a compilation of dirty energy bills.

b. This petition urges passage of the bill to Save Oak Flat from Foreign Mining.

c. This letter urges Congress to increase funding for global nutrition. 

d. This petition requests Congress repeal the rollbacks on banking enacted in the 45-era.

Good News!

a. It’s a baby step but the TN bill (SB745) that provides several exceptions to the total abortion ban in TN passed the General Assembly and is headed to the governor. 

b. Pres. Biden issued his second veto this week on a bill that would have rescinded his hallmark water rule. 

c. Judge Janet Protasiewicz, a progressive, won a Wisconsin Supreme Court seat that switches the court from 4-3 conservative to 4-3 liberal. The Court will be challenged because a special election gave the Wisconsin House a Republican supermajority. Interestingly, she won in many rural areas. 

d. Mountain Valley Pipeline’s water permit in West Virginia was vacated by a federal court.

e. SCOTUS ruled that a West Virginia transgender athlete ban cannot be enforced. Pres. Biden proposed a Title 9 rule that allows for some restrictions but no categorially, sweeping bans. 

Educate Yourself

a. Read the ProPublica report on Justice Thomas secretly accepting luxury vacations and not admitting to them on his financial disclosure forms. The report has sparked calls for an investigation and ethics reforms.See details below on a webinar scheduled for Tuesday on this subject. 

b. Yesterday, two conflicting rulings were issued on the abortion drug, mifepristone. A Texas judge ruled it’s approval by the FDA 22 years ago was inappropriate. A little later, a Washington State judge ruled the FDA cannot pull it off the market. The drug will remain available while the Dept. of Justice appeals the Texas ruling.

c. In case you weren’t convinced of this already, a study confirms that TN is last on Grumback’s State Democracy Index. 

d. Unfortunately, the naming of Sen. Susan Collins as ambassador to Canada was an April Fool’s joke. Oh well. 

e. Did you know that April is Confederate History Month in TN?

Actions for Week of April 2, 2023

Guns Kill Kids Protest - Sunday, April 2nd 11:15 AM - 12:30 PM. Location: Maryville College Pedestrian Bridge over Lamar Alexander Boulevard, Maryville. Sponsors: Indivisible Knoxville & Other Groups. Protest permit has been obtained from the city. Description: Large letters will be held up that spell G-U-N-S  K-I-L-L  K-I-D-S so that drivers can see the message. Feel free to bring other appropriate signs. Parking: Please park at Blount County Courthouse and walk to the pedestrian bridge. If unable to walk from the courthouse, let us know and we can ferry you to the bridge. DO NOT park at Maryville College because Peter Pan is being performed that day at the Clayton Center and those lots are needed. 

Marches on the TN State Capitol – Monday April 3rd. 

1. Monday, April 3rd 10:30-11:30AM CDT/11:30AM-12:30PM EDT: Sponsor: Walk for Our Lives, the national group founded by the survivors of the Marjory Stoneham Douglas, Parkland FL shooting. Description: March for Our Lives is calling for all students and their supporters to walk out of school and meet at the capitol building to demand TN legislators enact laws protecting students and others from gun violence. Location: Tennessee State Capitol Building and Grounds, 600 Dr Martin L King Jr Blvd, Nashville, TN 37243. RSVP: https://secure.everyaction.com/cVAxWlUc5UuYGrcEwZsWnA2 

2. Monday, April 3rd 4-6 PM CDT/5-7PM EDT: ABC not NRA Rally. Join elementary age kids and their families to peacefully demonstrate at the state capitol to demand safety from guns in schools. This is a peaceful, family-friendly rally. Please wear orange. Sponsored by various clergy and churches. RSVP here.  Parking instructions here. 

Good News!

2. 1. New Mexico and the Vermont Senate passed bills protecting abortion providers

   2. The Biden Administration has opened up $700 million in grants for local EV chargers. 

   3. Michigan passed a bill with sweeping protection for LGBTQ+ folks.

   4. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine will resign the Senate to become ambassador to Canada, paving the way for the governor of Maine to appoint her replacement. 

   5. The New Mexico Supreme Court has blocked local ordinances attempting to restrict abortion.

   6. New Mexico also passed a law restoring voting rights to 11,000 formerly incarcerated people, establishes automatic voter registration, and improved voting access for Native Americans.

Educate Yourself

3. 1. Read how the wealthiest American avoid paying income tax in the Secret IRS Files. 

   2. Learn how child labor laws are under attack and child labor violations are on the rise.

   3. Uganda passed an anti-LGBTQ bill that imposes the death on same-sex relations, as well as other harsh penalties. 

   4. Read how the Vatican has formally rejected the doctrine of discovery. 

   5. This article provides information on who owns AR-15s and why in the USA.

Voters and county government in Davidson County TN have filed two lawsuits against the bill recently passed in the TN General Assembly that cuts the size of the Nashville City Council in half.

Actions for Week of March 26, 2023

Oppose HB433/SB12 – This bill originally expanded the governor’s school voucher program to Chattanooga/Hamilton County. It was recently amended to include Knox County. The bill has already passed the Senate. It is before the House Education Administration Committee on Wednesday, March 29th. Please contact the following committee members: Mark White, William Slater, Charlie Baum, Gino Bulso, Ed Butler, Scott Cepicky, Monty Fritts, Ron Gant, John Gillespie, Kirk Haston, Christ Hurt, Justin Jones, Justin Lafferty, Harold Love Jr, Sam McKenzie, Antonio Parkinson, John Ragan, Bryan Richey, Robert Stevens, Todd Warner

Oppose SB405/HB262 – This bill requires that all state and local elections be partisan. Although HB262 (sponsored by Rep. Richey) was taken off notice in the House, it is before the Senate State and Local Government Committee on Tuesday, March 28th. Please contact these committee members: Richard Briggs, Page Walley, Mark Pody, Ed Jackson, Sara Kyle, Adam Lowe, John Stevens, Ken Yager, Jeff Yarbro. 

 Support SB1241/HB1256 – Also before the Senate State and Local Government Committee on Tuesday, March 28this a bill that changes permanent revocation of the right to vote for certain convicts to a temporary one. Contact the same committee members as in Action 2. You can also send a letter in support of the bill through this link. 

Good News!

a. New Mexico has updated its anti-discrimination laws to include LGBTQ+ protections.

b. The President designated a huge national monument(Avi Kwa Ame) in Nevada in an area sacred to Native Americans.

c. The President vetoed a bill that would have overturned a regulation allowing retirement-plan managers to consider climate change in their investment decisions, i.e ESG investing. 

d. Minnesota passed a low providing free school meals (breakfast and lunch) to all K-12 students.

e. North Carolina voted to expand Medicare.

f. Sanofi has joined Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk in lowering their prices on insulin by >70%.

Educate Yourself

a. A bill has been introduced in North Carolina that ends one-person/one-vote in the state. It amends the state constitution to have every state senator represent two counties — regardless of population — instead of representing districts that contain roughly an equal number of residents.

b. Learn how most trans adults feel that transitioning made them more satisfied with their lives. 

c. A Nebraska state senator (Machaela Cavanaugh) is filibustering to prevent a bill that would ban gender-affirming care for trans youth. She’s been at it for 3 weeks!

d. Read how rural utility companies in some parts of the country are embracing renewable energy sources. 

e. Is there such a thing as clean steel?

Actions for Week of March 19, 2023

• Comment on Dam Removal – The US Corp of Army Engineers is seeking comments on whether to removed 3 low-profile dams on the Little River, namely the Townsend, Peery’s Mill, and Rockford dams. Dam removal helps improve water quality and restores natural diversity.  It is also important for human safety because low-profile dams increase the risk of accidental drowning. Comments must be submitted no later than March 24th. Comments can be emailed to CorpsLRNPlanningPublicCom@usace.army.mil  or mailed to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District, 110 9TH Avenue South, Room A-405, Nashville, TN, 37203.

• Oppose HB330/SB282 – This bill dissolves the TN Commission on Children and Youth despite a crisis in care provided to children in state custody. This website provides information on TCCY. It is an independent commission established in the late 1980s that coordinates efforts between departments and organizations (e.g. DCS, DHS, Dept. Educ) that deal with children. The bill is before the House Children & Family Affairs Subcommittee on March 21st and the Senate Health & Welfare Committee on March 22nd.  

House Committee Members: Mary Littleton, Rush Bricken, Andrew Farmer, Ron Gant, Johnny Garrett, Torry Harris, Darren Jernigan, Jason Powell, Robert Stevens

Senate Committee Members: Rusty Crowe, Ferrell Haile, Shane Reeves, Joey Hensley, Ed Jackson, Becky Massey, Art Swann, Bo Watson, Jeff Yarbro

• Support Medicaid Expansion – SB1161/HB14021 that authorizes the governor to expand Medicaid is before the House Insurance Subcommittee on March 21st and the  Senate Health & Welfare Committee on March 22nd.  The House bill is sponsored by Rep. Gloria Johnson. 

Hose Committee Members: Esther Helton-Haynes, Kip Capley, Scott Cepicky, Caleb Hammer, Gary Hicks, Doc Kumar, Justin Lafferty, Brock Martin, Bo Mitchell, Tim Rudd, Iris Rudder, Bryan Terry

Senate Committee Members: Rusty Crowe, Ferrell Haile, Shane Reeves, Joey Hensley, Ed Jackson, Becky Massey, Art Swann, Bo Watson, Jeff Yarbro

• Petitions to Sign

  1. This petition asks TN lawmakers not to allow the use of handcuffs, zip ties and other mechanical restraints on students with disabilities as proposed in SB141/HB127. This bill is before committees on March 21st and 22nd.

  2. This petition voices opposition to TN bill SB1159/HB1029 that would send more juvenile offenders to adult court. This bill is before committees on March 21st.

  3. This petition asks Rep. Burchett to support the Federal Firearms Licensee Act.

  4. This letter asks the EPA to finalize stronger standards on soot pollution.

  5. You can sign this petition and submit comments to the Federal Energy Regulator Committee urging them to stop the Cumberland Pipeline. The pipeline will cross farms and hundreds of streams in TN. It is proposed by the TVA to support conversion of the Cumberland coal plant to gas.

  6. This ACLU petition urges the White House to shut down ICE detention centers.

  7. This petition urges TN leaders to work hard to end litter in the state.

• Good News!

  1. New Hampshire Senate gave unanimous approval to expanding Medicaid in the state. 

  2. Michigan Senate voted to repeal the 1840 abortion ban law. 

  3. The Michigan legislature is also working to repeal legal protections for the gun industry.

  4. The EPA is proposing new stringent limits for “forever chemicals” in drinking water.

  5. Wellesley College students voted in favor of adopting gender-neutral language and opening admissions to nonbinary and transgender applicants.

  6. Middle TN is becoming a hub for electric vehicle manufacturers.

• Educate Yourself

  1. Plans to ship oil via the Uinta Basin Railway which runs alongside the Colorado River for >100 miles is now under scrutiny. 

  2. Did you know that the US Forest Service is planning to log mature trees in the Daniel Boone National Forest? 

  3. Read about environmentally dangerous “Fast Fashion”. 

  4. Learn about federal and state efforts to plug abandoned/orphaned oil wells in the USA, of which there are an estimate 2 million!

  5. Consider watching this video on youth voter suppression from the Daily Show. 

Read the expose in the New York Times on the role a Texas politician played in asking Iran not to release the hostages they held to help ensure that Jimmy Carter would lose the election to Ronald Reagan. Actions for Week of March 12, 2023

• Oppose HB799/SB1377 Anti-Environment Bill – This bill prevents municipals/counties from improving energy conservation codes beyond what was established in 2018. It is before the House Commerce Committee and Senate Commerce & Labor Committee on Tuesday, March 14th.

House Committee Members: Kevin Vaughn, Rush Bricken, Rebecca Alexander, Jody Barrett, Clark Boyd, Jeff Burkhart, Karen Camper, John Ray Clemmons, Jeremy Faison, Bob Freeman, Johnny Garrett, Michael Hale, GA Hardaway, Kirk Haston, Patsy Hazlewood, John Holsclaw, Curtis Johnson, Susan Lynn, Pat Marsh, Jerome Moon, Dennis Powers, Mike Sparks, Dwayne Thompson, Joe Towns Jr, Greg Vital, Ryan Williams, Jason Zachary

Senate Committee Members: Paul Bailey, Art Swann, Frank Niceley, Raumesh Akbari, Jack Johnson, Shane Reeves, Steve Southerland, Bo Watson, Ken Yager 

• Oppose HB1269/SB466 – This bill specifies that a teacher or other employee of a public school or LEA is not required to refer to a student using the student's preferred pronoun if the pronoun is not consistent with the student's biological sex. It is before the House Finance, Ways & Means Subcommittee and the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday, March 15th. 

House Committee Members: Gary Hicks, Charlie Baum, Scotty Campbell, Karen Camper, Mark Cochran, Jeremy Faison, Johnny Garrett, David Hawk, Patsy Hazlewood, Harold Love Jr, Jerome Moon, Johnny Shaw, Sam Whitson, Ryan Williams, 

Senate Committee Members: Jon Lundberg, Bill Powers, Raumesh Akbari, Rusty Crowe, Todd Gardenhire, Ferrell Haile, Joey Hensley, Mark Pody, Dawn White

• Support SB412 – This bill removes the retention requirement for 3rd graders who do not pass the English language test. This bill is before the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday, March 15th.

Senate Committee Members: Jon Lundberg, Bill Powers, Raumesh Akbari, Rusty Crowe, Todd Gardenhire, Ferrell Haile, Joey Hensley, Mark Pody, Dawn White

• Good News!

  1. A federal judge ruled Missouri’s gun law declaring several federal gun laws were unconstitutional and could be ignored is invalid. 

  2. Five women who were denied abortions have sued Texas. Four of the women were forced to travel to other states to get emergency abortions, the lawsuit states. The fifth, could not have an abortion despite her fetus having no chance of surviving, and was only allowed to deliver after she became septic, leaving her with permanent physical damage.

  3. More than 190 countries have agreed to a UN treaty protecting marine biodiversity.

  4. The Senate recently confirmed Pres. Biden’s 100th judicial nominee, including 69 district court judges, 30 appellate court judges, and 1 SCOTUS justice.

  5. Google and Sol Systems are combining forces to provide money to make homes more energy efficient, enabling more homes to then convert to renewable energy.

• Educate Yourself

  1. Sen. Hagerty is leading an effort in the Senate to interfere in local Washington DC government. 

  2. A bill has been filed in Florida that would allow religious people to sue if they are called homophobic or transphobic. 

  3. Following the train derailment in Ohio, here’s an interesting op-ed on the merits for nationalizing the railroads. 

  4. Read how fracking wastewater causes long-term harm to key freshwater species. 

Learn how SCORE aims to promote charter schools in every community in TN in numbers large enough to require consolidation and closure of public schools. Actions for Week of February 26, 2023

• Please Support Women’s Reproductive Rights -  Several bills are before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, Feb 28th. 

• SB885 states that the term “abortion”, as defined for the offense of criminal abortion, does not include the use of contraceptives, including hormonal birth control, intrauterine devices, or emergency contraceptives. 

• SB072 deletes provisions that assign personhood at the time of conception, criminal penalties related to abortion and the proscribing of abortion drugs, etc. 

• SB745 has been amended to provide exemptions to the TN abortion ban for when health of mother is threatened.  It provides the bare minimum protections doctors need to ethically provide medical care to pregnant patients, and is supported by the TN healthcare community. 

• SB762/HB829 fully restores abortion in TN. Here is a link from ACLU where you can contact committee members on this bill specifically. 

• You can also contact committee members through this convenient link  and you can email your TN Representative through this link. Be sure to include bill numbers in your message.

• You can contact committee members through these links:

1. Sen. Todd Gardenhire https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/legislatorinfo/member.aspx?district=S10 

2. Sen. Dawn White https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/legislatorinfo/member.aspx?district=S13

3. Sen. Paul Rose https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/legislatorinfo/member.aspx?district=S32

4. Sen. Sara Kyle https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/legislatorinfo/member.aspx?district=S30

5. Sen. London Lamar https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/legislatorinfo/member.aspx?district=S33 

6. Sen. Jon Lundberg https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/legislatorinfo/member.aspx?district=S4

7. Sen. Kerry Roberts https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/legislatorinfo/member.aspx?district=S23

8. Sen. John Stevens https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/legislatorinfo/member.aspx?district=S24

9. Sen. Brent Taylor https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/legislatorinfo/member.aspx?district=S31

• Easy Action Alerts – Please sign these petitions/letters by Monday or early Tuesday. 

  1. Please sign this petition by Mar 3rd- urging Pres. Biden to stop the Willow Project in Alaska’s western artic. This massive oil extraction operation threatens the health of caribou, moose, birds and the habitats of other wildlife.

  2. Sign this letter asking the TN Legislature not to restrict what local communities define as clean or renewable energy. The bill requires communities to classify natural gas as clean energy. 

  3. Sign this letter asking the TN Legislature to not raise fees on electric vehicles.

  4. Sign this letter urging TN HB1411 (anti-LGBTQ) be defeated in the TN K-12 Subcommittee Feb 28th.

  5. Sign this letter urging TN SB1440 (anti-LGBTQ) be defeated in Judiciary Committee Feb 28th.

  6. Sign this letter urging TN SB841 (anti-LGBTQ) be defeated in State & Local Government Committee Feb 28th.

  7. Sign this petition urging TN HB239 and HB878 (anti-LGBTQ) be defeated in Civil Justice Committee Mar 1st. 

  8. Sign this petition urging TN HB1215 (anti-LGBTQ) be defeated in House Finance Subcommittee Mar 1st.

  9. Sign this letter speaking out against HB41/SB1429 that allows school employees to be selected for carrying guns on school grounds.

• Good News!

  1. Did you know that through the efforts of former President, Jimmy Carter and the Carter Foundation, guinea worm (Dracunculosis) has almost been wiped out in Africa. If the trend continues it will be one of only 4 diseases eradicated throughout all of history. 

  2. US Health Dept is proposing 3 new pilot programs to lower prescription drug prices for Medicare and Medicaid recipients.

  3. Tesla will open its charging network to other electric vehicles.

  4. Minnesota has passed a bill that will restore voting rights for convicted felons once they leave prison and complete their parole.

  5.  The Say Something Reporting System developed by Sandy Hook Promise has prevented at least 13 planned school shootings and >100 incidents of on-campus violence.

• Educate Yourself

  1. Did you know that independent and third-party candidates received only 2% of the national vote in US House elections last year? 

  2. TN is not the only state with coal ash problems. Read about the areas along the Great Lakes that are threatened.

  3. Women journalists are being targeted around the globe.

  4. Read about the Fairness Project, which promotes economic and social justice by the use of ballot measures. 

Although the southern border is still very chaotic, humanitarian parole introduced by the Administration in early January is helping asylum seekers from Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua and Haiti is having a positive impact.

 Actions for Week of February 19, 2023

• Please Oppose These Bills Pertaining to Guns that are before the Civil Justice Subcommittee on Tuesday, Feb 21st . Despite what has been learned by tracking school shootings since the Parkland FL massacre, and despite daily mass shootings around the USA, the TN House wants to promote wider availability and carriage of guns.

  1. TN HB1158  – This bill lowers the age for obtaining an enhanced or concealed handgun permit from 21 to 18 years. You can send a letter to lawmakers through this link. 

  2. HJR0080 – This resolution urges the TN Attorney General to sue the federal government if any federal statute, regulation or executive order infringes on the rights of Tennesseans to carry guns. 

  3. HB578 – Eliminates application and processing fee for enhanced handgun carry permit. 

  4. HB395 – Allows people to carry handguns without a permit while hunting. 

  5. HJR0038 – Proposes an amendment to the TN Constitution to remove the provision that authorizes the legislature to regulate the wearing of arms with a view to prevent crime and to clarify that citizens have a right to keep and bear arms for their defense, and not just for common defense.

You can contact members of the committee through these links:

Lowell Russell: https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/legislatorinfo/member.aspx?district=H21 

Bill Beck: https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/legislatorinfo/member.aspx?district=H51 

Gino Bulso: https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/legislatorinfo/member.aspx?district=H61 

Kip Capley: https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/legislatorinfo/member.aspx?district=H71 

Rick Eldridge: https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/legislatorinfo/member.aspx?district=H10 

Andrew Farmer: https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/legislatorinfo/member.aspx?district=H17 

Rusty Grills: https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/legislatorinfo/member.aspx?district=H77 

William Lambert: https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/legislatorinfo/member.aspx?district=H44 

Antonio Parkinson: https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/legislatorinfo/member.aspx?district=H98 

Chris Todd: https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/legislatorinfo/member.aspx?district=H73 

• Good News!

  1. Not surprisingly, when indigenous peoples gain title to their territories, deforestation decreases or stops. 

  2. Nashville is increasing its curbside recycling program to every-other-week (from once monthly).

  3. USDA is providing $262 million to improve access to jobs, health care and infrastructure for people in historically underserved communities across the Rural Partners Network.

  4. Some towns & cities will receive more Federal funding following census corrections.

• Educate Yourself

  1. Low salt marsh habitats are releasing more carbon in response to warming.

  2. Did you know that new wind & solar projects are cheaper than costs to operate all but one coal-fired plant in the USA? 

  3. A federal appeals court struck down a law that prevented people with domestic violence restraining orders from owning a gun. 

TN legislators are considering a bill that could send 17-year-old children in the care of the Dept. Children Services to adult prisons when they are deemed “incorrigible”. Actions for Week of February 12, 2023

Save the Date: February Huddle Meeting, Thursday, February 23rd, 7-8:30PM. Speaker is Jay Clark PhD, Director of Environmental & Sustainability Initiatives, Maryville College. Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89545888666... .Meeting ID: 895 4588 8666, Passcode: 061690

TN Legislative Results: The bill banning transgender transitional care is up for a full vote in the Senate tomorrow, Feb 13th. It is on the House Civil Justice Committee schedule for Wed, Feb 15th.  The bill banning drag shows is before the House Criminal Justice Committee on Tues, Feb 14th.  It has already passed the Senate. A rally is planned to protest the bills and support the LGBTQ+ community tomorrow, Feb 13th, at 5PM in Krutch Park, Market Square, Knoxville. See this announcement. In addition, a webinar is scheduled on Trans Justice to explain proposed legislation on Friday, Feb. 17th. See the events list below for details.

Harming Their Constituents: The bad bills on committee schedules this week are almost too numerous to list, e.g. HB30, HB578, HB239, HB395, HB306, HB48. We suspect several will be delayed a week or so, which will enable us to add them to upcoming Action lists. In the meantime, you can follow them and learn where to direct your comments via the TN GA website.

Also note that 2 bills (HB10, HB101) decriminalizing abortion in the case of rape, incest and threat to the woman’s health have been withdrawn. The one bill that remains (SB857),carries a mandatory 3-year prison sentence for any woman who files a false report of rape or incest to get an abortion.

The bill (SB12) to expand school vouchers to Hamilton County (Chattanooga) cleared its first hurdle, and is on its way to a full vote in the Senate. 

• Oppose Third Grade Retention Law – The costs and impact of the law are summarized here. This petition sends a message to TN State Legislators asking them to modify the Third Grade Retention law. Eighteen different bills have been filed to modify the law, including some that would repeal it. The bills are summarized here, and several are before committees this week.  Please also contact our local reps and use this script:

“Please work to amend or repeal the 3rd grade retention law. Instead of making one test the only factor to retain students, local school administrators, teachers, and parents should make that decision. We need to provide support to our public schools to increase literacy rates instead of penalizing students based on one test.”

Contact information:

Rep. Moon: 615-741-5481, rep.jerome.moon@capital.tn.gov

Rep. Bryan Richey: 615-741-3560, rep. bryan.richey@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Swann: 615-741-0981, sen.art.swann@capitol.tn.gov

• Oppose Closed Primaries Bill – A bill (HB405) filed by Rep. Richey of Blount County would require a person to register in a political party to be able to vote in a primary election. Anyone unaffiliated with a political party would be deemed an independent and ineligible to vote. As you know, most elections in TN are decided in the primary election, not the general election. This is another voter suppression law, particularly aimed at millennials, GenZ, veterans, and other voters who avoid party affiliations. This bill is before the House Elections and Campaign Finance Subcommittee on Thurs, Feb 15th. Please contact these committee members.

  1. rep.john.crawford@capitol.tn.gov , (615) 741-7623

  2. rep.jerome.moon@capitol.tn.gov , (615) 741-5481

  3. rep.esther.helton@capitol.tn.gov , (615) 741-1934

  4. rep.tim.rudd@capitol.tn.gov , (615) 741-2804

  5. rep.clay.doggett@capitol.tn.gov , (615) 741-7476

  6. rep.jeff.burkhart@capitol.tn.gov , (615) 741-6804

  7. rep.larry.miller@capitol.tn.gov , (615) 741-4453

• Petitions to Sign

  1. Demand Congress reinstate an assault weapons ban by signing this petition.

  2. This petition is in support of protecting Medicare and Social Security. Did you know there is plan to try and raise the retirement age to 70?

  3. This petition asks the Army Corp of Engineers to deny a permit for Mountain Valley Pipeline in WVa and VA.

  4. This petition asks the three big phone carriers to switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

  5. This petition requests the EPA strengthen regulations on methane and other harmful pollutants.

  6. Consider signing this petition from the Congressional Black Caucus requesting the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act be revived.

• Good News!

  1. A new partnership has been developed between the Bureau of Indian Education and Trust for Public Land that works to make outdoor spaces at Tribal Community schools more culturally relevant.

  2. Windfarms are providing a financial windfall for some struggling rural areas.

  3. The Colorado baker who refused to make a cake celebrating a person’s gender transition has lost his appeal.

  4. A number of state legislatures (e.g. NT, CT, VA) will take up bills this session that prohibit anyone convicted of participating in an insurrection from holding public office or a position of public trust, such as becoming a police officer.

  5. Many cities and towns are tapping into the American Rescue Plan to retire residents’ medical debt. Learn more here.

• Educate Yourself

  1. This past week TN House Speaker Sexton announced he may introduce a bill that rejects $1.8 billion in Federal dollars that are given to TN each year for K-12 education. The reason for doing so is to get around federal requirements attached to the money for things like nutrition in school lunch programs, support for special needs students, and for supporting schools in low-income areas.

  2. Did you know that the Republican-led House is now interfering with local government in Washington DC by passing a bill to overturn city council bills?

  3. House Republicans have plans to undermine investors who use climate-risk factors as part of their investment process, i.e. environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing. Just another way to harm the movement combatting climate change.

  4. Here’s a break down of Gov. Lee’s proposed budget spending. That doesn’t include the grant program he wants to establish to send $100 million of tax payer money to crisis pregnancy centers, which are unregulated; primarily nonmedical; not subject to HIPAA; and that mainly support an anti-abortion agenda.

  5. Would you believe the TN Legislature is celebrating Black History month by filing a bill to rename Rep. John Lewis Way in Nashville as Pres. Donald Trump Boulevard? See HB1372/SB1407.

Actions for Week of February 5, 2023

• TN Dept of Health Withdraws from Federal HIV Program - TN Dept. of Health is pulling out of the Federal program run by the CDC that funds HIV prevention, testing and treatment through nonprofit organizations. The state is willingly forfeiting around $8 million federal dollars. Funding ends May 31, 2023. Funding for Planned Parenthood was targeted specifically. Other organizations impacted by this defunding include AHS Alliance Healthcare Services (Memphis), Cathedral of Praise (Memphis), Cherokee Health Systems (Statewide), Choice Health Network (Statewide), Friends for Life (Memphis), OutMemphis (Memphis), and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (Memphis). Supposedly the state will fund such activities in metro health departments starting June 1st but no details have been issued about what will happen in rural counties. Is this a purely political decision and will other states follow? Consider contacting Gov. Lee to provide feedback on this move at https://www.tn.gov/governor/contact-us.html or 615-741-2001. 

• Please Oppose HB80 – The bill specifies that underground injection activities authorized by rule are not subject to the general five-year term limit 

Chris Todd: https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/legislatorinfo/member.aspx?district=H73

Tandy Darby: https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/legislatorinfo/member.aspx?district=H76 

Monty Fritts: https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/legislatorinfo/member.aspx?district=H32

Rusty Grills: https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/legislatorinfo/member.aspx?district=H77

GA Hardaway: https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/legislatorinfo/member.aspx?district=H93 

Torrey Harris: https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/legislatorinfo/member.aspx?district=H91

Bud Hulsey: https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/legislatorinfo/member.aspx?district=H2

Chris Hunt: https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/legislatorinfo/member.aspx?district=H82

Justin Jones: https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/legislatorinfo/member.aspx?district=H52

Pat Marsh: https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/legislatorinfo/member.aspx?district=H62

Brock Martin: https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/legislatorinfo/member.aspx?district=H79 

Jay Reedy: https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/legislatorinfo/member.aspx?district=H74 

Bryan Richey: https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/legislatorinfo/member.aspx?district=H20 

Johnny Shaw: https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/legislatorinfo/member.aspx?district=H80 

Ron Travis: https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/legislatorinfo/member.aspx?district=H31 

Greg Vital: https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/legislatorinfo/member.aspx?district=H29

Dave Wright: https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/legislatorinfo/member.aspx?district=H19

• Good News!

  1. The White House announced new actions to protect tenants and make renting more affordable. 

  2. The EPA has blocked the Pebble Mine in Alaska that threaten the world’s largest salmon fishery in Bristol Bay.

  3. The Vermont Supreme Court upheld a statute authorizing noncitizens who are legal U.S. residents in Montpelier, Vermont to vote in local elections.

  4. North Carolina and West Virginia are being sued for their restriction on mifepristone, a  drug that can induce abortions.

  5. Argentina passed a law permanently protecting the Mitre Peninsula at the tip of Tierra del Fuego, one of the country’s most important carbon sinks. 

  6. Unlike TN, the state legislature in Virginia is rejecting anti-trans bills.

• Educate Yourself

  1. States with abortion bans also have a history of low wages, weak labor standards and public underinvestment, with dysfunctional public services. TN is a prime example. 

  2. Would you believe Wyoming legislators want to ban the sale of electric vehicles?

  3. Did you know that two clear strategies have been identified to reduce mass killings?…. 1) licensing of all guns purchased and 2) banning high-capacity magazines.  

  4. A new documentary film details how "includes important new details about specific allegations of sexual misconduct by Justice Kavanaugh"; "evidence that Kavanaugh may have knowingly perjured himself"; and that the justice's associates engaged in what his friend referred to as "a cover-up."

  5. Watch this short 90 second video to learn what “Redboxing” is and how it is adversely affecting our elections.

  6. The US farm bill is up for renewal this year and a wide variety of organizations are planning lobbying efforts. Read what’s at stake. 

Actions for Week of January 29, 2023

• Please Oppose HB1/SB1 – This bill bans transitional care for transgender minors. The law prohibits healthcare prescribers from prescribing a course of treatment that involves hormone treatment for gender dysphoric or gender incongruent prepubertal minors.  Parents and providers can be sued by patients for up to 30 years after the minor turns 18 but minors are exempt from suits. The Attorney General has 20 years to bring suit against a provider. Medical licensing boards must bring disciplinary action against providers who are 'alleged' to have violated the statute. This bill is scheduled in committee meetings on Tuesday, January 31st. Committee members can be called or emailed through the links: