Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Rep. Vance Dennis Brings McNaiy County An Update From The State Legislature
Vance answers questions
The Pledge
Vance talks with constituents
Charles Lee, Daddy, Jonathan, Mr. Tennyson, and David
William Dennis
Monday, June 1, 2009
New TNGOP Chairman, Chris Devaney
NASHVILLE, TN - The State Executive Committee of the Tennessee Republican Party elected a new party chairman Saturday, selecting Chris Devaney, U.S. Sen. Bob Corkers state director and a former executive director for the Tennessee Republican Party.
Devaney becomes chairman immediately, replacing outgoing Chairman Robin Smith, who served as the party chairman for 22 months and led the party to a historic victory in the November 2008 elections.
The election of 2010 is the most important for our state in generations, Devaney said, and we will be focused on building our majority in the General Assembly and electing a Republican governor.
In the worst political climate for Republicans in decades - in a year that would see Republicans lose the White House, lose both houses of Congress, lose 100 state legislative seats across the country, and lose the majority in three state legislatures to the Democrats - Chairman Smith lead the Tennessee Republican Party to winning a majority in both houses of the state legislature for the first time since the
elections of 1868.
In remarks to the committee before the vote, Smith stressed that there is work left to be done keeping the Republican majority in the legislature, and electing a Republican governor in 2010 - and that the party must never stray from its principles.
“I love working with the grass roots,” said Smith, pledging to remain a Republican activist even after she leaves the chairmanship.
The Republican victories of 2008 ushered in a new era in Tennessee governance. Not only do Republicans have a majority in the state House and state Senate, for the first time the party also holds the state’s three constitutional officer seats and have a majority on all 95 county election commissions and the State Election Commission.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Monday, May 18, 2009
SJR 127 to be voted on tonight in Tennessee House of Representatives
SJR 127 "adds new provision to Article I to provide that nothing in the Constitution of Tennessee secures or protects right to abortion or requires the funding of an abortion; states that the people retain the right through their elected state representatives and state senators to enact, amend, or repeal statutes regarding abortion..."
If you live in Tennessee and have not yet contacted your Representative to ask him to support SJR 127 without amendments, click here to find his contact information. If you don't live in Tennessee, please join us in praying that this piece of legislation will pass tonight.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Friday, April 10, 2009
April Legislative Update
TN District 71
4-10-2009
STATE REP SWEEPS THROUGH MCNAIRY COUNTY
State Representative Vance Dennis was, quite literally, sweeping through McNairy County during March. County officials and Arts in McNairy board members presented a handmade broom to the district 71 representative at a gathering in Selmer. The broom will be displayed at his Nashville office.
Why a broom? Mr. Dennis has expressed a desire to do something more than just decorate his new office in the usual fashion. "Lots of people from across the state and country come to my office at the Capitol throughout the year," he said, "and I intend to use this aspect of my position to promote the benefits of our community to the greatest extent possible."
STATE REP VANCE DENNIS HONORS HARDIN COUNTY GIRLS BOWLING TEAM
Representative Vance Dennis honored the Hardin County Girls Bowling Team during March in a ceremony on the House floor. The HCHS Girls Bowling Team captured the 2009 TSSAA Division 1 State Championship. Representative Dennis said the high schoolers deserved the honor, not only for winning the championship this year, but for making it to the state tournament every year since the team’s inception in 2002.
“This high school team and their coaches have done an outstanding job, and I’m honored to be able to represent young people like these,” said Rep. Dennis. “They have worked hard, and they deserve this recognition.”
GOVERNOR PRESENTS BUDGET
The Governor presented his initial budget proposal on March 23, 2009, to a Joint Convention of the House and Senate. Because of the unprecedented economic situation facing Tennessee, the Governor is proposing a multi-year approach, and laying out possibilities for the next four years. He explained that much of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) money, which totals approximately $5 billion over two years for Tennessee, comes with many strings attached.
Stimulus funds will foot much of the TennCare bill
More than a billion dollars of the ARRA funds will be used to temporarily foot the bill for TennCare—the state’s Medicaid program— in order to free up the state dollars to fund programs elsewhere. While other states will be required to use this money to plug holes in their Medicaid programs, TennCare is in a stable position. Additionally, TennCare had approximately $500 million in their reserve account at the beginning of the year.
Higher Education may dodge a bullet
Although large reductions were expected in higher education, the ARRA dedicates $500 million specifically to higher education, meaning that the anticipated cuts are no longer necessary. Reductions that had already taken place will now be restored to the tune of $100 million this year.
The budget proposal stipulates that higher education will be fully funded for the next 21 months from stimulus funds. However, the possible $180 million shortfall when the stimulus funds are no longer provided has caused concern for many legislators.
Unemployment Insurance
One of the Administration’s priorities is focused on keeping the state’s Unemployment Trust Fund solvent. Although the Governor considered turning down the unemployment portion of the federal stimulus package, citing as a concern the obligation to continue higher spending when the federal money runs out in two years, he has decided to accept the $141 million injection to the Unemployment Trust Fund.
Accepting the money will mean that Tennessee has to adopt three federal mandates at a projected outflow of $30 million annually. A part-time worker definition, alternative wage base calculations and dependents allowance must be adopted by the General Assembly in order to qualify for the stimulus funds. If these measures are adopted, there will likely be a need to end these mandated benefits once the federal monies are exhausted to sustain the fund in the future.
For more information about the ARRA, go to visit http://www.tnrecovery.gov/.
LEGISLATION PENDING
In addition to the State budget, a wide variety of legislation is moving through the house. Lawmakers have been debating several pieces of gun legislation in recent weeks, including House Bill 716, which will allow licensed carry permit holders to possess their firearms within the boundaries of any state park, and within the boundaries of local parks if approved by the local legislative body.
In the same vein, House Bill 1778 would prohibit lawfully possessed firearms from being confiscated during periods of martial rule, and House Bill 233 would allow permit holders to carry in restaurants that serve alcohol.
House Joint Resolution 149, a constitutional amendment which guarantees Tennesseans the right to hunt and fish, is also working its way through the General Assembly and, if it passes in the legislature with a 2/3 majority vote, it will appear on the ballot in 2010 in a voter referendum.
The legislature is also considering legislation that would create a “wine at retail food store license,” which would allow the sale of wine at grocery stores. The license would be issued by the Alcoholic Beverage Commission and only in a county or municipality that has authorized the sale of alcoholic beverages. Businesses who obtain the license would still be subject to rules and regulations governing current liquor and beer laws, and would also be subject to the “Responsible Vendors Act,” which requires mandatory carding.
There is also a great deal of debate about the method that Tennessee uses to select its appellate and Supreme Court judges. Tennessee currently uses a merit-based selection process whereby the Tennessee Judicial Selection Commission, a panel composed of 17 members, interviews applicants and offers the Governor a slate of three candidates to fill a vacancy on the court. The Governor then picks one of the three candidates, or rejects the entire slate. If the Governor rejects all three candidates on the first slate, he can request another. If this occurs, the Governor must then make a selection from the second slate of candidates. After being appointed, judges are subject to “yes/no” retention votes every eight years. Many legislators have expressed support for a change in this system that would require these judges to be selected by statewide election.
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns about these or any other bills that are being considered by out state legislature.
State Representative Vance Dennis
Capitol Address
105 War Memorial Building
Nashville, TN 37243
Phone: 615-741-2190
Fax: 615-253-0377
District Address:
55 Court Street, Suite B
Savannah, TN 38372
Phone 731-925-1025
Thursday, April 9, 2009
New Website for Representative Dennis
Friday, April 3, 2009
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
Leadership Forum
Jonathan visits with Sen. Gresham
Shirley Curry, Sen. Gresham, and Rep. Steve McDaniel
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Huck PAC Phone Banks Are Open
The phone banks at Huck PAC are easy to use and the calls take about a minute each. If you want more information about Jim Tedisco, you can click here to visit his web site, or here to read his biography on Wikipedia.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Put Conservatism Into Practice
by Mike Huckabee
Conservatives aren't challenged because of the basic principles that define us, but by the failure of the principles being translated into policy and practice.
Conservatives believe that the best government is the most local government possible and that the 10th Amendment means something and should be followed. Yet, the supposedly conservative Republican Party has been a drum major for the expanded role of the federal government.
Our founders feared a highly centralized and endowed federal government, instead preferring a system of strong and virtually independent states so that no one person, party, or power broker would exercise a great deal of control.
The inherent danger of allowing too much power in the hands of the few was the heart of the major dispute between Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton. Jefferson won, believing that the dispersing of power among the states would by design keep the federal government from becoming too consuming and powerful in its approach to governing. The genius of the 10th Amendment, as is true of all of the Bill of Rights, was that it deliberately limited what the government could do - not what the individual could do.
The 10th Amendment defines the limits of the federal government in 28 words: "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."
Over the past few years, Republicans have been either acquiescing in or encouraging the acquisition of more power and control by the federal government - in policy shifts in education, health care, and even how a driver's license looks.
During my 10 years as a governor, a constant battle raged with my own federal government over such programs as "Real I. D.," which was a federally conceived idea to force states to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to re-format the look of a state-issued drivers license so it would become the equivalent of a federal ID card.
What they didn't really think about or seem to care the least about, despite the numerous attempts by governors, Democrat and Republican to explain, was that a state driver's license is just what it claims to be - a license to drive a motor vehicle. It is not proof of citizenship, good behavior or church attendance, and the people who work the counter at the state Department of Motor Vehicles are not trained law enforcement officers, immigration officials, CIA agents or detectives. They are typically entry-level state employees who do their best, but are hardly the choice front line of defense to catch a potential terrorist by discovering their true identity.
Ditto that for reforming the Medicaid program.
Former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner - now Sen. Warner - and I spent many frustrating days on Capitol Hill trying to convince House and Senate members that the Medicaid program was out of control, financially unsustainable, and needed flexibility at the state level. Thanks primarily to Congressmen Joe L. Barton of Texas and Nathan Deal of Georgia, we finally were able to convince Congress that some of the decisions for the program could be made better if made closer to the people being served.
Perhaps no other example is more glaring than having painfully watched so-called Washington conservatives abandon the most fundamental principle of conservatism - fiscal restraint. A Republican administration pushed for and got the authority to spend $700 billion that we had to borrow from our grandchildren's future so we could do what government has no business doing - picking out winners and losers in the private sector marketplace.
It was especially disgusting to me to watch some of the very leaders who had smugly dismissed my candidacy for president because I had the audacity to speak out against the excesses of Wall Street and Washington as early as February 2007 now stand up and flop-sweat as they explained why they were about to support the government taking off the striped shirts of the referee and put on the jersey of a team to play the game for one team against another all in the name of "saving the markets."
By abandoning our bedrock conservative principles, and those of our founding fathers, they risked ruining our country to save the markets.
What gives me hope is my belief that the party of Reagan will reunite behind the consistent conservative policies that have made our country great - policies that empower individuals, families, and entrepreneurs, not government, to shape our own destinies. If we do that, we will not fail.
We don't need so much to redefine conservatism. Just practice the real thing.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
February Legislative Update
The Tennessee State Legislature reconvened on Monday, February 9, 2009, to begin the 2009 regular session. There are a number of important issues facing our state in the coming months.STATE BUDGET SHORTFALLAccording to the most recent figures provided by the Tennessee Department of Revenue, January revenues were down $114 million, with Sales tax revenues, including those from Christmas, down $68 million. Because 62 percent of Tennessee's overall revenues come from the sales tax, this accounts for a large part of the budget hole. The total tax collection is $522 million below the budgeted estimate for the fiscal year, and Tennessee could very well be on path to having over a one billion dollar loss in year over year revenues. The next largest source of revenue, franchise and excise taxes, were down about 24 percent and are proving to be more volatile than ever before.The recently passed Federal stimulus bill is anticipated to help our state through this budget crisis, but significant reductions in state government spending are still going to be required. I will be working diligently in the coming months to make sure that any negative impacts on our community and our State as a result of these reductions are kept to a minimum.
PENDING LEGISLATIONAlmost two thousand bills have been filed for consideration so far this year. Most of these bills propose the creation of new laws or the modification or elimination of existing laws. A copy of each bill is filed in both the State House and the State Senate. Each bill is first assigned to a committee of legislators that reviews bills dealing with certain subject matter. The committee reviews each bill assigned to it and votes on whether or not the bill should become law. Bills often have to be approved by two or more different committees because they can affect different areas of the law. If a bill is approved by all of the necessary committees, it is presented to the entire House and the entire Senate. If it gets a majority vote in both the House and the Senate, it is then sent to the Governor for his approval. If the Governor approves the bill (or if the governor rejects the bill and the legislature then votes to override his rejection), it finally becomes law.I will be serving on the Judiciary Committee, the Health and Human Resources Committee, the Civil Practice Subcommittee, and the Public Health Subcommittee for the next two years. However, I am always available to address your concerns about any topic facing our community or our state. I can be reached by email at vance@vancedennis.com or by telephone at 615-741-2190.The Tennessee Legislature has created a new website, http://www.capitol.tn.gov/, that provides a wealth of information about our legislative branch of government, including easy access to all pending legislation, contact information for all legislators, and live video of all committee and floor sessions. Please feel free to contact me with your thoughts and suggestions about any pending legislation of interest to you.Nashville Address105 War Memorial Bldg.Nashville TN 37243Phone: (615) 741-2190Fax: (615) 253-0377
Monday, February 9, 2009
Kent Williams will be kicked out of the TN GOP today
Members of the State Executive Committee:
As you know, I have announced that I will be making the results of my deliberations on the Williams matter public today.
It is my first duty as Chairman to keep you informed of the activities of the TRP and wanted you to know the result I will announce before it is made public.
I have reviewed documentation presented by members of the Legislature, members of this Committee and Mr. Williams’ comments, both public and private, in the course of coming to this decision. It has been my intention to move deliberately to gain an idea of the course Mr. Williams intends to take. With you, I have watched his actions.
We have watched during the last 28 days to see if Kent Williams would assign the 13 Committee Chairmanships to the Republican Majority. He did not.
We watched to see how Rep. Williams would assign office space and staff to the Republican Majority. He has crammed 49 of his colleagues in 46 offices.
We have watched Rep. Williams maintain the same wage practices with Democrat staff earning more than the Republican staff, even as democrat staffers are assigned to fewer representatives.
We have learned that Mr. Williams has met with Governor Bredesen as the “Republican Representative” on the critical issue of the budget. Mr. Williams has withheld all of this information from the Republican Caucus encumbering their policy statements and decisions.
We have been repeatedly informed that Rep. Williams refuses to caucus with the Republicans.
We requested that members of the Caucus provide the TRP with specific examples of assistance that Rep. Williams has given to our candidates, caucus or party. None could.
So it is with regret that I inform you of my decision to remove Kent Williams’ status as a bona fide Republican. In the end, I must do what I believe to be right in this matter and not just what might be the politically or strategically expedient response. The principles we value must be placed above mere political calculation.
With this decision, we send a message that Tennessee Republicans expect better. Our party is not the tool to achieve personal power. The grassroots members who work so hard will not have their dedication sold to the highest bidder. Ours will be the Party of principle standing on integrity and honor.
It is now time to move forward. My staff and I are already out recruiting candidates, raising money and preparing for 2010. Next year we will elect a Republican governor and strengthen our majority in the legislature. I am honored to have you along on our journey.
Sincerely,
Robin T. Smith
Chairman
Tennessee Republican Party
