Straw Poll Results

Here are the straw poll results from the West Tennessee Victory 2010 Rally last evening.

Ramsey - 59
Wamp - 59
Haslam - 24
Gibbons - 19
Kirkpatrick - 4

There were several hundred people attending the event, so apparently most voters are still undecided.

West Tennessee Victory 2010 Rally

Our family enjoyed attending the Victory 2010 Kick-off Rally in Hardin County today. All 5 of the Republican candidates for Governor of Tennessee (Bill Gibbons, Bill Haslam, Joe Kirkpatrick, Ron Ramsey, and Zach Wamp) spoke at the rally.

The rally was hosted by the Republican parties of Hardin, Henderson, McNairy, and Wayne counties. There was a great turnout and the building was packed!

Daddy talks with Zach Wamp and our State Representative, Vance Dennis

Some of our family with Zach Wamp

Bill Haslam and his wife greet our grandmother and David

Gov. Dunn autographing his book

David and Jonathan talking with our county GOP chairman, Charles Lee

Daddy visiting with Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey

Congressman Zach Wamp

Former Tennessee Governor Winfield Dunn was the Master of Ceremonies

Tennessee GOP Chairman, Chris Devaney

Our congressman, Marsha Blackburn

The five gubernatorial candidates waiting to speak

Bill Gibbons (Shelby County Attorney General)

Bill Haslam (Mayor of Knoxville)

Joe Kirkpatrick

Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey

Congressman Zach Wamp

Listening to the speeches

Our friend Jerry Woods talking with Congressman Wamp

Jonathan and Emily voting in the straw poll

We'll post the results of the straw poll as soon as we get them.

Legislative Update

Click on image for a larger view

Website Updates

To stay in touch with Rep. Dennis, be sure to visit his updated website at www.vancedennis.com. Look for new pictures, legislative updates, and resources!

Please plan to attend...

The West Tennessee Victory 2010 Kick-Off Rally,

Hardin County High School

Saturday, August 15, 2009 - 4:00 p.m. (Speeches begin at 5:00 p.m.)

This is your chance to meet and hear speeches from all the Republican candidates for

GOVERNOR OF TENNESSEE

Bill Gibbons

Bill Haslam

Joe Kirkpatrick

Ron Ramsey

Zach Wamp

Master of Ceremonies, Governor Winfield Dunn

FREE Food, Fun and Entertainment for the whole family

Sponsored by the Republican Parties of McNairy, Hardin, Henderson, and Wayne Counties

Please invite all your West Tennessee friends and family members!

The Duggars on "Huckabee"

David Barton on "Huckabee"

McNairy County Tea Party Rally

A large crowd of concerned citizens met this afternoon at the Selmer City Park for a Tea Party Rally. (TEA = Taxed Enough Already)

A great group of speakers (some pictured below) spoke to the crowd about limited government, government waste, taxation, states rights, liberty, the constitution, teaching America's true history to the next generation, and our country's need to turn back to God.

Another shot of the crowd

Robert Shackelford reads the Bill of Rights

Our favorite speaker was our wonderful State Representative, Vance Dennis.

Vance just completed his first legislative session in the Tennessee House. He has done a great job and we are so proud of him. Vance spoke about the conservative victories in the Legislature this year. He also explained why he was one of the 8 Representatives voting against the Governor's budget earlier this month -- it included borrowing money and using government funds.

A Tea Party Flag

Mrs. Daniel handed out tea bags to commemorate the revolutionary spirit of the Boston Tea Party.

We all had a great time and are looking forward to the next Tea Party!

Governor Huckabee Endorses Marco Rubio for U.S. Senate

Rep. Vance Dennis Brings McNaiy County An Update From The State Legislature

Rep. Dennis spoke to constituents in McNairy County on Thursday night. He spoke about the bills that have come before the House this year, and what our legislators have accomplished with a House that is currently 49 Republicans, 49 Democrats, and 1 ?.Vance answers questionsThe PledgeVance talks with constituentsCharles Lee, Daddy, Jonathan, Mr. Tennyson, and David

William Dennis

New TNGOP Chairman, Chris Devaney

Devaney Wins: The Official TNGOP Press Release

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.

Marco Rubio's Farewell Address to Florida House

www.marcorubio.com

SJR 127 Passes!

Voting yes - 76
Voting no - 22

SJR 127 to be voted on tonight in Tennessee House of Representatives

After being killed again and again by Democrat-controlled House subcommittees in previous legislative sessions, pro-life SJR 127 will make it to the House floor this evening for a vote. The Senate passed SJR 127 in March -- 5 Democrats joined all 19 Republicans for a 24-8 vote in favor of the resolution.

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.

Huckabee Talks About The Swine Flu

Tea Party 2009

April Legislative Update

From REPRESENTATIVE VANCE DENNIS
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

New Website for Representative Dennis

Our State Representative, Vance Dennis, has his new website up and running. Click here to visit vancedennis.com.

Join Team Huck!

Go to www.teamhuck.com to sign up!

Sen. Corker on the Auto Industry

March 31, 2009

Leadership Forum

Yesterday Republicans from the 26th Senatorial District met in Chester County for a Leadership Forum. Senator Dolores Gresham was the speaker.Jonathan visits with Sen. GreshamShirley Curry, Sen. Gresham, and Rep. Steve McDaniel