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Health Reform NOW
Many of you have asked whether the USCCB would be issuing a statement on the Baucus health care proposal. The USCCB (United State Catholic Conference of Bishops) staff are continuing to work with Baucus’ office to insert acceptable language in the bill. They are withholding public comment until some resolution has been reached.
USCCB staff spent most of last weekend helping Senator Grassley write amendments for the bill to include language acceptable to USCCB and others regarding abortion. This, I expect, is the same effort that is continuing this week.
They currently have very good access to the Senate Finance and Claims Committee, and are being asked by committee staff and members for assistance and input on language. They may have more to say by the middle of next week. Hopefully we will have something by then, but although statements are important, I believe it even more important that they have been invited to help craft the language. The USCCB staffers are doing an incredible job, and we need to keep them in prayer as they work the long hours and dedicate themselves to the task of getting it done right.
ACTION! Call Congress Every Day Until Reform Happens
Messages: Cost of Doing Nothing; Demand Affordability;
Call Sen. Alexander,
Sen. Corker, and your US Representative each day with a brief message.
1-866-279-5474
You'll be asked to enter your ZIP code. The system will transfer you to your representative. After you leave a message, stay on the line and the system will automatically transfer you to one senator and then the other.
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Dear Catholic Advocacy Network Members,
Please find attached an Action Alert with an update on Health Care Reform, the bishops' message on health care and how to reach Congress. When Congress returns from the Fourth of July recess, the House and Senate committees will begin consideration of health care reform bills. Please call Congress and encourage others to do the same with the message that we want a health care bill that respects the life and dignity of every person at all stages of life.
The Kaiser Family Foundation has a useful tool on their website that allows you to create a side-by-side comparison of the various billsbeing considered by Congress. The website is www.kff.org.
Have a safe and happy Fourth of July holiday weekend!
Click to open the alert!
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| The Action Alerts below are regarding legislation dealt with during the 105th General Assembly during 2008. The Legislature has now closed it legislative session for the year. All legislation has either been passed, failed, or not acted on for the year. No legislation will be considered until the Legislature reconvenes in January of 2009. To see the CPPC Legislative Wrap Up for the 2008 year please visit our legislation page. Although many predicted the Legislature would close around May 15th or 16th it did not close down until 11:30 p.m. May 21st. They went over their 90 day allowance of days to conduct General Assembly voting meeting days. This page was last updated on June 2nd, 2008. |
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As the 105th General Assembly's Legislative Session is drawing towards a close, we have some successes to share with you and a few action alerts. Many predict that session will end by May 15 or 16. Once session is closed and Legislators go home, all legislation not passed this year will have to be reintroduced next year in the 106th General Assembly. That means that we really need your help to share our support for the passage of the bills in this legislative update.
In this Legislative Update:
• Action Alert and Update: Study Committee on the Death Penalty
• Action Alert and Update: The Long Term Care Bill
• Action Alert and Update: The Racial Profiling Prevention Act
• Article on SJR127
Action Alert and Update:
HB 2733 Death Penalty Study Committee
House Finance, Ways & Means Budget Subcommittee
Wednesday May 7th, 2008
This was a Catholic Day on the Hill Focus issue.
This bill has PASSED in the Senate!
Study committee on administration of the death penalty. Extends the date for the special committee to study the administration of the death penalty to report its findings to the governor and general assembly to October 1, 2009 from one year from the date of its members' appointments.
Share your support by sending an email to the members by clicking their names:
Chair Tindell, L. DeBerry, Fitzhugh, Armstrong, Harrison, McDaniel, Odom, Overbey, Rinks, Roach, Shaw
Action Alert and Update:
Long Term Care
We made a difference!
One of our focus issues for Catholic Day on the Hill was the Long Term Care bill that passed the Senate last Thursday! But it still is moving in the House. Please take a minute to help this bill along its way!
House Finance, Ways & Means Budget Subcommittee
Wednesday May 7th, 2008
Email the members by clicking their names:
Chair Tindell, L. DeBerry, Fitzhugh, Armstrong, Harrison, McDaniel, Odom, Overbey, Rinks, Roach, Shaw
Action Alert and Update:
Racial Profiling Prevention Act
Senate Floor
Wednesday, May 7th, 2008
This was another one of our Catholic Day on the Hill Focus Issues!
This bill has PASSED in the House!
Don't know who your Senator is? Click Here
So, what actually happened?
SJR127 spurred Parliamentary Chaos-adapted from the Tennessee Journal
Backers of a constitutional amendment to neutralize a 2000 state Supreme Court ruling on abortion long have had a majority of the 99 member House on their side. But they lacked the 66 votes needed to pull the measure form the subcommittee system that blocked it. Thursday, Rep. Bill Dunn from Knoxville tried a parliamentary trick aimed at getting the measure before the House with a simple majority vote. He sought to amend a routine rules suspension on another matter by Majority Leader Gary Odom from Nashville.
Speaker Naifeh from Covington ruled Dunn out of order. And indeed, after being shown the pertinent rule later, Dunn conceded that such motions aren't subject to amendment. But before that Dunn challenged Naifeh's ruling. Naifeh stepped down to let Speaker Pro Tem Lois DeBerry from Memphis preside. And for the first time in 18 years as speaker, Naifeh lost a challenge to the ruling of the chair, with 46 members voting to sustain it, 47 to overturn it. After a 15 minute recess Dunn's motion to amend prevailed 51-43. Ultimately, he still needed 66 votes to suspend the rules. He got 55.
The fuss was over SJR127, a Senate passed resolution to amed the constitution to undo the courts decision that found greater abortion rights protections implicit in the state's constitution than the nation's.
On Feb. 29, in response to a question from Sen. Diane Black from Gallatin, state Attorney General Cooper opined that if the TN legislature enacted the same ban on partial birth abortion that Congress has passed and federal courts have upheld, it would be "constitutionally suspect." That's because the 2000 state ruling requires a strict scrutiny standard. Last week, in response to a question from Rep. Phillip Pinion from Union City, Cooper opined that federal law on partial birth abortion applies in Tennessee.
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SJR0127 Legislative Update:
The House of Representatives was thrown into chaos this morning over a failed maneuver to try to resurrect SJR0127. Rep. Bill Dunn, from Knoxville, attached a measure to bring SJR0127 to the floor to an unrelated resolution on legislative meeting times. SJR0127 seeks to change the state constitution to eliminate many protections for abortion rights. It had passed the Senate but failed in a House subcommittee. |
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What's Next? What Can You Do?
You can write your Representative expressing your view and support of SJR0127.
Click on the Representative's name to write an email!
Rep. Joe Armstrong, Rep. William Baird, Rep. Eddie Bass, Rep. Mike Bell, Rep. Robert Bibb, Rep. Stratton Bone, Rep. Willie Borchert, Rep. Rob Briley, Rep. Harry Brooks, Rep. Kevin Brooks, Rep. Tommie Brown, Rep. Frank Buck, Rep. Stacey Campfield, Rep. Glen Casada, Rep. Curt Cobb, Rep. Jim Cobb, Rep. Kent Coleman, Rep. Jim Coley, Rep. Barbara Cooper, Rep. Chris Crider, Rep. Charles Curtiss, Rep. Vince Dean, Rep. John Deberry, Rep. Lois Deberry, Rep. Tom Dubois, Rep. Bill Dunn, Rep. Jimmy Eldridge, Rep. Joanne Favors, Rep. Dennis Ferguson, Rep. Henry Fincher, Rep. Craig Fitzhugh, Rep. Richard Floyd, Rep. Dale Ford, Rep. George Fraley, Rep. Brenda Gilmore, Rep. Dolores Gresham, Rep. Jim Hackworth, Rep. G. A. Hardaway, Rep. Bill Harmon, Rep. Mike Harrison, Rep. Beth Harwell, Rep. David Hawk, Rep. Joey Hensley, Rep. Matthew Hill, Rep. John Hood, Rep. Curtis Johnson, Rep. Phillip Johnson, Rep. Sherry Jones, Rep. Ulysses Jones, Rep. Brian Kelsey, Rep. Mike Kernell, Rep. John Litz, Rep. Ron Lollar, Rep. Jon Lundberg, Rep. Susan Lynn, Rep. Debra Maggart, Rep. Judd Matheny, Rep. Jimmy Matlock, Rep. Joe McCord, Rep. Mark Maddox, Rep. Gerald McCormick, Rep. Steve McDaniel, Rep. Michael McDonald, Rep. Steve McManus, Rep. Larry Miller, Rep. Richard Montgomery, Rep. Gary Moore, Rep. Jason Mumpower, Speaker Jimmy Naifeh, Rep. Frank Niceley, Rep. Gary Odom, Rep. Doug Overbey, Rep. Phillip Pinion, Rep. Joe Pitts, Rep. Mary Pruitt, Rep. Jeanne Richardson, Rep. Randy Rinks, Rep. Dennis Roach, Rep. Donna Rowland, Rep. Charles Sargent, Rep. Johnny Shaw, Rep. David Shepard, Rep. Janis Sontany, Rep. Park Strader, Rep. Eric Swafford, Rep. John Tidwell, Rep. Harry Tindell, Rep. Curry Todd, Rep. Joe Towns, Rep. Larry Turner, Rep. Mike Turner, Rep. Nathan Vaughn, Rep. Eric Watson, Rep. Ben West, Rep. Kent Williams, Rep. John Windle, Rep. Leslie Winningham, Rep. Eddie Yokley
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Catholic Advocacy Network
URGENT ACTION ALERT
SJR 0127 is a constitutional amendment regarding the funding of abortions. It adds a new provision to Article 1 to provide that nothing in the Constitution of Tennessee secures or protects the right to abortion or requires the funding of an abortion.
This Thursday May 1st at 9 a.m., an effort will be made in the House Chamber during Session to pull SJR127 from the subcommittee it was defeated in to the House Floor directly so that it can be voted on by the House of Representatives. It has already passed the Senate.
Please take a moment to contact your Representatives to share your view on this issue.
Click on the Representative's name to write an email!
Rep. Joe Armstrong, Rep. William Baird, Rep. Eddie Bass, Rep. Mike Bell, Rep. Robert Bibb, Rep. Stratton Bone, Rep. Willie Borchert, Rep. Rob Briley, Rep. Harry Brooks, Rep. Kevin Brooks, Rep. Tommie Brown, Rep. Frank Buck, Rep. Stacey Campfield, Rep. Glen Casada, Rep. Curt Cobb, Rep. Jim Cobb, Rep. Kent Coleman, Rep. Jim Coley, Rep. Barbara Cooper, Rep. Chris Crider, Rep. Charles Curtiss, Rep. Vince Dean, Rep. John Deberry, Rep. Lois Deberry, Rep. Tom Dubois, Rep. Bill Dunn, Rep. Jimmy Eldridge, Rep. Joanne Favors, Rep. Dennis Ferguson, Rep. Henry Fincher, Rep. Craig Fitzhugh, Rep. Richard Floyd, Rep. Dale Ford, Rep. George Fraley, Rep. Brenda Gilmore, Rep. Dolores Gresham, Rep. Jim Hackworth, Rep. G. A. Hardaway, Rep. Bill Harmon, Rep. Mike Harrison, Rep. Beth Harwell, Rep. David Hawk, Rep. Joey Hensley, Rep. Matthew Hill, Rep. John Hood, Rep. Curtis Johnson, Rep. Phillip Johnson, Rep. Sherry Jones, Rep. Ulysses Jones, Rep. Brian Kelsey, Rep. Mike Kernell, Rep. John Litz, Rep. Ron Lollar, Rep. Jon Lundberg, Rep. Susan Lynn, Rep. Debra Maggart, Rep. Judd Matheny, Rep. Jimmy Matlock, Rep. Joe McCord, Rep. Mark Maddox, Rep. Gerald McCormick, Rep. Steve McDaniel, Rep. Michael McDonald, Rep. Steve McManus, Rep. Larry Miller, Rep. Richard Montgomery, Rep. Gary Moore, Rep. Jason Mumpower, Speaker Jimmy Naifeh, Rep. Frank Niceley, Rep. Gary Odom, Rep. Doug Overbey, Rep. Phillip Pinion, Rep. Joe Pitts, Rep. Mary Pruitt, Rep. Jeanne Richardson, Rep. Randy Rinks, Rep. Dennis Roach, Rep. Donna Rowland, Rep. Charles Sargent, Rep. Johnny Shaw, Rep. David Shepard, Rep. Janis Sontany, Rep. Park Strader, Rep. Eric Swafford, Rep. John Tidwell, Rep. Harry Tindell, Rep. Curry Todd, Rep. Joe Towns, Rep. Larry Turner, Rep. Mike Turner, Rep. Nathan Vaughn, Rep. Eric Watson, Rep. Ben West, Rep. Kent Williams, Rep. John Windle, Rep. Leslie Winningham, Rep. Eddie Yokley
Catholic Advocacy Network Legislative Update April 11th
- Death Penalty Study Committee Action Alert
- Racial Profiling Prevention Act Action Alert
- SJR127: Constitutional Amendment Regarding Abortion
- Catholic Day on the Hill Report
Urgent Action Alert SUPPORT
Death Penalty Study Committee
SB2718 HB2733
This bill will be heard in the
Senate Judiciary Committee April 15th.
We are keeping with the long and consistent teachings of our faith regarding respect for the dignity of all human life by opposing laws that legitimize capital punishment. We call upon the Legislature to recognize that it is time to reevaluate the present system. This can only be done if the study committee time limit is extended.
Questions that STILL need to be addressed:
- The adequacy of counsel in all stages of these cases, and the sufficiency of guidelines for appointment and performance of such counsel
- The adequacy of investigative support afforded the accused in capital cases;
- The process for judicial review of meritorious claims in state post-conviction and federal habeas corpus proceedings;
- Any disproportionate racial impact upon any aspect of capital case proceedings;
- Whether mentally retarded persons should be executed, and what criteria should be used in judging the level of retardation involved;
- Whether persons who are minors when the crime is committed should be executed.
- Prosecutorial misconduct or judicial error as a factor in the imposition of the death penalty; and
- The presence of innocent persons on death row in Tennessee.
Please email the Senate Judiciary Committee:
(click on their name to send an email)
Chair Mae Beavers Vice Chair Doug Jackson Secretary Jamie Woodson
Diane Black Jim Kyle Beverly Marrero Mark Norris
Paul Stanley John Wilder
Urgent Action Alert SUPPORT
Racial Profiling Prevention Act
SB3459 HB4001
This bill will be heard in
Senate Judiciary Committee on April 15th.
Every human person is created in the image and likeness of God. We urge Legislators to pass laws and create social policies that protect and promote human dignity to the maximum degree possible. Respect for human dignity is the necessary first step in building a just civilization. Our common faith in Jesus Christ moves us to search for ways that favor a spirit of solidarity. It is a faith that transcends borders and bids us to overcome all forms of discrimination so that we may build relationships that are just and loving.
Why is this needed?
There is currently no definition of racial profiling in Tennessee law.
What does this do?
This act defines racial profiling. It also strongly recommends that written policies be adopted by law enforcement organizations to prevent racial profiling.
What if racial profiling occurs?
This act creates a process for individuals who believe their rights have been violated.
Please email the Senate Judiciary Committee:
(click on their name to send an email)
Chair Mae Beavers Vice Chair Doug Jackson Secretary Jamie Woodson
Diane Black Jim Kyle Beverly Marrero Mark Norris
Paul Stanley John Wilder
Action Alert Support
SJR 127: An Amendment to the State Constitution
Regarding the Funding of Abortion
There is a movement taking place trying to bring this Senate Joint Resolution back to the House Committee System. Please email your Representative asking them to bring back this legislation.
Catholic Day on the Hill Report
Wednesday April 9th was our 11th Annual Catholic Day on the Hill. We had over 500 Catholics from across the state come to Nashville to join in a day of prayer, education, and advocacy. Many participants met with their Senators and Representatives. Others watched legislative committee meetings.
The Catholic Public Policy Commission would like to thank everyone who participated in the day.
We would also like to thank:
Michelle Puryear for sharing her story of passing "Claire's Law" which requires newborns to have hearing screenings.
Pam Beaver for coordinating the mass that was celebrated at St. Mary's Church.
Paul Beavin and Annie Musacchio for being volunteers for the day.
Father Ragan Schriver and his graduate student volunteers for coordinating the Student Program.
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Urgent Action Alert:
We need YOUR help!
Death Penalty Study Committee
We are working to bring back legislation that would extend the time limit on the Death Penalty Study Committee. This committee examines the process and procedures dealing with the Death Penalty system in Tennessee, not the morality of the Death Penalty. It is important that the time limit be extended so that the Study Committee can fully examine the system.
HB2733 that would allow this was defeated in House Judiciary Criminal Practice Subcommittee.
What can YOU do?
Please email or call the House Judiciary Criminal Practice Subcommittee Members.
Rep. Eddie Bass: rep.eddie.bass@legislature.state.tn.us
District 65, Giles and Marshall Counties, 615-741-1864
Rep. Henry Fincher: rep.henry.fincher@legislature.state.tn.us
District 42 Part of Putnam County including Cookville, 615-741-1875
Rep. Judd Matheny: rep.judd.matheny@legislature.state.tn.us
District 47, Coffee and part of Warren County, 615-741-7448
Rep. Eric Watson: rep.eric.watson@legislature.state.tn.us
District 22, Meigs, Polk and part of Bradley County, 615-741-7799
Rep. Rob Briley: rep.rob.briley@legislature.state.tn.us
District 52, part of Davidson County, 741-2184
Rep. Janis Sontany: rep.janis.sontany@legislature.state.tn.us
District 53, part of Davidson County, 615-741-6861
Don't know what to say?
Tell them that you support HB2733!
While this Study Committee does not address the morality of the death penalty system it is still important to address the flaws in the system. The Study Committee is one step in building a broader Culture of Life in today's society.
Need More Information?
Do you want more information about the Death Penalty, the campaign to end its use, or the culture of life?
Visit the USCCB's website about the Catholic Campaign to End the Use of the Death Penalty: www.ccedp.org. Visit the CPPC's website: www.tncppc.org/deathpenalty.htm
Click here to see the CPPC's position statement on Human Life
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Action Alert:
TN Catholic Public Policy Commission calls for
Humane Immigration Legislation!
Please Call or Email your Legislators!
This bill sponsored by Senator Joe Haynes and Representative Mike Turner would prohibit illegal aliens from receiving compensation for any work they do in Tennessee. Any violation would be a Class B misdemeanor. Any money derived form such unlawful employment is subject to the criminal forfeiture provisions.
House: This Bill was introduced in 2007 by Rep. Mike Tuner and passed the House Consumer and Employees Affairs Committee in 2007. It is currently held in the House Calendar and Rules Committee.
Senate: This Bill was introduced in 2007 by Sen. Joe Haynes and passed the Senate Commerce, Labor, and Agriculture Committee Tuesday March 11, 2008. It is currently held in the Senate Calendar and Rules Committee.
Please tell your Senator and Representative that
YOU do not support legislation
that unfairly targets immigrants.
This bill criminalize any labor preformed by undocumented workers. It gives employers the power to have workers arrested and have their wages, home, or processions confiscated. It creates an incentive for unscrupulous employers to hire undocumented workers, who could be exploited to the point of indentured servitude. It undermines the rights of all workers.
(Click on their name to write an email!)
All Representatives: Rep. Joe Armstrong, Rep. William Baird, Rep. Eddie Bass, Rep. Mike Bell, Rep. Robert Bibb, Rep. Stratton Bone, Rep. Willie Borchert, Rep. Rob Briley, Rep. Harry Brooks, Rep. Kevin Brooks, Rep. Tommie Brown, Rep. Frank Buck, Rep. Stacey Campfield, Rep. Glen Casada, Rep. Curt Cobb, Rep. Jim Cobb, Rep. Kent Coleman, Rep. Jim Coley, Rep. Barbara Cooper, Rep. Chris Crider, Rep. Charles Curtiss, Rep. Vince Dean, Rep. John Deberry, Rep. Lois Deberry, Rep. Tom Dubois, Rep. Bill Dunn, Rep. Jimmy Eldridge, Rep. Joanne Favors, Rep. Dennis Ferguson, Rep. Henry Fincher, Rep. Craig Fitzhugh, Rep. Richard Floyd, Rep. Dale Ford, Rep. George Fraley, Rep. Brenda Gilmore, Rep. Dolores Gresham, Rep. Jim Hackworth, Rep. G. A. Hardaway, Rep. Bill Harmon, Rep. Mike Harrison, Rep. Beth Harwell, Rep. David Hawk, Rep. Joey Hensley, Rep. Matthew Hill, Rep. John Hood, Rep. Curtis Johnson, Rep. Phillip Johnson, Rep. Sherry Jones, Rep. Ulysses Jones, Rep. Brian Kelsey, Rep. Mike Kernell, Rep. John Litz, Rep. Ron Lollar, Rep. Jon Lundberg, Rep. Susan Lynn, Rep. Debra Maggart, Rep. Judd Matheny, Rep. Jimmy Matlock, Rep. Joe McCord, Rep. Mark Maddox, Rep. Gerald McCormick, Rep. Steve McDaniel, Rep. Michael McDonald, Rep. Steve McManus, Rep. Larry Miller, Rep. Richard Montgomery, Rep. Gary Moore, Rep. Jason Mumpower, Speaker Jimmy Naifeh, Rep. Frank Niceley, Rep. Gary Odom, Rep. Doug Overbey, Rep. Phillip Pinion, Rep. Joe Pitts, Rep. Mary Pruitt, Rep. Jeanne Richardson, Rep. Randy Rinks, Rep. Dennis Roach, Rep. Donna Rowland, Rep. Charles Sargent, Rep. Johnny Shaw, Rep. David Shepard, Rep. Janis Sontany, Rep. Park Strader, Rep. Eric Swafford, Rep. John Tidwell, Rep. Harry Tindell, Rep. Curry Todd, Rep. Joe Towns, Rep. Larry Turner, Rep. Mike Turner, Rep. Nathan Vaughn, Rep. Eric Watson, Rep. Ben West, Rep. Kent Williams, Rep. John Windle, Rep. Leslie Winningham, Rep. Eddie Yokley
All Senators: Sen. Mae Beavers, Sen. Diane Black, Sen. Dewayne Bunch, Sen.Tim Burchett, Sen. Charlotte Burks, Sen. Rusty Crow, Sen. Lowe Finney, Sen. Raymond Finney, Sen. Douglas Henry, Sen. Doug Jackson, Sen. Jack Johnson, Sen. Bill Ketron, Sen. Tommy Kilby, Sen. Randy McNally, Sen. Mark Norris, Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, Sen. Steve Southerland, Sen. Paul Stanley, Sen. Jim Tracy, Sen. Bo Watson, Sen. John Wilder, Sen. Micheal Williams, Sen. Jamie Woodson, Sen. Andy Berke, Sen. Thelma Harper, Sen. Joe Haynes, Sen. Roy Herron, Sen. Rosalind Kurita, Sen. Jim Kyle, Sen. Beverly Marrero, Sen. Steve Roller, Sen. Reginald Tate,Sen. Ophelia Ford
Senate Calendar Committee: Senator Raymond Finney, Senator Mark Norris, and Senator Jim Kyle
House Calendar and Rules: Larry Miller, John Hood, Nathan Vaughn, Joe Armstrong, Stratton Bone, Rob Briley, Tommie F. Brown, Frank Buck, Glen Casada, Charles Curtiss, Lois Deberry, John J. DeBerry Jr., Craig Fitzhugh, Ulysses Jones, Jr., Mike Kernell, Mark Maddox, Steve McDaniel, Michael McDonald, Jason Mumpower, Jimmy Naifeh, Gary Odom, Doug Overbey, Phillip Pinion, Randy Rinks, and Les Winningham
Read More:
Tennessee Catholic Public Policy Commission Position Paper on Immigration Reform
Don't forget Catholic Day on the Hill Registration has been extended until March 21, 2008!
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As the 105th General Assembly's Legislative Session is drawing towards a close, we have some successes to share with you and a few action alerts. Many predict that session will end by May 15 or 16. Once session is closed and Legislators go home, all legislation not passed this year will have to be reintroduced next year in the 106th General Assembly. That means that we really need your help to share our support for the passage of the bills in this legislative update.
In this Legislative Update:
• Action Alert and Update: Study Committee on the Death Penalty
• Action Alert and Update: The Long Term Care Bill
• Action Alert and Update: The Racial Profiling Prevention Act
• Article on SJR127
Action Alert and Update:
HB 2733 Death Penalty Study Committee
House Finance, Ways & Means Budget Subcommittee
Wednesday May 7th, 2008
This was a Catholic Day on the Hill Focus issue.
This bill has PASSED in the Senate!
Study committee on administration of the death penalty. Extends the date for the special committee to study the administration of the death penalty to report its findings to the governor and general assembly to October 1, 2009 from one year from the date of its members' appointments.
Share your support by sending an email to the members by clicking their names:
Chair Tindell, L. DeBerry, Fitzhugh, Armstrong, Harrison, McDaniel, Odom, Overbey, Rinks, Roach, Shaw
Action Alert and Update:
Long Term Care
We made a difference!
One of our focus issues for Catholic Day on the Hill was the Long Term Care bill that passed the Senate last Thursday! But it still is moving in the House. Please take a minute to help this bill along its way!
House Finance, Ways & Means Budget Subcommittee
Wednesday May 7th, 2008
Email the members by clicking their names:
Chair Tindell, L. DeBerry, Fitzhugh, Armstrong, Harrison, McDaniel, Odom, Overbey, Rinks, Roach, Shaw
Action Alert and Update:
Racial Profiling Prevention Act
Senate Floor
Wednesday, May 7th, 2008
This was another one of our Catholic Day on the Hill Focus Issues!
This bill has PASSED in the House!
Don't know who your Senator is? Click Here
So, what actually happened?
SJR127 spurred Parliamentary Chaos-adapted from the Tennessee Journal
Backers of a constitutional amendment to neutralize a 2000 state Supreme Court ruling on abortion long have had a majority of the 99 member House on their side. But they lacked the 66 votes needed to pull the measure form the subcommittee system that blocked it. Thursday, Rep. Bill Dunn from Knoxville tried a parliamentary trick aimed at getting the measure before the House with a simple majority vote. He sought to amend a routine rules suspension on another matter by Majority Leader Gary Odom from Nashville.
Speaker Naifeh from Covington ruled Dunn out of order. And indeed, after being shown the pertinent rule later, Dunn conceded that such motions aren't subject to amendment. But before that Dunn challenged Naifeh's ruling. Naifeh stepped down to let Speaker Pro Tem Lois DeBerry from Memphis preside. And for the first time in 18 years as speaker, Naifeh lost a challenge to the ruling of the chair, with 46 members voting to sustain it, 47 to overturn it. After a 15 minute recess Dunn's motion to amend prevailed 51-43. Ultimately, he still needed 66 votes to suspend the rules. He got 55.
The fuss was over SJR127, a Senate passed resolution to amed the constitution to undo the courts decision that found greater abortion rights protections implicit in the state's constitution than the nation's.
On Feb. 29, in response to a question from Sen. Diane Black from Gallatin, state Attorney General Cooper opined that if the TN legislature enacted the same ban on partial birth abortion that Congress has passed and federal courts have upheld, it would be "constitutionally suspect." That's because the 2000 state ruling requires a strict scrutiny standard. Last week, in response to a question from Rep. Phillip Pinion from Union City, Cooper opined that federal law on partial birth abortion applies in Tennessee.
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In this issue:
1. SJR127 Consitutional Amendment regarding Abortion Fails
2. Death Penalty Update
3. Catholic Day on the Hill reminder
SJR127: Constitutional Amendment regarding Abortion Fails in  Subcommittee
The proposed consitutional amendment that could have allowed new limits on abortions failed tuesday in the House Public Health and Family Assistance Subcommittee. This is the fourth time this type of proposal has been defeated in the legislature. The subcommittee voted 6-3.
See What Happened:
You can watch the House Public Health and Family Assistance subcommittee archived video to see the discussion and debate that took place on Tuesday. Once there choose 2/26/08 Public Health from the subcommittee menu. It will download the video that you can watch from your computer.
Newspaper Articles:
Nashville City Paper: "House panel kills anti-abortion amendment" (by John Rodgers, published online 2/26/08)
Knoxville News Sentinel: "House Dems kill proposed abortion amendment" (by Tom Humphrey, published 2/27/08 State and Regional New Section)
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