Legislative Update, January 30, 2010
To email legislators, look on the left side of the page, select House or Senate, then ‘Members’.
Don’t forget that you can now watch on your computer the committee meetings and the floor sessions: http://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/livevideo/.
Phone calls can go to the Legislative Switchboard: (615) 741-3011 or to the Toll Free number 1-800-449-8366+1+ last four digits of office phone number (available at the same location).
| Success is never final. Failure is never fatal. It is Courage that counts. ~~ Winston Churchill |
He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.
2 Samuel 23:3.
On February 5, Rep. (Lt. Col.) John Mark Windle (D-Livingston) will leave to serve our country in Iraq. Please put him on your permanent prayer list. Sen. Ophelia Ford (D-Memphis) continues to be absent from the Capitol. As the regular session is now underway, please pray for wisdom, discernment and integrity as very important decisions are made during the next few months. Best wishes to Rep. Donna Rowland (R-Murfreesboro) who is engaged to Ronnie Barrett, Barrett Rifles.
“Thanks for all the work you are doing in holding our government officials accountable.”
“Thanks not only with keeping up with our governments' activities and notifying us, but thank you for making writing them quicker and easier. Keep up the good work.”
These are just a couple of the comments that have been received recently about the work of TN Eagle Forum. We appreciate the comments and every subscriber to our email network.
We have two requests: [1] would you encourage at least ONE MORE person to go HERE to Register and join our network? [2] As you might guess, all the services we provide come with a price tag. As the legislative session gets underway, we need YOUR HELP to meet our financial obligations. Would you send a check to 3216 Bluewater Trace, Nashville, TN 37217, or just go to our HOME PAGE, scroll down on the left to use PayPal to send a donation? We are very grateful for any help you can provide.
KEEPING UNION BALLOTS SECRET
HB 1916 by *Lynn ( *SB 1674 by *Johnson)
Labor - As introduced, enacts the "Secret Ballot Protection Act of 2009"
The federal Labor Management Relations Act of 1947 requires that all elections to determine whether a bargaining unit of employees will be represented by a union must be conducted by secret ballot. This bill creates a state statutory right for all employees seeking to select a bargaining representative to do so by secret ballot. This bill prohibits any waiver of the right to secret ballot elections.
STATUS: SB1674 passed the senate committee last year and is awaiting action on Senate the floor. HB1916 is on the Employee Affairs Calendar Wednesday.
ACTION ITEM: The opportunity for a secret ballot is a cornerstone of our Constitutional Republic. Please contact these committee members and urge them to vote YES to support this important right [Click on the name]: Mike McDonald, Sherry Jones and Gary Moore.
PROHIBITS IMPLANTATION OF RFID CHIPS IN HUMAN BEINGS:
HB 2059 by *Lynn ( *SB 0153 by *Ketron)
Criminal Offenses - As introduced, classifies as a Class A misdemeanor, subject to a fine only, the unauthorized implantation of an electronic identification and/or tracking device or mark placed on any human being.
This bill prohibits any person from knowingly requiring, coercing, or causing an individual to have an identification or tracking device or mark permanently incorporated into or on the body, skin, teeth, hair, or fingernails of the individual. For purposes of this bill, an "identification or tracking device or mark" is any technology capable of storing or passively or actively transmitting an individual's identity, characteristics, status, group membership, travel history, or location, or capable of storing or transmitting an identifier that could be linked with any such information.
‘Chipping and tracking’ is an invasion of privacy in all cases and there is evidence that this chips have caused cancer in animals. It could start out voluntary (which is bad enough), but move to a requirement. If you’re forced to have a chip put in you as a condition of employment, that’s taking away your civil liberties and your freedom and it is crucial to ban the technology before it gains any traction. More information go HERE and HERE.
STATUS: This important bill was on the Criminal Practice Subcommittee calendar last Tuesday, but was postponed until next week to add an amendment.
ACTION ITEM: Please contact the following legislators and URGE them to vote YES: [Click on name]: Janis Sontany, Eddie Bass, Karen Camper.
WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE BILLS SPONSORED BY
TENNESSEE EAGLE FORUM THIS YEAR:
NOTE: As these bills begin to move you will receive detailed information on each.
*HJR 0369 by *Bell
Memorials, Congress - Urges United States Senate to reject ratification of United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. For additional information, go HERE.
STATUS: You may recall that this very important Resolution passed the House 70-20-2 last year and was stalled on the Senate floor the last day of session.
Governor Bredesen’s budget proposal will call for tapping the $550-million rainy-day fund, but he won’t reveal how much he will call for using—predictions have been $100 to $300 millon. House Speaker Kent Williams thinks they may want to use more; Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey would like to see no more than one-third of the funds used. Go HERE for more information.
BILLS OF INTEREST BEING INTRODUCED:
The ‘cut-off’ date for the filing of legislation in the Senate was Thursday, January 28; the House has a few more days. For the two-year session we now have 3915 bills in the Senate and 3729 in the House.
Ethics - As introduced, enacts the"Ben Nelson Act to Ensure Political Integrity."
NOTE: You gotta love this—this bill would redefine the state’s definition of bribery to include circumstances in which elected officials agree to vote for or against legislation in exchange for special consideration for their districts.
NOTE: In case you didn’t notice this is the ACORN bill!
Education - As introduced, requires the department of education to collect data on students who cannot prove lawful residence in the United States and to issue an annual report concerning the adverse impact of public school enrollment of such students and the cost of public school education for such students.