How Did Your Legislator Vote 2005?

HOMOSEXUAL ADOPTION:
HB 775 - Rep. Chris Clem  (R-Lookout Mountain) In the ORIGINAL form it would prohibit adoptions by homosexual persons, and prohibits a parent from surrendering or consenting to the adoption of such person's child if such person has knowledge that a prospective adoptive parent is a homosexual was in the Domestic Relations Subcommittee on March 8, 2005. The bill was amended to just give preference to heterosexual married couples and passed 7-3

Voting YES on revised bill were Reps. Jerome Cochran (R-Elizabethton) John DeBerry (D-Memphis), Joanne Favors (D-Chattanooga), Matthew Hill (R-Jonesborough), Brian Kelsey (R-Germantown), Debra Maggart (R-Hendersonville), and Nathan Vaughn (D-Kingsport).

Voting NO: Sherri Jones (D-Nashville) and Reps. Beverly Marrero (D-Memphis) and Mike Turner (D-Nashville).

HOMOSEXUAL ADOPTION BILL:
HB 775 - Rep. Chris Clem (R-Lookout Mountain) Prohibits adoptions by homosexual persons, and prohibits a parent from surrendering or consenting to the adoption of such person's child if such person has knowledge that a prospective adoptive parent is a homosexual.  This legislation failed 9- 11 in the Children and Family Affairs Committee on March 16.

Voting YES: Glen Casada (R-College Grove), Jerome Cochran (R-Elizabethton), Jimmy Eldridge (R-Jackson), Matthew Hill (R-Jonesborough), Curtis Johnson (R-Clarksville), Brian Kelsey (R-Germantown), Debra Maggart (R-Hendersonville), Donna Rowland (R-Murfreesboro), Nathan Vaughn (D-Kingsport).

Voting NO: John DeBerry (D-Memphis), Sherry Jones (D-Nashville), Beverly Marrero (D-Memphis), Kathryn Bowers (D-Memphis), Tommie Brown (D-Chattanooga), Barbara Cooper (D-Memphis), Joanne Favors (D-Chattanooga), Mark Maddox (D-Dresden), Johnny Shaw (D-Bolivar), Mike Turner (D-Nashville), Speaker Naifeh (D-Covington).

PRO-LIFE AMDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION:
SJR 127 - Sen. David Fowler (R-Signal Mountain) Adds new provision to Article I to provide that nothing in Constitution of Tennessee secures or protects right to abortion or requires the funding of an abortion.  On Tuesday afternoon this proposal was presented to the Senate Judiciary Committee, April 5.  When the roll call was taken, SJR 127 passed 7-1-1. 

Voting YES: David Fowler (R-Signal Mountain), Jamie Hagood (R-Knoxville), Doug Jackson (D-Dixon), Tommy Kilby (D-Wartburg), Jeff Miller (R-Cleveland), Mark Norris (R-Collierville), Curtis Person (R-Germantown). 

Voting NO: Steve Cohen (D-Memphis).  Passing, not voting:  Joe Haynes (D-Goodlettsville).

PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP TO REGISTER TO VOTE:
HB 196 - Rep. Curry Todd (R-Collierville) Requires citizenship status to be proven prior to registration to vote and requires certain procedures to ensure identity and citizenship status prior to voting; requires state and local employees to verify citizenship status of applications for benefits and creates a Class A misdemeanor offense for failure to make reports of immigration violations to federal authorities. Failed 3- 5 in the Elections Subcommittee on March 30, 2005.

Voting YES: Tom DuBois (R-Columbia), Joey Hensley (R-Hohenwald), and Judd Matheny (R-Tullahoma).

Voting NO: Eddie Yokley (D-Greeneville), John Litz (D-Morristown), Lois DeBerry (D-Memphis), Ulysses Jones (D-Memphis), Edith Langster (D-Nashville).

SAME-SEX MARRIAGE AMENDMENT - SENATE: - February 28, 2005
SJR 31 - Sen. Jeff Miller (R-Cleveland) Proposes an amendment to Article XI of the Constitution of the State of Tennessee to define marriage as a contract between one man and one woman.
When the final vote was taken on SJR 31, it passed 29-3-0-1:

Republicans voting yes: Mae Beavers, Mt. Juliet, Diane Black, Hendersonville,  Jim Bryson, Franklin, Tim Burchett, Knoxville, Rusty Crowe, Johnson City, Raymond Finney, Maryville, David Fowler, Signal Mountain, Jamie Hagood, Knoxville, Bill Ketron, Murfreesboro, Randy McNally, Oak Ridge,  Jeff Miller, Cleveland, Mark Norris, Collierville, Curtis S. Person Jr., Memphis, Ron Ramsey, Blountville, Steve Southerland, Morristown, Jim Tracy, Shelbyville, Mike Williams, Maynardville.

Democrats voting yes: Charlotte Burks, Monterey, Sidney Chism, Memphis, Jerry Cooper, Smartt, Ward Crutchfield, Chattanooga, Thelma Harper, Nashville, Douglas Henry, Nashville, Roy Herron, Dresden, Doug Jackson, Dickson, Tommy Kilby, Wartburg, Rosalind Kurita, Clarksville, Don McLeary, Jackson, Lt. Gov. John Wilder, Mason.

SAME-SEX MARRIAGE AMENDMENT - HOUSE: - March 1, 2005
HJR 24 - Rep. Bill Dunn (R-Knoxville) Proposes an amendment to Article XI of the Constitution of the State of Tennessee to define marriage as a contract between one man and one woman. This Amendment was in the Finance Ways and Means Committee on Tuesday.
When the voice vote was taken it was the 29-member voted overwhelmingly for HJR 24.  It sounded like maybe three members voted NO.  Rep. Tommie Brown (D-Chattanooga) made strong statement opposing the amendment and Rep. Briley asked to be recorded as voting no.  The Amendment moves on to the Calendar and Rules Committee on March 8.

SAME- SEX MARRIAGE AMENDMENT PASSES:
SJR 31 - Rep. Bill Dunn (R-Knoxville) Proposes an amendment to Article XI of the Constitution of the State of Tennessee to define marriage as a contract between one man and one woman, was on the House floor Thursday, March 17, 2005 for the third reading and vote. It passed 88-7.  Due to space considerations, we will not list all 88 of the YES votes.

Voting NO: Joe Armstrong (D-Knoxville), Rob Briley (D-Nashville), Tommie Brown (D-Chattanooga), Beverly Marrero (D-Memphis), Janis Sontany (D-Nashville), Harry Tindell (D-Knoxville), Larry Turner (D-Memphis).

Present, NOT voting:  Henri Brooks (D-Memphis)

Not Voting: Barbara Cooper (D-Memphis)

Absent (excused): Kathryn Bowers (D-Memphis), John Mark Windle (D-Livingston)-actually he is in Iraq serving our country.