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Griffey stance conflicts with Senate leadership
July 27, 2021 – Tennessee Lookout by: Sam Stockard – Rep. Bruce Griffey says he’s not “anti-vax,” yet he is one of a growing number of legislators leery of masks and vaccination campaigns and gaining a bigger voice in the General Assembly. In fact, the Paris Republican believes only a small group of people should…
July 13, 2012 – WPLN by: Nina Cardona – After the firing of Tennessee’s top vaccine expert, Nashville Democratic Representative John Ray Clemmons is calling for an explanation from the governor and the health commissioner. He says the firing is a “slap in the face” to government employees, and worries it will make it difficult…
July 12, 2021 – Following today’s shocking announcement that Governor Bill Lee terminated Dr. Michelle D. Fiscus, the Medical Director of Tennessee’s Vaccine-Preventable Diseases and Immunization program, state Rep. John Ray Clemmons (District 55) issued the following statement: I want Governor Lee and Commissioner Piercey to explain to those I represent why they fired Dr. Fiscus. Every person in Tennessee relies…
July 12, 2021 – Tennessee Lookout by: Sam Stockard – Shrugging off the notion that the Southern border “crisis” is a political attack, Gov. Bill Lee says the nation should develop a new strategy to stop a surge in illegal crossings and activity from Mexico. After a two-day trip to review 300 Tennessee National Guard…
July 10, 2021 – WKRN by: Gerald Harris – Tennessee Democrats are calling for an audit of all COVID-19 relief spending from Governor Bill Lee and his administration. This comes days after Governor Bill Lee started a campaign to pay for tourists’ flights to four major Tennessee cities. According to the Financial Stimulus Accountability Group lead…
‘Tennessee On Me’ faces criticism as campaign begins one day after unemployment benefits end
July 6, 2021 – WKRN by: Gerald Harris – Governor Bill Lee is facing blowback after announcing he will give $250 flight vouchers for out-of-state tourists just a day after he ended the $300 in federally supported unemployment benefits early. “Come see Tennessee on me enjoy your free flight,” country music star Brad Paisley said. He teamed up…
May 13, 2021 – Tennessee Lookout by: Dulce Torres Guzman – One-third of gas stations in Tennessee were without gas on Thursday, after a ransomware attack on a major fuel pipeline prompted a temporarily shut down in operations and consumers’ engaged in a panic-driven frenzy to fill up their tanks. Colonial Pipeline resumed operations of…
‘Stress and uncertainty’ follow Gov. Lee’s decision to end federal unemployment benefits
May 12, 2021 – Tennessee Lookout by: Sam Stockard – East Nashville bartender Richie Townsend finally got his old job back after losing it during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the months he spent on unemployment were anything but fun. “It just creates a level of stress and uncertainty that makes it difficult to do your…
May 5, 2021 – The Tennessean by: Yue Stella Yu – In the dwindling hours of this year’s legislative session, Tennessee lawmakers reached consensus on a deal to overhaul the state’s unemployment benefit system. The bill, which cleared the Senate 26-7 and the House 71-19 on Wednesday afternoon, caps the maximum payout period at as low…
House, Senate approve opposing court plans to hear redistricting, constitutional challenges
May 5, 2021 – Tennessee Lookout by: Sam Stockard – Republicans say it’s necessary to move statewide legal decisions out of Davidson County. Democrats contend it is “sausage making” and “court packing” at its worst. Either way, the House voted 68-23 to create a three-member statewide appellate court – to be appointed by the governor…