Tag Archives | Tennessee Sovereignty

Tennessee State House and Senate Working To Stop Indefinite Detention

By on March 11, 2013 in Constitution, Liberty, Nullification, Sovereignty Movement, State Sovereignty

Two bills have been introduced in the Tennessee legislature to stop the indefinite detention provisions of the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act from being complied with by local and state law enforcement officials.

House Bill 1059 and Senate Bill 1290 were introduced on Feb. 11 and Feb. 14, respectively. They were referred to the State Government Committee and Senate Judiciary Committee where they currently await further action. HB 1059 was sponsored by Rep. Rogers (R-Goodlettsville) with seven more House members adding their support. SB 1290 was sponsored by Sen. Summerville (R-Dickson).

HB 1059 says, “Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no agency of this state, political subdivision acting in his or her official capacity, member of the Tennessee National Guard on official state duty or member of the Tennessee state guard and civil air patrol shall aid an agency of the armed forces in any investigation, prosecution or detention of any United States citizen pursuant to section 1021 of the national defense authorization act of fiscal year 2012.” The Senate Bill contains the same text.

Although these bills do not interpose any criminal penalties for feds who try to kidnap Americans without proper legal protections, they do get the incredibly important idea of non-compliance to federal laws out there to Tennesseans. These bills are a firm stand against the dangerous idea promulgated all too often that the states wield nothing more than vestigial power and are meant to acquiesce to whatever their federal masters dictate to them, no matter how obviously unjust it is.

Sadly, there are still many voices of the soon-to-be obsolete political establishment spewing the same old tired nonsense in opposition. A great example of this is Tennessee State House Democratic Caucus Chairman Mike Turner. He said to the Knoxville News Sentinel that “[Republicans and Democrats] need to show some courage to put these extremists in line. … There are extremists in both political parties. A lot of their extremists got elected to the Legislature. Our extremists didn’t get elected to the Legislature.” Continue Reading →

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Ron Ramsey on the 10th Amendment

By on August 4, 2010 in State Sovereignty

Ron Ramsey for Tennessee Governor 2010 – Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey speaks of his commitment to support the 10th Amendment.

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TN-TAC on WIVK’s Sound Off

By on July 29, 2010 in Media

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Lesley Swann, State Coordinator for the Tennessee Tenth Amendment Center, was the featured guest on Knoxville’s WIVK “Sound Off” radio show on July 4. Host Josh Blanchard and Lesley discussed the Tea Party movement and the Tenth Amendment during the show.

cross-posted from the Tennessee Tenth Amendment Center

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Nullify Now! Tour Coming to Chattanooga

By on July 6, 2010 in Activism, Nullification

The Tenth Amendment Center will be bringing its Nullify Now! Tour to Chattanooga on Saturday, October 23. Nullify Now! will feature a variety of speakers on nullification, the Constitution, and the Tenth Amendment including: Michael Boldin, Founder of the Tenth Amendment Center and Jack Hunter, Radio Host and Political Commentator. More speakers will be announced in the near future.

Tickets go on sale Monday, June 28 and are priced at $17.98 for general admission and $75 for VIP seating in the front rows. For more information about the event and to purchase tickets online go to http://www.nullifynow.com/chattanooga/.

The Tenth Amendment Center is also looking for groups to help sponsor the event. A variety of sponsorship options are available, including opportunities for table space and to speak at the event to promote your group. The packages are listed listed and can be purchased at http://www.showclix.com/event/11316/.

cross-posted from the Tennessee Tenth Amendment Center

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TN Health Care Freedom Act Resurrected

By on June 7, 2010 in Sovereignty Movement, State Sovereignty

In a ninth inning push to protect Tennesseans from the penalty provisions of Obamacare, the state Senate made an unprecedented move to recall from committee SB2560, the companion bill to Rep. Susan Lynn’s Health Care Freedom Act (HB2622).  If passed, HB2622 will write into law a policy statement for all Tennesseans that health care mandates or penalties for defying such mandates may not be carried out in the state of Tennessee.  The bill is model legislation written by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) in response to the passage of the federal health care mandate.

Two other Health Care Freedom Acts that would have protected Tennesseans from the penalty provisions of the new federal health care mandate were defeated in the Budget Subcommittee of the House Finance, Ways & Means committee last week.  One was an amendment to the state constitution (HJR745 by Rep. Susan Lynn) and the second was a bill that had already passed the Senate (HB3433/SB3498 by Rep. Mike Bell and Sen. Mae Beavers).

After last week, Rep. Lynn’s HB2622 is the only Health Care Freedom bill left standing, having successfully maneuvered its way through the House committees to the House floor, but Sen. Diane Black had not run the companion bill in the Senate.  Because the Senate committees were already closed for this session, SB2560 had to be recalled from committee to the Senate floor.  The bill was originally scheduled for a vote in the Senate on Saturday, but due to the absence of Sen. Black, the bill was rolled to a later date.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE AND TAKE ACTION TODAY

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TN Action Items: Update for the Week of May 10

By on May 10, 2010 in Activism, Sovereignty Movement

Last week, the legislation working its way through the Tennessee General Assembly and Governor’s office took a back seat to the disastrous flooding that occurred in Nashville and Middle Tennessee.  If you would like to help your fellow Tennesseans as they work to get back on their feet, WKRN in Nashville has compiled a list of charities that are actively working to help those affected by the floods.

Please contact the Governor’s office and the House committee members in support of the bills below.  Remember to be firm, but courteous when communicating with the Governor and the committee members.

Waiting for Governor’s Action

HB3300
As introduced, specifies three reasons why a foreign judgment would not be conclusive, and further states that a foreign defamation judgment shall not be recognized if the defamation law of the foreign court adjudicating the case provided less protection for freedom of speech and press than the United States and Tennessee constitutions.
Waiting for Governor’s Action

SB2391
As introduced, removes the authority of the governor to commandeer or limit the sale or transportation of firearms, ammunition, or firearm or ammunition components during a state of emergency, major disaster, or natural disaster.
Waiting for Governor’s Action

Governor Phil Bredesen: (615) 741-2001, Phil.Bredesen@tn.gov

Wednesday, May 12

HJR0722 by Lynn
Proposes a constitutional amendment to establishes a free enterprise system of government in Tennessee.
Budget Subcommittee of House Finance, Ways & Means – May 12

HJR745 by Lynn
After passing the Industrial Impact Subcommittee and the Commerce Committee, this legislation was diverted to the Budget Subcommittee of the House Finance, Ways and Means Committee.  This means that opponents of the bill have at least three more chances to kill it in committee before it gets to the House floor.  As introduced, HJR745 proposes an amendment to the Tennessee Constitution that would prohibit “laws or rules that would compel any person, employer, or health care provider to participate in any health care system.”
Budget Subcommittee of the House Finance, Ways & Means Committee – May 12

Thursday, May 13

HB2622 by Lynn
This bill barely survived consideration by the Calendar & Rules Committee on May 6 and was deferred until next week (View video of the May 6 proceedings here).  The Democrat members yet again attempted to block this legislation just as previous health care legislation that went before this subcommittee (HB3433 and HJR745).  Reps. Gary Odom and Jimmy Naifeh have been active in leading the resistance to these bills in the committees they have passed through thus far.   It is critical that we contact legislators on this committee in support of this bill.  HB2622, as introduced, “prohibits the legislature from requiring any person to participate in any health care system or plan.”
House Calendar & Rules Committee – May 13

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE

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Pushing Back the Monster of Federal Government

By on April 20, 2010 in Sovereignty Movement, State Sovereignty

Rep. Susan Lynn addressed the assembled crowd at Legislative Plaza for the Tax Day rally in Nashville on April 15. She spoke on the progress of sovereignty legislation moving through the Tennessee General Assembly and what we as Tennesseans can do to help.

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Tennessee Lt. Governor’s Ad Affirms Tenth Amendment Stance

By on April 19, 2010 in Elections, State Sovereignty

In his first TV ad for the Tennessee gubernatorial race, Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey let’s the feds know he is not afraid to “give them the boot.”

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Legislative Update for the Week of April 12

By on April 13, 2010 in Activism, State Sovereignty

In addition to the health care and free enterprise legislation going before the House Commerce Committee on Tuesday, there are several other important bills that need our support this week.

The issuance of a state attorney general opinion that leaves out the most important part of the Constitution’s supremacy clause and then proceeds to completely misconstrue the remainder has rightfully prompted a backlash among our state legislators in Nashville (read the Attorney General’s opinion here and the Tenth Amendment Center’s official response here). On Monday, two resolutions will go before the full Senate to deal with Attorney General Cooper’s refusal to join other states in a lawsuit against the federal government’s overreaching health care legislation. The first, SJR897, is a resolution to urge the attorney general to join the lawsuit being championed by other states against ObamaCare.

The second resolution would amend the Tennessee Constitution to provide for the popular election of the attorney general. Currently the attorney general is appointed by the Tennessee Supreme Court, whose members are in turn appointed by the governor. This leaves the citizens of Tennessee with neither a direct or indirect voice in the selection of the state’s attorney general. SJR698 would correct this problem.

The first of the health care bills for which we have been advocating will go before the full house on Monday as well. HJR704 is a resolution that expresses the state of Tennessee’s protest at the passage of the new federal health care legislation.

Additional legislation includes bills regarding foreign defamation judgments, restricting the governor’s authority to confiscate firearms and related items, cap and trade, and two bills that would increase private health insurance opportunities for Tennesseans.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE

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Tennessee Boasts 13 Signers of the 10-4 Pledge

By on April 7, 2010 in Elections

The Great State of Tennessee now boasts 13 signers of the Tenth Amendment Center’s 10-4 Pledge. By signing the 10-4 Pledge each candidate commits to uphold the U.S. Constitution and specifically the Tenth Amendment every decision, every time, no excuses. To read the pledge, visit http://pledge.tenthamendmentcenter.com.

Not all signed pledges have been posted on the site yet, but check back in the future to see the signed pledges from these candidates and elected officials.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THIS POST

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