Patsy HazlewoodHazlewood takes oath
Freshman Republican Rep. Patsy Hazlewood of Signal Mountain was officially sworn in as a member of Tennessee’s 109th General Assembly on Wednesday.
“We’re very, very proud of you and you’ll be a wonderful member of this body,” House Speaker Beth Harwell, R-Nashville, told Hazlewood after Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Jeffrey S. Bivins administered the oath.
The General Assembly convened Tuesday. But Hazlewood was unable to attend as a result of the death of her husband, Hal Hazlewood. Services were held last week.
Family members, supporters and several Hamilton County delegation members attended the swearing-in ceremony.
Hazlewood was elected in November and represents House District 27. She replaces former Rep. Richard Floyd, R-Chattanooga, who didn’t seek re-election.
Corker weighs in on upcoming issues
Speaking on Bloomberg Television last week, U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., discussed some of the major issues facing Congress in the year ahead. Among them:
* On Republican legislative priorities in the face of veto threats from President Obama: “We will follow our own course. Certainly, we are going to deal with things like energy. We have to deal with a budget. We certainly will deal with the Iran issue very fully.”
* On an authorization for the use of military force against ISIS: “The president has given the nod and plans to work with us soon on an AUMF, an authorization for the use of military force. We hope that is actually going to occur.”
* On the need for Congress to address housing finance reform: “When Dodd-Frank was being passed, every single Republican senator [complained that it didn’t include] … changes to Fannie [Mae] and Freddie [Mac]. … keeping them off as a taxpayer liability. It is the biggest issue that we need to deal with. From my standpoint, it would be total malpractice for us not to figure out a way to get this tremendous taxpayer liability dealt with and have the private sector playing the kind of role it should be playing right now in housing finance.”
Alexander responds to Obama’s sick-leave call
U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., chairman of the Senate labor committee, issued a statement after President Obama called for mandatory paid sick time:
“Americans have great freedom when it comes to work — they can choose the career they like and negotiate with their employer for the things they need, and they can one day become employers, opening businesses with few restrictions compared to the rest of the world.
“One more government mandate, however well-intentioned, will only reduce those freedoms — making it harder for employees to find jobs, negotiate for the things they need, and open and run businesses. Washington should do what it can to encourage employers to offer paid sick leave — not impose a big new mandate that will cost employers $11.4 billion over five years and make it harder for them to hire new employees.”
Graves names committee assignments
Rep. Tom Graves, R-Ga., has been named to the House Appropriations Committee’s subcommittees on Defense, Financial Services and General Government. He also is chairman of the subcommittee on the Legislative Branch.
“With eight major military installations in Georgia, it’s critical for our state to have representation on the Defense Subcommittee. And with the broad influence of the Financial Services Subcommittee, I’ll have the opportunity to help shape important funding legislation from a conservative viewpoint. Above all, I will work to ensure the Committee continues putting taxpayers first by finding savings and holding government agencies accountable for every dollar that is spent,” Graves said in a statement.
Kelsey files legislation to block ACA fees
In Nashville, Sen. Brian Kelsey, R-Germantown, and Rep. Jeremy Durham, R-Franklin, filed a bill to stop assessment of fees under what Republicans call Obamacare if the U.S. Supreme Court rules this year that such fees are legal.
The case, King v. Burwell, challenges the fees in states that relied on the federal government to set up insurance exchanges.
“This bill will stop the IRS from penalizing Tennesseans for not signing up for Obamacare,” Kelsey said in a statement. “It also prevents Tennessee from operating any Obamacare exchanges in the future.”
Oral arguments on the case are expected in March and a decision by June, after the Tennessee General Assembly has adjourned.
‘I’m being followed by the TBI!’
Sen. Bo Watson, R-Chattanooga, tweeted last week: “Not sure what to think – @TBInvestigation says they are now “following” me on Twitter. Uh…”
To which TBI spokesman Josh DeVine responded: “No worries. (I promise) We’re just trying to connect with more folks on Social Media!”
Who said that again?
It’s not entirely clear what Sen. Frank Niceley, R-Strawberry Plains, was saying about his colleagues in his Tuesday tweet:
“‘No man’s life, liberty, or property are safe while the legislature is in session.’ – Mark Twain #109thGeneralAssembly is now in sesson #TNLeg”
Calendar
Saturday: District 3 directors for the Hamilton County Democratic Party will hold an organizational meeting at 10 a.m. at headquarters, 4300 Access Road. The agenda is expanding involvement in the party at the precinct level to elect more candidates and grow voter turnout. Coffee and donuts will be served.
District 3 precincts are: DuPont, Ganns, Hixson 1, Hixson 2, Hixson 3, Lakesite, Middle Valley 1, Middle Valley 2, Northgate 1, Northgate 2, Pleasant Grove 1 and Pleasant Grove 2.
For more information, contact David Wampler at davidwmplr@gmail.com or Brenda Nunn at Nunnbre@aol.com.