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Paid for by Friends of John Ray Clemmons, Sydney U. Rogers, Treasurer

I apologize for the tardy newsletter. Needless to say, the last few weeks have kept us all busy on multiple fronts. We are all stretched thin these days, both physically and emotionally ([link removed]). Please take care of yourself and never hesitate to reach out ([link removed]) if you feel overwhelmed. Together, as a community, we will get through this.

 

TORNADO

 

Many of us are truly fortunate to have escaped serious harm and damage to our property two weeks ago, while so many others across our community had their lives turned upside down and face weeks or months of challenges ahead. Like all of you, I witnessed the physical devastation in our neighborhoods and the emotional impact on residents firsthand while working with countless strangers and friends of every walk of life. Once again, the people of Nashville and Tennesseans stepped up and made a difference. Most of the people with whom I worked were never asked to donate or grab a chainsaw. They just woke up, saw people in need, grabbed their tools and went to work – no questions asked, no thanks necessary. It’s hard not to be sentimental about our city – a community full of people who truly care about their neighbors.

 

COVID-19

 

Now, we find ourselves in the midst of yet another challenge. Unfortunately, we also find ourselves suffering from a lack of leadership at the federal and state levels. This is precisely why it is so important to elect smart people who understand how government works, or at least demonstrate a desire to learn it. Fully understanding how the many cogs in the system interact and can be set in motion makes responding to multiple challenges possible.

 

·       How COVID-19 spreads ([link removed])

·       Create a household plan ([link removed])

·       Tips to keep your workplace, school and home safe ([link removed])

·       Metro Info ([link removed])

 

At the state level, there are several things that we can and should be doing. The list is long, but I will touch on only a few things here, in no particular order.

 

For starters, government leaders must communicate honestly and transparently with Tennesseans. In a time of such instability, it is more important than ever for people to know that someone is in charge, that there is a plan, and how and why it is being executed. For example, Governor Bill Lee has remained mostly out-of-sight, but when he surfaced to announce a state of emergency ([link removed]) last week he stated that, “the risk to the general public remains low.” Experts and data say this is false. Then, the Department of Health ([link removed]) irresponsibly decided to restrict case confirmation to regions before finally reversing course ([link removed]). Meanwhile, the Department continues to downplay the spread of COVID-19 by posting updates of “confirmed cases” when experts agree there are many more unconfirmed cases that have not been tested. We, as leaders, must be measured in our statements and not create false alarm, but we must also fairly and accurately represent facts and the gravity of any given situation.

 

Second, we should all be playing from the same playbook. This is not the time for partisanship. When I called for a temporary adjournment of the legislature ([link removed]) last Wednesday morning, I hoped for a thoughtful discussion about the merits of such a decision. I did my homework, researched the data, and consulted with medical experts before I sent the letter to be sure it was an appropriate request. My letter was met with claims of a hoax, a media conspiracy, and confrontational conversations with colleagues (from both sides of the aisle) but no formal response. Now, the plan is to continue legislative business while closing the legislature to anyone other than members and essential staff. There is also reportedly a discussion about the introduction of an emergency budget. These plans pose threats to the First Amendment as well as sound public policy. Also, none of the decisions being made, budgetary or otherwise, have included any input from minority leadership. My Democratic colleagues and I are only being told about decisions after the fact, as if we have nothing to add or constituent concerns to address. This is not how government should work.

 

As we have argued for years, the legislature should immediately authorize the governor to negotiate with the federal government to expand Medicaid ([link removed]) for those in the coverage gap ([link removed]). When our governor finally declared a state of emergency last week, he discussed increased funding for the primary care safety net ([link removed]), a system designed to provide health services to uninsured adults age 19-64. Without Medicaid expansion, this emergency investment in the safety net is even more necessary, but I fear it will be insufficient. The millions that we must now invest in the safety net are necessary is the direct result of consistently decreased funding for the program since FY2015-16 and refusing to expand Medicaid.  We have turned away billions ([link removed]) of our own tax dollars that should have already been invested to provide health care coverage to most of the safety net population. So when/if we increase funding to the safety net, Tennessee taxpayers will have essentially paid twice for the same coverage, and our tax dollars will continue to subsidize other states’ Medicaid programs. There is nothing fiscally conservative or responsible about this.

 

Next, the relevant state departments should be coordinating the various primary care safety net providers. Federally qualified health centers, community- and faith-based clinics, and local health departments carry the load in our safety net system. All of these providers, as well hospitals, require centralized coordination to ensure that their respective burdens are distributed equally according to capacity and that each has the equipment and tests necessary to carry out their respective roles. To the extent this is happening at all, it is the result of local leadership and providers in each county.  

 

Additionally, our governor should be holding daily cabinet meetings. If interdepartmental work is happening, there are no signs of it. The Coronavirus pandemic touches every sector of our state and everyone must be rowing in the same direction in a coordinated manner. Each entity appears to be operating on an island with little to no coordination with the others. Given the interdepartmental overlap of targeted populations, this is problematic.

 

We are fortunate to have some smart people in Metro government trying to do the right thing. Appointing Dr. Alex Jahangir to head a task force, ([link removed]) closing schools ([link removed]), and closing bars ([link removed]) were the right calls. We, at the state, should do whatever necessary to remove any unnecessary restrictions that may be preventing Metro and other local governments from addressing this pandemic in a manner appropriate for each locality. 

 

Finally, government officials should stop fighting science and data so vehemently. I continue to be amazed at how vehemently my colleagues fight science and data simply because what it’s telling them runs does not align with their beliefs or political ideology. 

JRC LEGISLATION

 

Updates on the TeamJRC legislative package: 

 

HB1587 – “Stop the Bleed” ([link removed]) – The Tennessee House of Representatives passed this bill on March 5, 2020 by an 89-0 vote. The bill must now make its way through the State Senate.

 

HB1589 – “Tennessee Anti-Lunch Shaming Act” ([link removed]) – The House Budget Subcommittee passed my bill that seeks to protect children who have incurred a meal debt at school from being punished or stigmatized by a school or LEA. After three years, we finally got it to the full Finance Committee in the House. Then, in an effort to kill the bill, Rep. William Lamberth ([link removed]) attached a late-filed amendment onto the bill that created a $5million+ fiscal note.  Feel free to share your thoughts with him.  

 

HB2707 – Holocaust Education Act ([link removed]) – My legislation to encourage Holocaust education in grades 9-12 and utilization of materials and resources provided by the Tennessee Holocaust Commission was passed by the House Curriculum Subcommittee last week and is scheduled to be heard in the House Education Committee on March 18, 2020. 

 

HB2829 – “Tennessee Mental Health Care Network Adequacy Act” ([link removed]) – This legislation, as amended, intended to ensure that insurers maintain an adequate network of mental health care and substance abuse service providers statewide is scheduled to be heard again in the House Life and Health Insurance Subcommittee on March 18, 2020.

 

HB2346 – “Tennessee Medical Debt Protection Act” ([link removed]) – After discussing this legislation, as amended, in the House Civil Justice Subcommittee, I officially took the bill off-notice.  I did so after receiving assurances from the Tennessee Hospital Association that it will create a task force this year to evaluate ways that we can work towards reducing medical debt and reforming the medical debt collections process across the state.

 

HB2828 – Equitable Distribution of State Sales Tax Revenues ([link removed]) – This legislation, as amended, to more equitably distribute state sales tax revenues with local governments is scheduled to be heard again in the House Finance Subcommittee on March 18, 2020.

 

HB2347 – Handgun Permit Revocation ([link removed]) – This legislation, as amended, intended to allow Tennessee to prevent individuals from having handgun permits if they have had their firearm permit revoked in another state. The bill failed along a party-line vote in the House Constitutional Protections and Sentencing Subcommittee.

 

HJR826 – Cumberland Plateau Region ([link removed]) – My joint resolution to “recognize the beauty and cultural heritage of the Cumberland Plateau region” and intended to “increase public awareness, visitation, conservation, and appreciation of the Cumberland Plateau” was defeated in a House subcommittee along a party-line vote.

 

HB2862 – Absentee Voting ([link removed]) – This bill would allow any registered Tennessee voter to vote absentee for any reason and requires all absentee votes to be counted was defeated along a party-line vote.

 

STAYING IN TOUCH

 

Throughout the legislative session, I am continuing to visit as many neighborhood association meetings and other events as my legislative schedule allows. Please be sure and contact me ([link removed]) to let me know dates and times of any meetings or events.

 

 

TENNESSEE BLUE (YELLOW) BOOK

 

The 2019-2020 special edition of the Tennessee Blue Book has a yellow cover to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the ratification the 19th Amendment. If you would like to receive a copy, please contact ([link removed]) my legislative office. We have been processing requests as they are received and mailing them out within 1-2 business days. If you have requested one and not yet received it, it is on its way via USPS.

 

JOIN THE CONVERSATION

 

For real time updates and legislative alerts, be sure and follow us on Twitter @JRClemmons, Facebook @johnrayfortn, and Instagram @jrclemmons.

 





2501 Oakland Avenue | Nashville, TN 37212 US

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