The House today gave final legislative approval to a proposed amendment to the state constitution that declares Tennessee citizens have a right to hunt and fish, “subject to reasonable regulations.”

The House vote was on SJR30 was 90-1, considerably above the two-thirds majority required for final legislative approval of a constitutional amendment resolution. It had cleared [...]

From the AP:
On the campaign trail and in television ads, Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Haslam boasts of his role in creating 11,000 jobs as an executive with family-owned Pilot Corp.

Yet a count by The Associated Press shows that nearly half that many jobs were added to the Knoxville-based company’s payroll through mergers and acquisitions of [...]

By AP’s :Lucas Johnson
TennCare officials said Thursday that they will be able to use a federal refund of $121 million to postpone some cuts to the state’s expanded Medicaid program for a year.

Last month, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said the state can keep some of the reimbursements it makes to the federal [...]

A state Republican Party press release:
Bradley County Attorney Joseph K. Byrd cleared the air today regarding misleading attacks made against Republican State Rep. Eric Watson and his re-election campaign. In a desperate attempt to try and hinder a Republican’s re-election bid, Democrats cited a recent opinion by the State Attorney General that further research would [...]

Part of a Haslam campaign press release:
KNOXVILLE – More than 200 business leaders from across Tennessee joined together today to endorse Republican gubernatorial candidate and Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam because they believe he has the proven executive experience and conservative fiscal leadership needed at this critical time.

“Bill Haslam is the only candidate in this [...]

A news release from Andrea Conte’s Office:
NASHVILLE – First Lady Andrea Conte visited several East Tennessee Child Advocacy Centers this week to increase awareness about the issue of child abuse and build support for the work of Child Advocacy Centers to help children who are victims of sexual and severe physical abuse.

First Lady Conte [...]

State Rep. Bill Dunn’s attempt to “clarify” the duties of county election administrators is being criticized as a move to politicize the position and make it easier to fire administrators who were hired by Democrat-controlled election commissions.

The Knoxville Republican’s bill (HB3056), scheduled for a House floor vote on Monday evening, may also impact a pending [...]

From AP:
A bill that would allow businesses to require their employees to speak English at work is headed for a full House vote.

The House Consumer and Employee Affairs Committee advanced the bill sponsored by Republican Rep. Matthew Hill of Jonesborough (HB2685) —on a voice vote on Wednesday.

Hill said the bill would allow the English requirement [...]

From AP:
The state Senate has unanimously confirmed appointments to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Nominating Commission.

Tennessee Supreme Court Justice William Koch and Circuit Court Judge John D. Wootten, Jr. were nominated by Republican Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey of Blountville earlier this year.

The commission is responsible for recommending to the governor the top applicants to lead [...]

From AP:
Let the record reflect that the Tennessee state Senate has endorsed fish tanks and live birds in barber shops.

The Senate on Wednesday voted 30-1 for a measure (SB2843) allowing Tennessee barber shops to display live fish and birds. A companion bill passed the House 95-1 earlier this month and the legislation is now headed [...]