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Issues

Keeping Taxes Low

  • Firmly and unshakably against a state income tax
  • Voted to stop Governor's bunker three times
  • Fought & voted against breaking the Copeland Cap
  • Opposed stream-lined sales tax
  • Reduced sales tax on food
  • Created sales tax holiday
  • Defeated FONCE changes
  • Amended law to ensure a gas tax holiday
  • Restored state shared taxes to local government
  • Restored 10 million dollars to TDOT

Healthcare Initiatives

  • Reformed TennCare
  • Created TennCare Inspector General
  • Long term care for seniors
  • Allow small businesses to buy health insurance
  • through association pools
  • Reestablished high risk pool
  • Annual report on nursing home regulations
  • compliance
  • Health savings accounts
  • Hospitals must report infections

Government / Business Regulations

  • Regulatory flexibility act
  • Cable Choice Bill
  • Medical Malpractice reform
  • Open Government Act
  • Eminent domain reform
  • Worker's compensation reform
  • State must notify license holders when law changes
  • Occupational License renewal every two years
  • Small businesses may form groups to secure a
  • better rate on health insurance
  • Metal theft bill to reduce costly theft
  • Improved Lien Law
  • Improved Retainage Law
  • Commuter rail tort reform

New Crime Laws

  • Tougher identity theft laws
  • Jessica's Law - Tougher sex offender laws
  • Tougher Meth laws
  • Lowered blood alcohol level to .08
  • Require ignition interlock device
  • Sex offenders may not live within 1000 feet of a
  • school, daycare, or victim

Fighting Illegal Immigration in our state

  • Banned use Matricula Consular Cards
  • Penalty for state contractors that employ or
  • subcontract with illegal immigrants
  • Took drivers licenses away from illegals
  • Took driving certificates away from illegals
  • Established 287 G Program for State Troopers
  • Banned use of ITIN numbers
  • Making employers use Basic Pilot Program to
  • identify illegal workers
  • Created the offense of Trafficing of illegal aliens

Improvements to Education

  • Courts must notify Principals of more crimes of
  • youthful offenders - Gun - Sex - Drug
  • Reformulated BEP
  • Improved state test standards
  • Renewed charter schools
  • Passed virtual school legislation
  • Directed lottery funds to local schools
  • Capitol projects for higher education
  • Alternative teacher licensure legislation
  • Financial Literacy for Tennessee high schools

Family Values

  • Constitutional Amendment defining Marriage
  • Elderly property tax freeze Amendment
  • SJR 127
  • Prohibit state tax dollars for abortions
  • Redirect money from Planned Parenthood
  • Elderly Tax Relief
  • Faith based initiatives anti-discrimination laws for
  • state and local agencies
  • Recognition of God and religious freedom resolution
  • Passed Bible curriculum

More Secure Elections

  • Passed paper trail bill
  • Scanned signatures present at polls
  • Check with other states for duplicate voters
  • Restricting Social Security Numbers on voter reg
  • card
  • Sunset Judicial Selection Commission
  • Requires the purging of dead voters every 30 days

2nd amendment rights

  • Castle doctrine for home, car and business
  • Created Reciprocity with other states
  • Local governments may open ranges to the public
  • Defeated ammunition serial number bill

Comprehensive Ethics Reform

  • Conflict of interest reports for state and local elected
  • officials
  • Registry of Election Finance on-line
  • Established state Ethics Commission
  • Limit on cash contributions
  • On-line campaign finance reports
  • On-line disclosures
  • Ethics rules for local governments
  • Audit process for legislator and lobbyist disclosures
  • Posting of committee and subcommittee votes on
  • line
  • Travel and per diem for Governor, cabinet
  • members, Constitutional officers & Legislators
  • posted on-line
  • Increased filing of campaign disclosures
  • Candidates must disclose employer and occupation
  • of contributors
  • No campaign contributions from lobbyists
  • No corporate contributions
  • Honorarium prohibition

Improving State Roads

  • Move over law to protect our troopers
  • Resolution asking Congress to refrain from imposing
  • earmarks, mandates and binding regulations
  • Restored 10 million dollars to TDOT
  • Amended law to ensure a gas tax holiday
  • Vietnam Veterans  Hwy 386 Completion
  • Named Korean Veterans Memorial Bridge
  • Named Lance Copr. Tyler Overstreet Bridge