Reporter
Sam Stockard is a Nashville-based reporter with more than 30 years of journalism experience as a writer, editor and columnist covering the state Legislature and Tennessee politics for The Daily Memphian.
There are 1058 articles by Sam Stockard :
Legislation setting up an online gambling sports network in Tennessee passed the Senate on Tuesday, potentially bringing in $50 million in wagering revenue annually, a measure that will become law without the governor's signature.
The state Senate approved a $38.6 billion budget for fiscal 2019-20 with a variety of tax cuts while adding $220 million to bolster the rainy day fund and give teachers pay increases totaling $71 million.
NASHVILLE – The Legislature adopted Gov. Bill Lee’s voucher legislation to use public dollars to send children to private schools in a hotly-contested compromise report despite doubts raised about its long-term financial implications.
NASHVILLE – State Sen. Brian Kelsey’s push to pay college athletes for performance got a boost in the General Assembly this week.
NASHVILLE – The Legislature has passed legislation allowing people to obtain a conceal-carry handgun permit without taking live-fire training.
NASHVILLE – State Sen. Brian Kelsey is touting passage of Gov. Bill Lee’s education savings account initiative, pointing out it was a long time coming.
After hours of gridlock over a TennCare block grant bill and a scuffle at the House door, the Legislature approved a compromise as the General Assembly ended its session for the year.
NASHVILLE – In its final hours, the 2019 legislative session exploded into revolt as House Speaker Glen Casada, sergeants at arms and troopers allegedly tried to block Democrats from leaving the chamber in protest, leading to a physical incident involving Rep. G.A. Hardaway and other Democrats.
Six groups, including a Memphis-based law firm, filed suit this week challenging Tennessee’s new third-party voter registration law, contending it violates “fundamental” constitutional rights with the threat of civil and criminal penalties.
NASHVILLE – Legislative leaders had to promise money for rural schools and remove Knox and Hamilton counties from Gov. Bill Lee’s education savings account bill to push it to passage in the 2019 General Assembly.
NASHVILLE – House Minority Leader Karen Camper was steaming at the end of the 2019 General Assembly session after House Speaker Glen Casada kept Democrats off a key conference committee dealing with Medicaid legislation.
Cade Cothren, the chief of staff for House Speaker Glen Casada, resigned Monday over charges that included racially derogatory language, drug use and falsifying evidence.
NASHVILLE – Tennessee Democrats and House Minority Leader Karen Camper are demanding the resignation of House Speaker Glen Casada from his leadership position.
NASHVILLE – In his first year in office, Gov. Bill Lee says he has such a good working relationship with the state Legislature he sees no need to veto any legislation, including an online sports betting bill.
Embattled House Speaker Glen Casada issues statement as Tennessee House Republican Caucus appears on the verge of taking action against him. Democrats, meanwhile, are seeking a federal investigation into surveillance and Gov. Bill Lee is calling for "higher standard."
NASHVILLE –A second lawsuit against the state of Tennessee is challenging a new law that plaintiffs say will suppress the vote after a massive 2018 voter registration drive in Shelby County.
Tennessee House Republicans are circulating a letter to hold a meeting that could decide the fate of embattled House Speaker Glen Casada, who is caught in a racist and sexist text scandal.
NASHVILLE –House Minority Leader Karen Camper is maintaining the Democratic Caucus' stance for House Speaker Glen Casada to resign while Democratic state Rep. John DeBerry of Memphis says it is "premature."
The Tennessee Black Caucus is requesting a federal investigation into House Speaker Glen Casada's Office and the Nashville DA's Office as the lieutenant governor says Casada should resign.
The FBI is looking into the possibility of illicit favors in return for votes for the governor’s education savings account bill, a situation state Rep. Jim Coley calls "troubling."
Two Shelby County Republican House members say their caucus needs to discuss solutions to the scandal swirling around House Speaker Glen Casada, but they’re not ready to call for his resignation.
Members of the House Ethics Committee are discussing an advisory report in private on the resignation of House Speaker Glen Casada’s chief of staff amid a scandal over racist and sexist text messages.
The Tennessee Black Caucus isn’t ready to accept a “painful” apology from House Speaker Glen Casada for his involvement in racist and sexist text messages.
State Rep. Jeremy Faison says embattled House Speaker Glen Casada has less than 20 votes of support from House Republicans, while Rep. Ron Gant of Haywood County is calling for a House Republican Caucus meeting on the scandal.
The Tennessee House Republican Caucus could determine the fate of embattled House Speaker Glen Casada in a Monday meeting closed to the public.