Leatherwood’s nonpartisan election bill fails
State Rep. Tom Leatherwood of Arlington called his proposal to make local election nonpartisan in Shelby and Davidson counties a "good government" bill, but it died in a House subcommittee Wednesday.
Sam Stockard
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 :
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February 2019
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State Government -
State Government Shelby lawmakers take opposite sides on fetal heartbeat bill
Legislation prohibiting abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected passed a key committee Tuesday, but Shelby County lawmakers on the panel are split on the bill.
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City of Memphis Tennessee Court of Appeals hears Memphis monuments case
The city of Memphis and Memphis Greenspace Inc. locked horns with the Sons of Confederate Veterans again Tuesday , this time before the Tennessee Court of Appeals in their dispute over the removal of Confederate statues from former city parks.
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State Government Lamar leading the fight against passage of fetal heartbeat bill
State Rep. London Lamar, a Memphis Democrat, argues abortion restriction is "unconstitutional and inhuman" and would cost state taxpayers in litigation fees.
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State Government Kyle, Hardaway want schools to provide feminine hygiene products to girls
State Sen. Sara Kyle and state Rep. G.A. Hardaway, both Memphis Democrats, contend free hygiene items are necessary in schools to ensure girls come to class each day.
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State Government Vaughan working on funding for more medical residencies in rural areas
State Rep. Kevin Vaughan, a Collierville Republican, hopes for $5 million to create 40 to 50 medical residencies in Tennessee's economically distressed areas.
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State Government Rep. Vaughan backs Republican CARE plan for ‘patient-centered’ approach
State Rep. Kevin Vaughan, a Collierville Republican, and other GOP lawmakers say legislation would give patients more information about treatment and medical procedure costs to lower health-care expenses.
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State Government Forrest bust protesters clash with House speaker
African-American students want a bust of Nathan Bedford Forrest removed from State Capitol, spurring a debate on the legacy of the Confederate general whose statue also created controversy in Memphis.
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State Government House panel approves police oversight bill despite Memphis lawmakers’ opposition
The House Criminal Justice Subcommittee passed legislation this week stripping the subpoena power of police oversight committees, sidestepping opposition from Memphis legislators.
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State Government Lee proposes $40 million school safety plan
Gov. Bill Lee is proposing a $40 million investment in school safety to protect teachers and students and avert violence, mainly through funding for school resource officers.
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State Government Memphis lawmakers demand end to shackling pregnant women
Legislation sponsored by Sen. Raumesh Akbari and Rep. Karen Camper, both Memphis Democrats, would end the practice of chaining pregnant women and require prenatal, postpartum care.
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State Government Lamar’s child sex trafficking bill dead for the year
House Criminal Justice Subcommittee sends measure dealing with violence acts to summer study.
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State Government Kyle bows out of U.S. Senate talk
State Sen. Sara Kyle of Memphis says she will concentrate on another term in the General Assembly in 2020 rather than seeking the U.S. Senate.
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State Government Governor proposing repeal of ‘gym tax’
The proposed elimination of the so-called "gym tax" could reduce state revenue by $10 million but save fitness clubs 10 percent on fees.
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State Government Parkinson code of conduct bill ekes through House subcommittee
Democratic Rep. Antonio Parkinson's bill requiring school boards to set rules governing visitors' actions and dress while on campuses narrowly escaped defeat in a House subcommittee Tuesday.
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State Government Public records harassment bill likely to be amended to back online transparency
Open records advocates want to make sure records custodians can't take court action against people simply to keep them from getting information in Memphis and elsewhere around the state.
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State Government Suspended license payments bill spurs Miller’s legislation
Legislation enabling people to schedule payments for fines and fees on suspended licenses pushed Rep. Larry Miller of Memphis to move forward with a bill of his own.
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State Government Lawmakers aware of fraud in states with vouchers, education savings accounts
The potential for fraud has some Tennessee legislators, including Memphis Rep. Mark White and Memphis Sen. Raumesh Akbari, cautious about broader school choice options.
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State Government Diverse coalition backs easier restoration of felon voting rights
An ex-convict invited by President Trump to the State of the Union address is helping lead efforts to streamline the voter restoration process for people who "pay their debt to society."
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State Government Camper delivers Medicaid expansion message to governor
House Minority Leader calls for governor to retain authority to negotiate waiver with federal government without legislative approval.
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State Government Republicans try to get ahead of Roe v. Wade reversal
Republican state lawmakers are hoping to pass a law banning abortion in the state if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade.
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State Government Registry of Election Finance wants explanation from Towns, Hardaway
State Rep. Joe Towns of Memphis failed to file a third-quarter report in 2018, while the pre-general report last year of state Rep. G.A. Hardaway’s, also of Memphis, lacked sufficient information, official says.
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State Government Memphis lawmakers hope to pull down state, federal money for immigration enforcement
House Minority Leader Karen Camper and Senate Minority Chairman Raumesh Akbari say local governments need financial help housing undocumented immigrants following the enactment of the state's sanctuary cities law.
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State Government Hefty price tag sidelines Miller’s driver’s license bill
A bill by Memphis legislator Larry Miller would mesh with a federal court ruling and stop Tennessee from suspending driver’s licenses based on a person’s inability to pay fines and fees.
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State Government Memphis Democrats call Medicaid expansion a ‘moral’ decision
Democratic House members, including state Rep. Lamar London of Memphis, call Republican proposals on healthcare an empty message and urge immediate vote to expand Medicaid to serve 290,000 uninsured Tennesseans.
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