There are 67 article(s) tagged Karen Camper:

• December 2019

  • Memphis Zoo could soon sell alcohol beverages

    State Sen. Brian Kelsey and House Minority Leader Karen Camper are sponsoring legislation that would allow the zoo to sell alcoholic beverages during regular operating hours.

    By Sam Stockard December 12, 2019

• November 2019

  • Rep. Gant pushes renaming of Cordell Hull Building for Winfield Dunn

    A legislative move by Republican state Rep. Ron Gant to rename the Cordell Hull Building in Nashville for former Gov. Winfield Dunn might have to go through the state's Heritage Protection Act but is drawing little attention from key Memphis Democrats.

    By Sam Stockard November 30, 2019

  • Akbari: Legislature will have input on spending funds for needy

    State Sen. Raumesh Akbari says legislators won’t be precluded from coming up with a plan to spend some $732 million in reserve funds even though the Department of Human Services unveiled its own proposal.

    By Sam Stockard November 26, 2019

  • Camper seeks explanation on ‘earmarked’ rural grant funds

    House Minority Leader Karen Camper is delving into a rural grants fund to find out whether a list of “earmarked” projects or legislative requests exists.

    By Sam Stockard November 26, 2019

  • Government Operations chairman declines to hold hearing on $4M ‘slush fund’

    The chairman of the Legislature’s Joint Government Operations Committee is refusing to hold hearings about a $4 million rural grants pool some lawmakers are calling a “slush fund” designed to reward legislators who voted for the governor’s voucher bill.

    By Sam Stockard November 23, 2019

  • Legislators blast state commissioner over spending plan for needy

    State House members criticized Department of Human Services Commissioner Danielle Barnes this week for letting a reserve fund for needy services build up to $732 million and for putting out a plan to spend it without asking permission.

    By Sam Stockard November 22, 2019

  • Camper to query Finance & Administration commissioner about $4M in grant funds

    House Minority Leader Karen Camper will ask the Department of Finance & Administration about 50 to 60 “commitments” for rural grants to be awarded from a $4 million pool criticized as a “slush fund” to reward lawmakers for their voucher votes.

    By Sam Stockard November 21, 2019

  • TBI still investigating alleged quid pro quo on House voucher vote

    A House member confirmed Tuesday being questioned in the past two months by Tennessee Bureau of Investigation agents looking into allegations former House Speaker Glen Casada offered lawmakers favors in return for votes on the voucher bill this spring.

    By Sam Stockard November 20, 2019

  • Lawmakers look for solutions to delays in IMPROVE Act road projects

    Surprised by potential delays in IMPROVE Act road projects, lawmakers are looking for a new revenue source or help from the federal government, which must renew its own transportation funding act to help states.

    By Sam Stockard November 09, 2019

• October 2019

  • Governor appoints three Memphians to Tennessee Complete Count Committee for Census 2020

    House Minority Leader Karen Camper, Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce CEO Beverly Robertson and Rufus Smith, executive chairman of the Memphis Christian Pastors Network, will sit on a 38-member state that will work on the 2020 census.

    By Sam Stockard October 18, 2019

  • Lamar finds compromise language for human trafficking victim bill

    State Rep. London Lamar took a big step forward Monday in trying to help human trafficking victims find redemption from violent acts.

    By Sam Stockard October 15, 2019

  • Governor working on logistics for Memphis Medicaid block grant hearing

    Gov. Bill Lee confirmed Tuesday he is planning Memphis and Chattanooga public hearing dates on the state’s Medicaid block grant proposal. And he is not "not concerned about the legality" of the proposal.

    By Sam Stockard October 02, 2019

• September 2019

  • Governor mulls Camper request for Memphis block grant public hearing

    Gov. Bill Lee is considering scheduling a Memphis public hearing on his Medicaid block grant proposal at the urging of House Minority Leader Karen Camper.

    By Sam Stockard September 26, 2019

  • Camper asks governor to set Memphis hearing on Medicaid block grant plan

    Citing the large number of people likely impacted in Memphis, House Minority Leader Karen Camper is urging Gov. Bill Lee to schedule a Shelby County public hearing on the state’s Medicaid block grant proposal.

    By Sam Stockard September 24, 2019

  • Lee vows 'significant' funding increase, more services in TennCare block grant

    Governor promises a better TennCare program will add services or people, but House Minority Leader Camper believes conventional Medicaid expansion is the right way to go.

    By Sam Stockard September 09, 2019

  • Governor urges 'following law' amid ICE raids, shooting in Nashville

    Gov. Bill Lee said Friday he believes the state must follow the law and try to avert tension in immigrant communities, even as Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers conduct roundups and hunt for people in the country illegally.

    By Sam Stockard September 07, 2019

• August 2019

  • House elects Sexton as Speaker in special session

    The House of Representatives overwhelmingly elected Republican Cameron Sexton as Speaker Friday, attempting to reverse months of upheaval caused by a racist and sexist texting scandal surrounding former Speaker Glen Casada.

    By Sam Stockard August 23, 2019

  • House Speaker nominee requests attorney general’s opinion on member expulsion

    House Speaker nominee Cameron Sexton is asking the state attorney general whether the House can oust someone for actions that took place a quarter-century before election, apparently referring to embattled state Rep. David Byrd.

    By Sam Stockard August 21, 2019

  • Camper backs resolution against neo-Nazis, white nationalists

    Nashville representative plans to renew push for resolution denouncing hate groups across Tennessee, saying the state has played too big a role in allowing them to grow.

    By Sam Stockard August 20, 2019

  • Voucher repeal effort likely won’t fly in special session

    House Minority Leader Karen Camper is holding up on efforts to push a resolution to rescind the state's new voucher law during an Aug. 23 special session.

    By Sam Stockard August 15, 2019

• July 2019

  • Legislature could consider rolling back voucher law with Sexton at helm

    Voucher legislation – the most contentious issue of the 2019 session – could make its way back to the House next year with a key opponent, state Rep. Cameron Sexton, set to take the reins as Speaker.

    By Sam Stockard July 29, 2019

  • House Democrats want inquiry into claim Casada offered promotion for voucher vote

    Rep. John Mark Windle, a Democrat who was promoted to full colonel in the Tennessee Guard this year, voted against the voucher bill legislation. Windle said he sought the guidance of Tennessee ethics authorities about a report that Casada had suggested Windle's voucher support could lead to a promotion to general.

    By Sam Stockard July 22, 2019

  • Governor hints at action on Forrest bust in Capitol

    Gov. Bill Lee could be laying the groundwork for action on the State Capitol bust of embattled Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest.

    By Sam Stockard July 17, 2019

  • Lee confirms state will ‘pursue’ Medicaid block grant

    After saying his office is “exploring” pursuit of a Medicaid block grant, Gov. Bill Lee this week confirmed his administration will make a proposal to the federal government.

    By Sam Stockard July 12, 2019

  • Governor eyes health care task force but still 'exploring' Medicaid block grant

    Gov. Bill Lee – set to appoint a Health Care Modernization Task Force – apparently hasn’t decided whether to seek a block grant waiver for federal Medicaid funds.

    By Sam Stockard July 08, 2019