Tag Archives: Ron Ramsey

Abortion-related Constitution amendment clears Senate hurdle

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SJR 127, a resolution to offer voters the chance to amend the Tennessee Constitution regarding abortion rights, was approved on Monday by the Senate in a 24-8 vote. It had previously won approval with a simple majority in both houses of the 106th General Assembly.

The measure will now move to the House, where, this time, it must also pass with a two-thirds majority in order to be put before voters in the 2014 election. (Why not 2012? Keep reading.)

Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, who as Speaker presided over the vote, praised today’s action in a statement:

For years liberal Democratic parliamentary maneuvering has thwarted passage of this resolution which has enjoyed strong support from majorities both inside and outside the legislature. I am proud to be a part of the pro-life Republican majority that will finally bring an end to judicial activist usurpation and put this measure to a vote of the people.

Democrat Betsy Phillips wasn’t so sure about the amendment’s legal footing. On her Twitter page, she noted that “by passing this amendment, we’ve brought the state constitution into conflict with itself, I think.” Phillips clarified this thought with a reference to Planned Parenthood v. Sundquist, in which the Tennessee Supreme Court decided that the Constitution’s right to privacy includes a woman’s right to terminate a pregnancy. “I think the courts are going to have to decide if privacy rights outweigh abortion non-rights or not,” wrote Phillips.

The amendment itself:

Nothing in this Constitution secures or protects a right to abortion or requires the funding of an abortion. The people retain the right through their elected state representatives and state senators to enact, amend, or repeal statutes regarding abortion, including, but not limited to, circumstances of pregnancy resulting from rape or incest or when necessary to save the life of the mother.

What’s next? As stated above, the proposed amendment must pass with a two-thirds majority (at least 66 votes) in the House of Representatives. Following that, provided it passes, and does not get vetoed by Governor Haslam, the ballot in the next gubernatorial election (November 2014) will include a referendum containing the amendment language. Constitution amendments are decided by voters in gubernatorial elections only, presumably to ensure a high turnout.

This ballot measure will pass if it receives a number of votes equal to half of the total votes cast for governor, plus one. If that happens, the state constitution will be amended.

Pro Bo

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Following Thursday’s announcement that Senate Speaker Pro Tem Jamie Woodson will step down in July, Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey today announced that he has appointed Sen. Bo Watson (R-Hixson) to succeed her.

From a press release:

“It is rare that you find someone who works as hard for the people of Tennessee as Bo Watson,” said Ramsey. “His tireless work on issues of government reform has been an inspiration to all of us striving to make state government as small, efficient and transparent as possible. I’m extremely pleased he has agreed to take the job.”

“I’m humbled and honored that Lt. Gov. Ramsey has placed this kind of faith in me,” said Sen. Watson. “I look forward to serving my speaker to the best of my ability in this new role.”

The speaker pro tempore is a key leadership role in the General Assembly, both public policy-wise and operationally. Most notably, the speaker pro tempore presides over the state Senate in the absence of the speaker.

Watson is a physical therapist in Chattanooga.

Remembering Ned Ray McWherter

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Many across the state today are mourning former Tennessee Governor Ned McWherter, who passed away at the age of 80. The current governor, Bill Haslam, issued this statement:

This is a sad day for Tennessee. Governor McWherter was a true statesman who cared about this state and its citizens. He had a long and distinguished career in the legislative and executive branches as well as in business. I will always be grateful for his personal kindness to me and the wise advice he gave me during my first months in office. Crissy’s and my thoughts and prayers go out to Mike and the entire McWherter family during this difficult time.

Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey released the following:

Few men have meant as much to as many Tennesseans as Gov. Ned Ray McWherter. This state has lost a true statesman and a true original. My heart and the hearts of all Tennesseans go out to the McWherter family today.

Here’s a partial statement from Sen. Roy Herron, who is regarded by some as McWherter’s political heir. (Herron was first elected to the Legislature in the House seat held by McWherter before the latter became governor.)

Governor McWherter was our greatest governor during my lifetime, and I believe he was our greatest governor during Tennessee’s lifetime.

Governor McWherter led Tennessee to set records in the economy, job growth, education, building roads, criminal justice, healthcare, lowering taxes and debt.

While I certainly remember McWherter being in office during my first years in Tennessee, I was not a student of state government at the time. It’s too bad, because I likely could have learned a lot about the state’s politics from studying this apparent master.

Much more recently I met Mike McWherter, and the admiration he holds for his father was immediately recognizable.

My thoughts are with the McWherter family and with all Tennesseans as we celebrate the life of the departed.

More remembrances can be found at WBIR’s website.

‘The constitution is the constitution’ is the new ‘the Senate is the Senate’

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The Tennessee Plan for electing high-court judges has come under much attack over the past few years, and on Tuesday the state’s Lieutenant Governor, Ron Ramsey, cast a tie-breaking Senate Judiciary Committee vote for SB 0127 by Sen. Stacey Campfield. The bill would require direct election of all judges, and thus do away with the Judicial Selection Commission and retention elections.

Even though Ramsey voted in favor of the bill, he doesn’t necessarily view judicial elections as “best for the state in the long term.” He added, in a statement released to the press, “but the constitution is the constitution and the constitution clearly states that judges shall be elected.” Ramsey also said that he hopes his vote will cause the Legislature to take quick action on formulating a constitutional solution.

Ramsey’s predecessor as Speaker of the Senate and Lt. Governor, the late John Shelton Wilder, famously uttered “the Senate is the Senate” as a cryptic and philosophical rejoinder.

New website aimed to attract ‘red tape’ tattlers

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Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey wants to give you a place to complain about government bureaucracy. (We’re assuming they don’t have talk radio in Blountville.) Ramsey has launched a website, TNRedtape.com, that allows visitors to submit their personal horror stories of encounters with over-regulation.

In a statement to the media, Ramsey said “The best thing that government can do to promote economic growth is stay out of the way of people who create jobs. This website is designed to help highlight and expose the barriers government puts in the way of entrepreneurs trying to put people to work.”

What items do you plan to submit?

Also, what’s the over/under on the percentage of complaints submitted at TNRedtape.com that will actually have to do with local, federal, or downright nonexistent laws (as opposed to state statutes)?