Tagged: tennessee legislature

Democratic leaders in the Tennessee legislature are calling for all state lawmakers to undergo diversity and sensitivity training.  They point to insulting comments made by two Republican lawmakers earlier this month to the Legislature's black caucus as the reason.  Democratic Senate Minority Leader Jim Kyle says he believes lawmakers would benefit from some type of sensitivity session, even if it means incorporating it into the mandatory ethics training.  Vanderbilt University’s Bishop Joseph Johnson Black Cultural Center director Frank Dobson says the lawmakers' offensive comments are par

Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam says it will probably be close to the deadline before he decides whether to sign a proposal protecting teachers who allow students to criticize evolution and other scientific theories, such as global warming.  The deadline is today.

Tennessee House Democrats say the Republican majority is moving too quickly through the legislative process.  Toward the end of the House floor session Monday, Democratic Representative Jimmy Naifeh took exception to a Republican move to end debate on overhauling a judicial disciplinary panel.  Naifeh says the measure is a complex change, and lawmakers were unable to receive any details before the vote took place.  Republican Representative Curry Todd made the motion to head straight for a vote.  He says the final vote of 86-7 in favor of the bill showed no debate was necessary.  House Demo