Tagged: tennessee legislature

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The AARP will host town hall meetings across the state to give Tennesseans a chance to provide input on the future of Medicare and Social Security.

Meetings are planned for Johnson City, Knoxville, Nashville and Jackson on April 4, and in Memphis on April 5.

According to AARP, a new survey finds that most Americans believe lawmakers in Washington are making too many decisions about Medicare and Social Security behind closed doors and not listening to the public.

Karin Miller is an AARP spokesperson.

MURFREESBORO, Tenn (WMOT)  --  Franklin Mayor Ken Moore says city and county governments across the state are becoming increasingly concerned about a series of bills under consideration by the Tennessee General Assembly.

The Franklin Board of Alderman recently passed a resolution opposing 14 measures currently working their way through the state legislature. Moore says the bills would strip local governments of the ability to regulate everything from land use to fireworks sales.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP/WMOT) — An attempt to move the Occupy Nashville protest from the state Capitol to the city's Public Square was short-lived.

One tent was set up on the lawn of the city government headquarters Monday night. According to an Occupy spokesperson, seven Metro Nashville police cruisers arrived at the site early Tuesday morning and officers told tent dweller Matt Hammill a local ordinance barred camping there.

Hammill packed up his tent and left.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP/WMOT) — Teachers and lobbyists would be penalized for defaulting on student loans under legislation headed to the governor for his consideration.

The measure sponsored by Republican Rep. Charles Sargent of Franklin passed the House 70-24 last week. The companion bill was approved in the Senate 32-1 last year.

According to the Knoxville News Sentinel, under the proposal individuals could lose the right to practice their professions if they default.

MURFREESBORO, Tenn.  (WMOT)  --  Memphis Mayor A. C. Wharton says two bills introduced in the Tennessee legislature yesterday smack of “racism, classism, and schoolyard bullying.”

The measures would hem the city in by limiting its ability to annex surrounding communities.

The Memphis Commercial Appeal says the bills were introduced by three east Shelby County Republicans.  One of the measures was introduced by Sen. Mark Norris and Rep. Curry Todd, both of Collierville; the other by Norris and Rep. Ron Lollar of Bartlett.