Currently a state employee can have his pension taken away for a felony sex crime conviction in connection with their job. The TN GOP has introduced a bill to include minor crimes and misdemeanors in the list for teachers only for which a pension may be confiscated. Our Legislature's never ending battle against teachers was going fine until Representative Craig Fitzhugh (D) added a "friendly" amendment to make it also apply to State legislators. Our state Reps suddenly have great concerns, knowing that the range of sex crimes has been broadened to include such things as "Improper hugging" and getting caught peeing behind a tree by an officer of the law.

Several legislators thought this was entirely improper since they claim their job is 24 hours a day and not just during school hours. (Ask a teacher if their day only involves "school hours" and you'll get an ear full.)

Representative John DeBerry, D-Memphis won the sound bite of the day...“We are constantly sending messages to the people of the state of Tennessee that we are idiots”.

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Lost Medicaid Funding

To date, the failure to expand Medicaid / TennCare has cost the State of Tennessee ? in lost federal funding.