Tennessee Politics & News
The Daily Signal covers Tennessee politics with reporting on state leadership, education policy, economic growth, and conservative values shaping the Volunteer State.
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Tennessee on the Road to Becoming Income Tax-Free
Many people already think Tennessee is one of only a handful of states with no income tax, but as middle-class retirees can attest, it is anything but. While the state does not tax income from labor, it has levied a 6 percent tax on investment income since the establishment of the Hall Income Tax in 1929….Justin Owen -
It Takes 300 Hours to Become a Shampooer in Tennessee
Tammy Nutall-Pritchard had been braiding hair with her older sister, Debra Nutall, since she was 18 years old. Nutall taught Nutall-Pritchard the craft when she was 15, and the sisters would stand side-by-side behind the chairs of scores of clients at Nutall’s Memphis, Tenn., salon who came in to get their hair braided while chatting…Melissa Quinn -
After Parents File Lawsuit, Tennessee County Reverses Decision to Close Schools Over Obamacare
Clay County Director of Schools Jerry Strong announced Thursday that all campuses will remain open, despite the school board voting to close all schools in the lower income Tennessee district. The issue has centered around whether the schools that are struggling with finances close or continue the school year in hopes the school board will find…Sara Jones -
What Miss Tennessee Got Wrong About Planned Parenthood and Women’s Health
Miss Georgia may have won the Miss America pageant, but it’s Miss Tennessee who probably won Planned Parenthood employees’ hearts Sunday night. That’s because Miss Tennessee, 21-year-old Hannah Robison, helped perpetuate the myth that ending federal funding for Planned Parenthood could hurt women’s access to health care. Asked if Planned Parenthood should continue to receive…Katrina Trinko -
Four Marines Dead After Gunman Opens Fire in Tennessee
Four United States Marines were killed on Thursday after a gunman opened fire at an armed services recruiting center and a naval reserve facility in Chattanooga, Tenn. Four dead in shootings at two US Navy buildings in Chattanooga, Tennessee, officials say http://t.co/lPF7YHzs4T pic.twitter.com/Id5tyr958h — BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) July 16, 2015 The suspect, identified by…Kelsey Bolar -
Will Tennessee’s Courts Force Legalized Physician-Assisted Suicide? One Man’s Quest
A battle for hearts and minds has been waged across America this year on the issue of physician-assisted suicide, the taking of deadly drugs to prematurely end one’s life. While euthanasia is currently illegal in all but five states, half of our nation’s state legislatures have proposed legalizing it in the current 2015 legislative session. Thus far, Americans’…Susan Allen -
Will of the People Makes a Comeback on Abortion Issue in Tennessee
Two bills have been signed by Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, a Republican, that could not have passed before voters approved an amendment to the state constitution in last November’s elections. One of the bills requires a 48-hour waiting period between counseling and an abortion, and another puts in place new regulations for abortion clinics as Tennessee…Kerry Hunt -
IKEA Wants Millions in Tax Incentives for Tennessee Store
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — An unelected board of 11 people in this city soon will decide whether to grant $9.5 million in tax incentives to the IKEA corporation. Company officials want to open their first store in Tennessee and are asking city and county officials for that much government assistance through its first 11 years of operation. The…Chris Butler -
Tennessee Lawmakers Don’t Plan to Tackle Government Theft
NASHVILLE—The New Year is here and, thus far, of all the priorities Tennessee legislators have laid out for the 2015 General Assembly, none involve clamping down on government employees who steal from taxpayers. Auditors with the state Comptroller’s Office in 2014 continued to churn out audits showing that government employees who have sole access to…Chris Butler -
Tennessee Facing Fight Over Obamacare Medicaid Expansion
NASHVILLE—Tennessee Republicans, after having just increased majorities in the state’s General Assembly, likely will have to decide whether to expand Medicaid in the upcoming 2015 legislative session. That issue and others are expected to dominate the 2015 gathering, scheduled to begin in January. State Senate Democratic Caucus spokesman Matt Anderson said last week that, although in…Chris Butler -
Tennessee Woman Jailed for Overgrown Yard
A Tennessee woman has been jailed because of her overgrown yard. Karen Holloway was cited by Lenoir City during the summer when she started to struggle to keep up with her yard work because of what she called “personal, family issues.” “With my husband going to school and working full time, me with my job,…Kate Scanlon -
Administrative Costs on the Rise in Tennessee Schools
NASHVILLE — About a quarter of Tennessee’s public school districts, 33 in all, spend more on administrative costs — such as principals and school directors — than the statewide average of 10.5 percent, according to a new comptrollers’ report. The report, written by the Tennessee Comptroller’s Offices of Research and Education Accountability, examined the 2012-13 school…Chris Butler -
Union Uses ‘Strong Armed Tactic’ to Bully Its Way into Tennessee Auto Plant
The United Auto Workers is threatening this week to form a “voluntary” union at a Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga. But earlier this year the workers at the VW plant rejected the union at the ballot box. Although the union says that participation would be voluntary, the real agenda here is clear and dangerous: to undo…Stephen Moore -
Volkswagen Allows Union at Tennessee Plant Despite Rejection by Autoworkers
The United Auto Workers will move forward with plans to form a local union at a Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tenn. UAW’s announcement comes months after the union failed to gain enough support to unionize employees at the VW plant. In February, UAW lost a representation election at the VW Chattanooga plant by 86 votes….Alex Anderson -
To Keep Health Care Coverage, Tennessee Couple Separates
After 33 years of marriage, Linda and Larry Drain of Maryville, Tenn., separated—but only so Linda could have health care coverage that was threatened by federal bureaucracy, according to The Tennessean. The Drains are among 162,000 Tennesseans who are caught up in the health coverage gap. They made too much in combined income to qualify…Marguerite Bowling -
Tennessee ‘Pork Report’ Finds Government Waste at All-Time High
NASHVILLE—Tennessee officials wasted $609 million in taxpayer money last year, according to the 2014 “Pork Report,” which a free-market think tank released Wednesday. Beacon Center of Tennessee President Justin Owen said this year’s report reveals the highest amount of taxpayer waste in the publication’s nine-year history, which places blame on a large variety of state…Chris Butler -
More Pushback: Tennessee Quits Common Core Aligned Test
Tennessee has removed itself from the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers testing consortium aligned to the Common Core national education standards, joining the ranks of 18 other states pushing back against Common Core. Gov. Bill Haslam, Commissioner of Education Kevin Huffman and the chair of the state board of education, Fielding…Jillian Frost