Members of the Williamson County-based Tennessee Stands on Sunday published their priorities for a presumed special session of the state’s general assembly, and certain priorities address government overreach in the age of COVID-19.
“There are a lot of issues that need to be addressed ranging from mandates to education to elections, immigration and the list goes on. But we have to be realistic,” said Tennessee Stands spokesman Gary Humble, in an email to supporters.
“This is a special session, meaning, it will be brief and time simply will not allow for every issue to be addressed right now. So, we have compiled what we consider to be the most pressing issues coming into October 27, and issues that simply cannot wait until January 2022.”
Humble listed the following priorities:
• Vaccine mandates by employers must come to an end. Places of public accommodation must not require a status of vaccination for entry or to receive goods and services
• Remove extraordinary and broad powers given to county health officers
• No mask mandates in our public schools
• No Patient Left Alone
• Right to access life-saving medication and treatment
• It is time to end the emergency. Amend or repeal TCA § 58-2-107 now to restrain the powers of the governor
• Right to petition for recall election of school board members
“It would be great to also see the General Assembly address the immigration crisis and election integrity issues,” Humble wrote.
“I do think that the general session beginning in January 2022 will still give us ample opportunity to address these important and complex issues.”
Tennessee State Representative Bruce Griffey (R-Paris) in August called for a special session of the Tennessee General Assembly. He said he wanted such a session to consider restraining Governor Bill Lee’s emergency powers.
Griffey said at the time that legislators should take up the governor’s authority to declare and extend public health emergencies. The governor can do this without oversight by the Tennessee General Assembly.
– – –
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected].
