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tnsenatedems.bsky.social
Fighting to rebuild Tennessee’s middle class
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Almost every day people ask me what we can do right now to save ourselves. Let people know that the controlling party in this state is STEALING their tax dollars and giving it to their buddies and to themselves. 🧵

Good morning, Tennessee. ☀️Last year, Bill Lee & Republicans gave away $1.5 BILLION of your hard earned money to corporations, including his own.…plus a $400 MILLION annual tax cut. Just ‘cause.

Republicans said Tennessee couldn’t afford to cut the grocery tax for working families. But when it came to billion-dollar corporate tax breaks? No questions asked. Now, Tennessee is running a budget deficit. Funny how their priorities work.

TNGOP lawmakers blocked the “Pot for Potholes Act” – Democratic legislation to legalize cannabis & invest the tax proceeds in highways & transportation infrastructure. TN has a $38.5 billion backlog of transportation projects. Thanks for reminding us @tnsenatedems.bsky.social

Trump's bloated budget bill will cancel health coverage and food assistance for TN families, which also reduces the number of paying customers for hospitals & grocery stores. Handouts for billionaires. Harsh capitalism for the working class. tennesseelookout.com/2025/06/04/b...

This Republican-sponsored law singled out Nashville and attacked the city's ability to govern itself. It was unconstitutional from its inception. Instead of upholding the rule of law, it looks like the court disregarded the Tennessee Constitution to please GOP lawmakers.

TRICKLE DOWN ECONOMICS: Sen. Heidi Campbell blasted Republicans for giving billions in government handouts to big business while “working families get left behind.” The GOP blocked a grocery tax cut and Sen. Campbell’s Pot for Potholes bill.

🎉 Wishing a happy birthday to Senator Heidi Campbell! 🎉 Please join us in sending Senator Campbell warm birthday wishes. 🎂🎈

Gov. Bill Lee's $1.1 billion voucher scam begins accepting applications tomorrow. Sen. London Lamar: “If wealthy families want to send their kids to private schools, that’s their right. But they shouldn’t expect the public to foot the bill. Tennessee’s public tax dollars belong in public schools."

While the controlling party obsesses with divisive lawsuits, Tennessee families are stuck in traffic and can’t afford housing or groceries.

89% of Tennesseans agree: it’s time to cut the grocery tax! The #TNGOP has had control for 15 years and they’ve given billions in tax breaks to big corporations, but they’re still taxing your groceries. Sen. Charlane Oliver & Rep. Aftyn Behn’s bill to cut the tax was blocked this year by the GOP.

I took out a loan from Advance Financial in 2016 to pay unexpected medical bills. I felt ashamed but shouldn't have: hundreds of thousands of Tennesseans do the same annually. I was lucky and paid mine off. 110,000 Tennesseans get trapped in exorbitant interest rates and have been sued by Advance.

🗣️ Sen. Heidi Campbell on the Trump-Lee deportation sweeps in Tennessee: “Let’s call it what it is: state-sponsored cruelty. Political muscle masquerading as public safety. And yes — it bears the marks of fascism.” Read her full post: theheidicampbell.substack.com?utm_campaign...

UNBEARABLY CRUEL: Sen. Raumesh Akbari & Sen. London Lamar issued statements reacting to the jury’s verdict in a case against ex-police officers involved in the death of 29–year-old Tyre Nichols. Full statements: tnsenatedems.medium.com/sen-akbari-s...

A cruel and reckless mass deportation agenda hurt us all

NEW: A Tennessee lender told legislators its new product, the Flex Loan, would help residents. In the 10 years since getting approval for it, the company has sued over 110,000 borrowers. With @tennesseelookout.com

LAWLESSNESS: Sen. Jeff Yarbro denounced a recent deportation sweep in Nashville, saying state police should not be "taking marching orders from ICE" which is violating court orders across the nation. "Due process and the rule of law mean something." tnsenatedems.medium.com/sen-jeff-yar...

FLASHBACK: Sen. Jeff Yarbro after SCOTUS leaked its decision overturning Roe 👇

😕WBIR: “A national report found Tennessee teachers make just over the state's minimum living wage on average, and TN ranks among the worst in 🇺🇸 for spending per student…” As @GovBillLee & Republicans steer hundreds of millions to private schools.

A nationwide effort to deny K-12 students an education based on #immigration status failed this year — but Tennessee Republicans are already looking to revive the effort next year. My latest for NPR:

A majority of Americans, including most Republicans, oppose major cuts in federal funding for Medicaid, according to a poll released Thursday by the nonpartisan health research organization KFF.

Since they enacted the TISA funding formula, we have fallen into the bottom 3.

REPORT: Tennessee ranks 47th in 🇺🇸 for K-12 student spending Under #TNGOP control, Tennessee now ranks dead last in student funding among our neighboring states, according to the NEA. Sen. London Lamar: “This report is yet another wake-up call.” tnsenatedems.medium.com/tennessee-ra...

Gov. Bill Lee is bragging about a report funded by a billionaire-backed corporate lobbying group. Governor, try talking to some working families in Tennessee if you want the real story 👇

SESSION RECAP: Sen. Jeff Yarbro says the #TNGOP is ignoring the needs of everyday families while they chase culture wars and “suck up to the president.” @jeffyarbro.bsky.social delivered these remarks at a press conference following the end of the 2025 legislative session.

SESSION RECAP: Democrats & people-powered movements did score some victories this session. Sen. London Lamar discusses the GOP’s Memphis schools takeover & a bill targeting undocumented kids both stalling out as well as passage of maternal health bills and a bill to ban Glock switches.

BLIP or WARNING SIGN? TN sales tax revenue in March dropped $30M year over year on lower consumer spending. "If this slowdown continues, the implications for Tennessee’s sales tax-dependent budget are serious—especially for core services like public education." www.wbir.com/article/news...

“HARMFUL & HATEFUL”: Sen. Raumesh Akbari & Chairman John Ray Clemmons summarized TN’s legislative session saying Democrats focused on working families while Republicans ignored real issues in favor of division politics. “We are here to serve the people.” @tndemocrats.bsky.social

Instead of bringing costs down & increasing wages for families, the #TNGOP is spending the final hours of session passing laws that ban diversity, equity & inclusion initiatives, and another to give the state control over Memphis-Shelby County Schools. Truly ugly overreach.

Times Free Press: “The most popular hemp product in Tennessee will likely soon be pulled from shelves after lawmakers on Thursday voted to pass a bill placing limits on THCa.” Sen. Yarbro: “you’re trying to push the genie back in the bottle” www.timesfreepress.com/news/2025/ap...

Priorities: Republicans cut money for affordable housing, boosted funds for the state AG (+ funded $12 Million for a “parking lot” in Lamberth’s district) All while keeping hundreds of millions for private school vouchers. wpln.org/post/tn-pass...

Sober DUI bill heads to governor’s desk after WSMV4 investigation www.wsmv.com/2025/04/15/s...

FLOODING OR PROFIT? Senate Republicans passed a bill allowing developers to destroy up to 80% of Tennessee’s flood-fighting wetlands for short-term profits. All Dems voted NO. Sen. Heidi Campbell and Sen. Jeff Yarbro spoke against the measure.

🎉🎂 Join us in wishing Senate Democratic Leader Raumesh Akbari a very happy birthday! Happy birthday, Leader! 🎈🥳

Regarding yesterday- open.substack.com/pub/theheidi...

INBOX: @tnsenatedems.bsky.social point out Trump’s trade war will hurt Tennessee businesses and farmers, especially hammering trade with China — our largest trade partner by a lot. Last time Trump did this Tennessee was hardest hit. (Another farmer bailout is likely going to be needed)

Unconscionable! I didn't get a chance to share my thoughts on the floor. Here's what I wanted to say-

SHAMEFUL: The Republican-backed bill targeting immigrant students passed the Senate 19-13. The G.O.P. is using children as political pawns in their quest to overturn a decades old Supreme Court decision.

The scene outside the Tennessee Senate as lawmakers are soon to vote on whether to deny undocumented students an education. Republican leaders used a different entrance to avoid protesters.

Today in the TN Senate, members will debate the controversial bill that would allow school districts to refuse to enroll students who are undocumented immigrants. The gallery is at capacity.

"He has not proven to be an unbiased independent agency or appointee,” Sen. Charlane Oliver, a Nashville Democrat, said of a move to give investigation of discrimination complaints against the state to Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti.

"“I don’t think this was foreseeable,” a mournful Ackman posted on X on Monday. “I assumed economic rationality would be paramount.” What an odd assumption to make about a man who bankrupted casinos." www.nytimes.com/2025/04/07/o...

WATCH: Sen. Jeff Yarbro exposes the Republican hypocrisy of banning affirmative action in college admissions, but protecting admission policies for the kids of donors and alumni. The GOP blocked Yarbro’s amendment and passed the anti-affirmative action bill on party lines.

💔

For every step of this protracted train-wreck a choice is made between personal greed and the greater good. From electeds who don’t want to lose their gig to millionaires who want to be billionaires nobody is stepping up to do what is right for humanity’s future. The ultimate tragedy of the commons.

💯 @jeffyarbro.bsky.social tennesseelookout.com/2025/04/03/t...

WATCH: “Taking away the right of Tennesseans to defend themselves against harmful chemicals” Democrats sounded the alarm over a bill that will shield multinational pesticide companies from consumer lawsuits—even if their products cause cancer.

🔥 WATCH: “How many of you would ever trade places with me?” @tnsenatedems.bsky.social push back on a Rose & Zachary bill that bans ONLY racial diversity requirements on state boards (leaving all other diversity requirements intact🤔) Full: www.instagram.com/reel/DH80lkZ...