Tennessee lawmakers file fewer bills during the Bush Recession

[doeriver]

If you have an idea for legislation that you would like to see introduced to the Tennessee General Assembly, you should probably get moving --- now is the time start writing your letters and clicking out those emails to your state representatives and senators, especially due to the fact that the work on the state budget will likely take place later on during the 2009 legislative session in order to incorporate any federal stimulus money that may be following into the state treasury:

You can check online for the current index of bills within the Tennessee General Assembly (see link following excerpt):

Tennessee lawmakers file fewer bills in recession
2,500 proposals usually await lawmakers' return
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20090208/NEWS0201/902080372/0/NLETTER01

By Theo Emery • THE TENNESSEAN • February 8, 2009


The Tennessee legislature starts in earnest Monday, but so far lawmakers have filed only about a quarter of the bills that are typical for this time of year, signaling a slower start to the session that may reflect this year's grim fiscal environment.

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By this time in most years, there are typically as many as 2,500 bills filed. But as of Wednesday, there were only about 377 on file with the House clerk, about 291 with the Senate clerk, and about 80 resolutions.

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Perhaps more noteworthy are bills not yet filed: the joint resolution, known in past sessions as SJR 127, that would amend the state constitution to add language about abortion; and a bill that would revive the Judicial Selection Commission, the body that recommends judges for appointment and that is set to expire on June 30 if the General Assembly doesn't act to continue its life.

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Thursday is the cutoff date for unlimited bill filing in the Senate, after which senators can file only nine bills each. The cutoff for bills in the House is the 10th legislative day, which usually falls in late February or early March.

Contact Theo Emery at 615-726-4889.

Tennessee General Assembly Bills Main Index
http://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/indexes/