Tennessee | July 22, 2021
Tennessee will be 7th state sued for cutting off federal unemployment benefits
Tennessee | July 22, 2021
A group of Tennesseans are suing Gov. Bill Lee and Tennessee for stopping federal unemployment benefits more than two months before the program expires.
Already, people in Indiana and Maryland have sued and won, getting their federal help reinstated And cases are pending right now in Ohio, Oklahoma, Florida, and Texas.
They’re 1,800 strong. The grassroots Facebook group Tennesseans Against Ending Benefits Early say they aren’t stopping without a suit.
Mom and member Dee Bowen of Jonesboro’s been tracking how people in Indiana and Maryland sued to get what they say is rightfully theirs.
“Them winning gives us a little hope that we can win too because we have similar laws,” says Bowen.
Nashville Attorney Gary Blackburn confirms held his first legal consultation with them Wednesday evening and confirms with me he is moving forward with litigation against Governor Bill Lee. Blackburn says, “These are represented to me to be people not people who simply don’t want to go back to jobs because of this. but people who have physical impairments that keep them from doing this.”…
(Excerpts from the Fox 17)
Tennessee | May 14, 2021
State Rep. Michael Sparks Talks Finishing Up Legislative Session and Passing the Sales Tax Exemption Bill
Tennessee | May 14, 2021
Live from Music Row Thursday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville’s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed Tennessee State Representative (R) Mike Sparks of Smyrna to the studio to discuss the end of the legislative session and the passing of the bill for gun safety and the Sales Tax Exemption.
Leahy: In studio with us, State Representative Michael Sparks from Smyrna. So the Tennessee General Assembly has just finished just wrapped up adjourned its regular session on Thursday. Are you tired?
Sparks: Yes.
Leahy: The last week seemed to be just non-stop work. What is it like up there as you push towards the end and there are things you want to accomplish? What’s that like?
Sparks: For me, it gets a little frustrating. Tempers start to flare and committees are starting to shut down. You want to get your bills out of committee and you’re trying to lobby for your own bills and get with folks, get with the chairman, and rally if you will, the troops to support it.
I know one of the last days June Assembly. I think it was a 12 hour day for me because my wife was like, hey, what took you so long? And I got home about 9:30 pm. But it does get a little frustrating for folks. Anytime you’re working, you’re in a budget meeting for four or five hours. Those lengthy meetings start to wear on you…
(Excerpts from the Tennessee Star)