Tom Humphrey

• Tom Humphrey: Post-session awards show continues with hijacks and highballs Published 05/20/2012 at 4 a.m.

  More superlative performances from the 2012 session of the 107th General Assembly:

• Tom Humphrey: Capitol players earn awards for session's shenanigans Published 05/13/2012 at 4 a.m.

  Some legislative superlatives from the 2012 session of the 107th Tennessee General Assembly:

• Tom Humphrey: Gov. Bill Haslam's first veto deftly dodges override possibility Published 05/06/2012 at 4 a.m.

  Gov. Bill Haslam wisely waited until the day after 107th General Assembly had permanently adjourned to announce he was for the first time exercising a right granted by the state constitution to act as judge, jury and executioner of legislative ...

• Tom Humphrey: During session, you win some, lose some, compromise some Published 04/22/2012 at 4 a.m.

  Recent events illustrate that the art of compromise, historically valued in the world of politics, remains a constant in the new normal of Republican rule in Tennessee government. So does the belief that consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.

• Tom Humphrey: Governor evolving toward a new normal Published 04/15/2012 at 4 a.m.

  Displaying an evolving new normal in his gubernatorial reign, a believing-in-better Bill Haslam last week officially and formally, albeit cautiously, expressed mild disagreement for the first time with a piece of legislation that reached his desk.

• Tom Humphrey: On House-Senate role reversal in the new normal Published 04/08/2012 at 4 a.m.

  One curiosity in the new normal of Republican rule in the General Assembly seems to be a role reversal of the House and Senate in institutional attitude.

• Tom Humphrey: Talking about sex spices up this year's legislative session Published 03/31/2012 at 10 p.m.

  House Democratic Caucus Chairman Mike Turner, naturally, got a fair amount of media attention when he declared recently that Republican legislators are "preoccupied with sex" and in a restrictive mode on the subject.

• Tom Humphrey: Tennessee gets a 'C' in integrity survey of state governments Published 03/25/2012 at 4 a.m.

  Tennessee got a grade of "C" last week in a "state integrity" national rating of state governments, an averaging of some areas wherein our fair state warrants an "A" and others wherein it warrants an "F."

• Tom Humphrey: Be it resolved that lawmakers should correct others Published 03/18/2012 at 4 a.m.

  Tennessee's nickname has escaped the attention of the Tennessee General Assembly since thousands of citizens responded to Gov. William Blount's call for volunteers to serve in the War of 1812.

• Tom Humphrey: Social conservatives rule state's GOP electorate Published 03/11/2012 at 5 a.m.

  Going into Super Tuesday, it seemed possible that the Tennessee Republican primary tradition of conservatives splitting their votes to assure plurality victory for a moderate would hold true.

• 7 Tennesseans killed in combat honored by governor Published 05/24/2012 at 7:04 p.m.

  NASHVILLE — In a solemn ceremony at the front of the state's War Memorial Building, Bill and Crissy Haslam began the Memorial Day weekend by handing flowers and medals to survivors of seven Tennesseans who were killed fighting for their ...

• Comprehending Congress: TN delegation speaks at lower grade level Published 05/21/2012 at 10 p.m.

  NASHVILLE — Congressmen speak at nearly a full grade level lower than they did seven years ago, and seven of the 11 members of the Tennessee delegation to Washington are below the national average, according to a new Sunlight Foundation ...

• Bob Corker's money, name recognition make him heavy favorite Published 05/20/2012 at 4 a.m.

  NASHVILLE — Not so long ago, Bob Corker was not sure he wanted another six-year term in the U.S. Senate because of frustration over congressional inaction, which he compares to "watching paint dry."

• Checks and balances: Sen. Corker opponents share spotty financial pasts Published 05/17/2012 at 4 a.m.

  NASHVILLE — U.S. Senate candidate Brenda Lenard said Wednesday that she has been urged to leave the race and endorse another of incumbent Sen. Bob Corker's opponents in the Republican Party primary because of a bad check felony conviction and ...

• Haslam says he's directing 'culture shift' in Tennessee government Updated 05/15/2012 at 1:20 p.m.

  NASHVILLE — Gov. Bill Haslam declares that he is successfully presiding over a "cultural shift" in Tennessee's government operations and the state's education system, though occasionally dealing with a "perception factor" caused by inordinate media attention to some legislative activities.

• Haslam declines to sign 'Agenda 21' resolution Published 05/12/2012 at 4 a.m.

  NASHVILLE — Gov. Bill Haslam has declined to sign a resolution that denounces “the destructive and insidious nature of United Nations Agenda 21,” passed by Republican legislators over Democratic complaints that it buys into a bogus conspiracy theory.

• Lawmakers rarely said, 'No,' to business lobbyists Published 05/07/2012 at 3 a.m.

  Actions of the 107th General Assembly, recently adjourned, establish that businesses generally have reached a new peak of political power in our state.

• In Tennessee Legislature, policy and politics sometimes clashed Updated 05/07/2012 at 8:43 a.m.

  NASHVILLE — In literally the last hour of the 107th General Assembly, Rep. Terri Lynn Weaver stood on the House floor to explain some of her recent votes.

• Legislative notebook: Gift tax repealed, TRA restructured, PAC bill dies Published 05/02/2012 at 4 a.m.

  Legislation repealing Tennessee's gift tax has been sent to Gov. Bill Haslam, who has endorsed the idea and adjusted his state budget plan to cover the anticipated $15 million per year in lost revenue.

• Legislature ends on welfare drug testing, 'health care compact' Published 05/02/2012 at 4 a.m.

  NASHVILLE — Legislators voted to require drug testing of welfare recipients and shied away from a bill laying the groundwork for a Tennessee takeover of federal health care programs Tuesday on the final day of the 107th General Assembly.

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