From Memphis FOX-13:

Last week, to prove how easy it is to vote, Tennessee state senator Brian Kelsey grabbed his credit card, signed the back of it on the way in and voted. We caught up with him, to hear what he had to say about the process.

“I think it’s totally absurd that you can go and pick up an application for a credit card, fill it out, get it back in the mail, sign the back of it as you are going to vote and then go vote in this state,” said Kelsey.

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AT&T has announced a $15,000 corporate contribution to three Memphis-area Boys & Girls Clubs as part of a $105,000 AT&T corporate contribution to support Project Learn in 21 clubs across the state.

Project Learn features a program that reinforces and enhances the skills and knowledge young people learn at school through “high-yield” learning activities, including leisure reading, writing activities, homework help, and games that develop and strengthen cognitive skills.

“It is encouraging to see ongoing partnerships between corporations and nonprofit organizations like this, as they are a great benefit to our community,” said state Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris. “When the business world contributes to educational initiatives, Tennessee’s children and the state as a whole benefit because we are helping ensure that our children are better prepared for the future.”

Sen. Brian Kelsey added, “Project Learn is an invaluable tool for children, and the strengthened skills they will learn by participating will help our community prosper. When our kids are better prepared for the future, they will help our community grow and thrive.”

Read full original article here.

Tuesday October 5th
5:00 P.M.- 7:00 P.M.
Home of Jane and Tom Ricketts
3506 Windgarden Cove
Memphis, TN 38125

Tickets for the event are $100 per couple

For more information or to R.S.V.P. please send email to mail@votekelsey.com or call (901) 235-2031

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Legislation that would declare an income tax and payroll tax unconstitutional in Tennessee has passed the Senate.

The proposed constitutional amendment sponsored by Republican Sen. Brian Kelsey of Germantown was approved 25-7 Monday evening. The earliest it could go before voters is 2014.

Even though the state constitution already says an income tax is not allowed in Tennessee, Kelsey has said the proposal is necessary because the difficult economic times may prompt lawmakers to try to pass an income tax.
However, opponents say the measure is not necessary and that the motive for it is strictly political.

By Tom Humphrey

The Senate approved 25-7 Monday night a proposed amendment to Tennessee’s constitution that would prohibit a state income tax.

The measure ( SJR763, with an adopted amendment) now goes to the House. If approved there during the current legislative session, it will need approval again by the 107th General Assembly, which meets in 2011 and 2012, and then, finally, approval by voters in a statewide referendum in 2014.

The resolution was sponsored by Sen. Brian Kelsey, R-Germantown, who said he believes an income tax is already unconstitutional in Tennessee, but a constitutional amendment is needed to “clarify” that is the case because some dispute the proposition.

“If you want less of something tax it. If you want more of something, don’t tax it,” said Kelsey in his floor speech, adding that he was paraphrasing President Reagan. “We all want more income in Tennessee, so let’s make sure we never tax it.”

Sen. Douglas Henry, D-Nashville, and Jim Kyle, D-Memphis, spoke against the resolution. Henry said he was concerned that it also prohibits cities and counties from levying a payroll tax, which is in effect a tax on businesses rather than individuals.
Henry, who said he has always opposed an income tax, also contended it is not appropriate to prohibit anything far into the future.
Two senators spoke against the measure –

“I can’t read the in the tea leaves what’s going to happen 20 or 30 or 40 years from now. I don’t know what kind of box we’re going to be in,” Henry said. “I don’t believe I can look far enough into the future to say this unpleasant necessity might be forced upon us to continue to operate the state.”

Kyle said he believes the entire resolution is “defective” because it requires formal notice of the resolution be given to the public by posting it on the Internet. The state constitution says proposed amendments must be “published” and many believe that does not cover the Internet, which did not exist when the 1870 constitution was adopted.

Kyle noted that about half of Tennessee households do not have Internet access and predicted the courts will reject the whole resolution, meaning it will never come to a statewide vote even if it clears the legislative process.

The no votes came from Sens. Ophelia Ford, D-Memphis; Thelma Harper, D-Nashville; Joe Haynes, D-Nashville; Henry; Kyle; Beverly Marrero, D-Memphis; and Reginal Tate, D-Memphis.

THE CITY PAPER
Nashville Online Newspaper
By Jeff Woods

The Tennessee Senate took the first step Monday to amend the state constitution to ban the income tax, beginning a two-year political process to place the volatile issue on the ballot for voters to decide.

The Senate vote was 25-7, and there were only a few minutes of debate. If the House also passes the resolution this year, and the next General Assembly approves it by a two-thirds majority, the referendum would go before voters in 2014.

“If you want less of something, tax it. If you want more of something, don’t tax it,” said the resolution’s sponsor, Rep. Brian Kelsey, R-Germantown. “We all want more income in Tennessee, so let’s make sure that we never tax it.”

Arguably, the state constitution already bans the income tax. The state Supreme Court has ruled that way three times, but opinions from the state attorney general have raised questions about those decisions.

In 2002, the legislature refused to passed a state income tax advocated by Republican Gov. Don Sundquist. The proposal drew rowdy protests, and Sundquist was vilified by his own party. If the income tax had become law then, everyone expected its constitutionality to be tested in court.

Kelsey wants to end any uncertainty by amending the constitution. His resolution allows the existing state tax on interest income from stocks and bonds, but he said he’d like to ban that later as well.

“Opposition to an income tax is very strong right now,” Kelsey said, “so now is the time to clarify this issue once and for all and to put it before voters so they can speak.”

Sen. Douglas Henry, D-Nashville, joined six other Democrats in voting against the resolution. He’s a longtime foe of the income tax, but he said he opposes Kelsey’s resolution because it would put future lawmakers in a box.

“It’s a wretched system of taxation in my opinion,” Henry told the Senate. “I intend to continue voting against it. But Mr. Speaker, I’m not going to be here forever. I can’t read the tea leaves to know what’s going to happen 20 or 30 or 40 years from now. I don’t know what kind of box we’re going to be. … I don’t believe this takes the long view with respect to the necessities that come up after we are gone. I don’t believe I can look far enough into the future to say the day may never come when this unpleasant necessity may be foisted off upon us.”

Near-billion-dollar shortfall could push other bills off agenda
By Lucas L. Johnson II, Associated Press

NASHVILLE — Tennessee lawmakers began the second session of the 106th General Assembly on Monday mindful of the constitutional obligation to balance a budget that’s facing a shortfall of nearly a billion dollars and expecting to tackle only a few other major issues.

“I think we’re going to be concentrating on the budget so heavily that there won’t be a lot of bills that pass,” said Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey, R-Blountville.

Although the legislature has been meeting for two weeks, that was for a special session called by Gov. Phil Bredesen to enact major changes to education in Tennessee. Lawmakers largely gave Bredesen what he asked for — including evaluating K-12 teacher performance based on standardized test scores and reworking the funding formula for colleges and universities to emphasize graduation rates.

Lawmakers didn’t take up any bills when they reconvened the regular session Monday, but they’re expected to turn their attention to some bills that revisit the issues of guns in bars and in-session campaign fundraising and possibly some new matters, such as school vouchers. But the tight budget and the pressures of an election year — when all the House and half the Senate seats are on the ballot — will set the tone and scope of the session, lawmakers say.

“I’m going to try to file as little legislation as possible so I can spend as much time as possible focusing on the budget because it’s going to be a monumental task,” said House Majority Leader Jason Mumpower, R-Bristol.

The current year’s budget includes a 10 percent reduction, though many cuts were obscured by the infusion of $2.2 billion in stimulus money. The State Funding Board has projected the state’s revenues will expand by 1.8 percent to 2.3 percent in the upcoming budget year, though that modest growth won’t be enough to make up for the loss of the stimulus.

As for legislation, a judge ruled in November that Tennessee’s new law allowing people with handgun permits to be armed in bars and restaurants that serve alcohol is unconstitutionally vague.

Mumpower said lawmakers will probably review the court action on the bill before making any proposals. But he said he expects some version of the law to be back in effect at some point.

“I think it will have the support from everybody that supported it before and … pass overwhelmingly again,” he said.

Another hot-button issue is a proposal by Sen. Brian Kelsey, R-Germantown, that would set up a pilot program in Memphis that awards school vouchers to students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. Students would be able to attend a participating school until graduation at a cost to the state of at least $7,500 per child.

“I just want to give these poor children a chance to receive the quality education that they deserve,” Kelsey said. “If this pilot project doesn’t work, then we won’t pursue it.”

WATE.COM    Knoxville, TN

NASHVILLE (AP) – The Senate has unanimously passed legislation that would require a change in certificates of stillbirth.

The measure sponsored by Republican Sen. Brian Kelsey of Germantown was approved 29-0 on Wednesday.

Current law requires each death of a fetus of at least 500 grams or 22 weeks of gestation be reported to the office of vital records 10 days after delivery.

The proposal would require the death be reported if the fetus is at least 350 grams or 20 weeks gestation.

The companion bill is awaiting a vote in the House Finance Committee.

The bills are SB3189 and HB3286.

WKRN.com

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – The Senate has unanimously passed legislation that would require a certificate of stillbirth.

The measure sponsored by Republican Sen. Brian Kelsey of Germantown was approved 29-0 on Wednesday.

Current law requires each death of a fetus of at least 500 grams or 22 weeks of gestation be reported to the office of vital records 10 days after delivery. The proposal would require the death be reported if the fetus is at least 350 grams or 20 weeks gestation.

The companion bill is awaiting a vote in the House Finance Committee.

Chattanooga Times Free Press
By: Andy Sher

NASHVILLE — A proposed amendment to the Tennessee Constitution that would ban a general state income tax and payroll tax was read on the state Senate floor today.
The reading marks the first step in what proponents hope will ultimately prove to be a successful four-year effort.

The state constitution already says a general income tax is not allowed in Tennessee. But amendment sponsor Sen. Brian Kelsey, R-Germantown, has pointed to past legislative efforts to pass a state income tax and uncertainty as to how a modern state Supreme Court would act.

Sen. Kelsey has noted that tough economic times may spur lawmakers to try do so again.

Sen. Joe Haynes, D-Nashville, recently called the resolution “pandering.”

Senate Joint Resolution 763 must be read three times and pass on third reading by a majority. It must then make its way through the House committee system, be read on the House floor three times and approved by a majority on the third reading.

The measure will have to be approved by a two-thirds majority in the House and Senate in the 107th General Assembly that begins next year. If the proposal passes there, only then would it go before voters on the 2014 ballot.

SJR 763 not apply to the existing 6 percent Hall Income Tax which is imposed on individuals and other entities receiving interest from bonds and notes and stock dividends. That tax was passed in 1929 and has been upheld as cons.