On the Issues
Human Life
I am Pro-Life. I am a member of Fayette County Right to Life, Hardeman County Right to Life, and a member of the Board of Directors of Heart to Heart in Tipton County. During the 103rd General Assembly, I co-sponsored the Choose Life license plate legislation. During the 104th General Assembly, I sponsored SJR127 that proposed a constitutional amendment that would have returned power to the legislature to make laws regarding abortion.
What does it matter who I am or what I do if I don’t first Choose Life?
What does it matter who I am or what I do if I don’t first Choose Life?
Marriage Amendment
Tennessee Marriage Protection Amendment
"The historical institution and legal contract solemnizing the relationship of one man and one woman shall be the only legally recognized marital contract in this state. Any policy or law or judicial interpretation, purporting to define marriage as anything other than the historical institution and legal contract between one man and one woman, is void and unenforceable in Tennessee. If another state or foreign jurisdiction issues a license for persons to marry and if such marriage is prohibited in this state by the provisions of this section, then the marriage shall be void and unenforceable in this state."
Here is important information regarding the Marriage Amendment set to appear on the ballot this November. In order for the Marriage Amendment to pass, we must have what is called 50% + 1. This means that we must have 50% of ALL the votes cast in the gubernatorial race PLUS 1 vote. If the Amendment fails, it cannot be placed on the ballot again until the year 2010. Please share this information with everyone you know.
Marriage Amendment Quick Reference Guide
Current Law:
Defense of Marriage Act
Marriage Protection Amendment
This is a proposal to amend our state constitution to define marriage as being between only a man and a woman. It also specifies that any marriage performed in another state which is not between one man and one woman will not be considered a marriage in Tennessee.
The vote on this Amendment will be November 7, 2006.
If approved by the voters, this definition would become part of our state constitution, meaning that the courts could not, as they did in Massachusetts, change the definition for us.
What is required for the Marriage Protection Amendment to become part of our state constitution?
For a proposed amendment to become part of our state constitution, two things are required:
Will there be any opposition to passage of the Amendment?
Yes. We know that the Human Rights Campaign and the Tennessee Equality Project have brought a staff person from the Human Rights Campaign in California to run the “VoteNoOn1” campaign. Various sources have indicated that somewhere between $4 and $6 million may be spent. The counterpart organization fighting the amendment in Ohio has already bought $1.5 million in television advertising. In addition, the Tennessee Equality Project is already canvassing neighborhoods in Memphis, Nashville, and Knoxville.
Is there an effort being made to encourage passage of our Amendment?
Yes. RealMarriage.Org, an initiative of the Family Action Council of Tennessee (FACT), (application for 501©(3) status pending) and Family Action of Tennessee, Inc., (application for 501©(4) status pending), have started a campaign to educate the public and promote passage of the amendment. We have a statewide grass roots organization forming, headed by a state director and three regional directors, one over each grand division. We are seeking to work through pastors and denominational leaders to establish a contact within as many churches as possible with which we can communicate up-to-date information, educational materials, and voter registration information. Our grassroots directors will provide the training and materials so as not to add to the responsibilities of the ministerial staff. In addition, we are developing a broad-based media campaign to respond to the anticipated media from those in opposition to the amendment. Your participation, by prayer, providing contacts, and financial assistance where at all possible, will help us prepare our state for the vote.
Isn’t a campaign unnecessary and poor stewardship? Surely at least a majority of
Tennesseans will vote for marriage.
No. The campaign is not unnecessary or poor stewardship.
First, as previously stated, a majority of the votes cast does not mean the amendment is adopted. Every voter who votes for Governor, but simply does not vote on the amendment because he or she is unsure or uncertain about what to do (because of all the misinformation they will be getting), is effectively a “no” vote. Countering this misinformation is crucial.
Second, a significant margin of victory will provide helpful and important by-products.
"The historical institution and legal contract solemnizing the relationship of one man and one woman shall be the only legally recognized marital contract in this state. Any policy or law or judicial interpretation, purporting to define marriage as anything other than the historical institution and legal contract between one man and one woman, is void and unenforceable in Tennessee. If another state or foreign jurisdiction issues a license for persons to marry and if such marriage is prohibited in this state by the provisions of this section, then the marriage shall be void and unenforceable in this state."
Here is important information regarding the Marriage Amendment set to appear on the ballot this November. In order for the Marriage Amendment to pass, we must have what is called 50% + 1. This means that we must have 50% of ALL the votes cast in the gubernatorial race PLUS 1 vote. If the Amendment fails, it cannot be placed on the ballot again until the year 2010. Please share this information with everyone you know.
Marriage Amendment Quick Reference Guide
Current Law:
Defense of Marriage Act
- This is a statute that was passed by the General Assembly back in 1955.
- Being a statute, not a Constitutional provision, it is subject to our State Supreme Court holding it unconstitutional under our State Constitution should a plaintiff gay couple challenged the law in the future. This is what was done in Massachusetts.
- As with abortion laws, which were finally challenged and ruled unconstitutional by our State Supreme Court under our State Constitution, you can anticipate a challenge to this statute in the due course of time.
Marriage Protection Amendment
This is a proposal to amend our state constitution to define marriage as being between only a man and a woman. It also specifies that any marriage performed in another state which is not between one man and one woman will not be considered a marriage in Tennessee.
The vote on this Amendment will be November 7, 2006.
If approved by the voters, this definition would become part of our state constitution, meaning that the courts could not, as they did in Massachusetts, change the definition for us.
What is required for the Marriage Protection Amendment to become part of our state constitution?
For a proposed amendment to become part of our state constitution, two things are required:
- The amendment must get a majority of the votes actually cast, and
- The number of votes cast in favor of the amendment must be equal to one-half of the votes cast in the Governor’s race, plus 1 vote.
Will there be any opposition to passage of the Amendment?
Yes. We know that the Human Rights Campaign and the Tennessee Equality Project have brought a staff person from the Human Rights Campaign in California to run the “VoteNoOn1” campaign. Various sources have indicated that somewhere between $4 and $6 million may be spent. The counterpart organization fighting the amendment in Ohio has already bought $1.5 million in television advertising. In addition, the Tennessee Equality Project is already canvassing neighborhoods in Memphis, Nashville, and Knoxville.
Is there an effort being made to encourage passage of our Amendment?
Yes. RealMarriage.Org, an initiative of the Family Action Council of Tennessee (FACT), (application for 501©(3) status pending) and Family Action of Tennessee, Inc., (application for 501©(4) status pending), have started a campaign to educate the public and promote passage of the amendment. We have a statewide grass roots organization forming, headed by a state director and three regional directors, one over each grand division. We are seeking to work through pastors and denominational leaders to establish a contact within as many churches as possible with which we can communicate up-to-date information, educational materials, and voter registration information. Our grassroots directors will provide the training and materials so as not to add to the responsibilities of the ministerial staff. In addition, we are developing a broad-based media campaign to respond to the anticipated media from those in opposition to the amendment. Your participation, by prayer, providing contacts, and financial assistance where at all possible, will help us prepare our state for the vote.
Isn’t a campaign unnecessary and poor stewardship? Surely at least a majority of
Tennesseans will vote for marriage.
No. The campaign is not unnecessary or poor stewardship.
First, as previously stated, a majority of the votes cast does not mean the amendment is adopted. Every voter who votes for Governor, but simply does not vote on the amendment because he or she is unsure or uncertain about what to do (because of all the misinformation they will be getting), is effectively a “no” vote. Countering this misinformation is crucial.
Second, a significant margin of victory will provide helpful and important by-products.
- A resounding win will encourage and strengthen the will of politicians at every level in our state to stand for the family and marriage and help them withstand the efforts of those who continue to try to redefine the family.
- Our campaign will remind people that every child needs a mother AND father. Reminding our culture and our politicians of this fact will help pro-family advocates around the state in their efforts to promote the family and defend it from family-unfriendly policies in the General Assembly.
Second Amendment Rights
I am a life member of the National Rife Association and the National Skeet Shooting Associations. As a competitive shooter, I am particularly sensitive to any proposal that might try to take my guns from me. I am a firm believer in the “Castle Doctrine” and will make every effort to make it the law in Tennessee.
The Second Amendment to the U. S. Constitution guarantees each individual citizen of this country the right to keep and bear arms. The Tennessee Constitution also guarantees to the people of this state the right to keep and bear arms. As a member of the National Rife Association, I am committed to protecting our gun ownership rights.
Our Enemy is the criminal, not the weapon. Restricting gun ownership by law-abiding citizens is not the answer to Tennessee’s crime problem. I support laws that punish violent criminals, and I will never support any measure that infringes on our right to own a gun.
The Second Amendment to the U. S. Constitution guarantees each individual citizen of this country the right to keep and bear arms. The Tennessee Constitution also guarantees to the people of this state the right to keep and bear arms. As a member of the National Rife Association, I am committed to protecting our gun ownership rights.
Our Enemy is the criminal, not the weapon. Restricting gun ownership by law-abiding citizens is not the answer to Tennessee’s crime problem. I support laws that punish violent criminals, and I will never support any measure that infringes on our right to own a gun.
Taxes
I am a fiscal conservative who opposes a state income tax. I also oppose a statewide property tax. We need to balance the state’s budget by looking at spending, not just revenues. The year before I was elected, the General Assembly passed the largest tax increase in Tennessee history. By controlling spending and choosing our priorities, we can continue to enjoy the quality of life that makes Tennessee great.