Statewide Experts will Speak on ESSR School Funding and Social Emotional Learning in Jamestown on July 21st

Two speakers will present on issues affecting K-12 schools over ESSR (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) federal funds and SEL- Social Emotional Learning. The presentations will be held at 6 p.m. at the Historic County Courthouse on Main Street on July 21. Attendance is free and open to the public.

Fentress County schools have received many millions in ESSR funding. What are the requirements? SEL is bringing a new focus on how students feel about their selves and issues. How are these two programs connected, and what impact can they have on education?

A.J. DePriest will speak on ESSR funds. She is a founding members of TN Liberty Network. TN Liberty Network is an independent, covert think tank that has no public membership and does not accept donations or funding. TN Liberty Network’s 30 members have been instrumental in supplying state lawmakers and other policy leaders across America actionable research and intel on issues ranging from Covid mandates and hospital protocols, illegal immigration, election integrity, and government-run education.

Ms. DePriest appeared upon the national media landscape in January of 2022 with the release of their research on federal funds for ESSR and how that will affect the schools concerning covid policy now and in the future. Their research also showed how the federal government is funding hospitals for covid patients. Specifically, the federal government is funding hospitals in TN $135,000 per person with covid, more for each procedure (respirator and remdesivir) and a bonus upon death. That research is available to the public.

Dr. Beth Meyers will speak on SEL, social emotional learning, in schools. SEL aims at addressing students K-12 to ensure “developmentally appropriate, culturally competent, and evidence-based universal practices focused on: (1) self-awareness; (2) self-management; (3) social awareness; (4) relationship skills; and (5) responsible decision making. However, opponents to SEL warn against the “extremely sensitive nature of evaluating children’s social-emotional makeup and having inadequately trained personnel implementing plans designed to alter students’ psyches.”

Dr. Meyers is a retired National Board Certified teacher with twenty years’ classroom experience, and is an independent research consultant and education advocate. She has spent thirty years in education, twenty of which were as a public-school teacher and in-service developer/facilitator. She has worked with numerous legislators on educational issues and helped draft a data transparency bill that was signed into Louisiana law in 2014. She is a strong advocate of Classical education and parental rights.

Dr. Meyers holds a Bachelor’s in Secondary Education; a Master’s in Educational Technology; and a doctorate in Educational Leadership. She received her doctorate from Southeastern Louisiana University, where she was awarded the Preston B. Allison Outstanding Dissertation Award for her research on the effects of political culture on education policy. For more information on Beth, visit https://bethmeyersforschoolboard.com.

This presentation will be taped by WDEB radio. It is also sponsored and funded by Tennessee Action Group of Fentress County, TAG. TAG is a group of Fentress county residents who want to use collective action on the local grassroots level to educate our community on issues that support the protection of citizen life, liberty and property in Fentress County and the state of Tennessee. Follow us on Facebook (Tennessee Action Group, TAG) or visit our website at: www.tennactiongroup.org.

Attend the Fentress County Sheriff Candidates Town Hall on Friday, July 8, 6 p.m.

June 27, 2022
In News Stories

Learn about the candidates for Fentress County Sheriff at a Town Hall at the Old Courthouse in Jamestown on Friday, July 8 at 6 p.m.

Candidates Max Goodpaster, Rodney Insco, Gary “Goose” Ledbetter and Michael “Bigfoot” Reagon will introduce themselves and answer questions.

Where: Historic Fentress County Courthouse, 101 S Main St, Jamestown, TN 38556, Upstairs in courtroom

Structured Q&A format: Audience may submit questions to moderator in writing.

Meet the Candidate Town Halls Scheduled

See Video of Criminal Court Judge candidates from Town Hall held Friday, June 24, 6 p.m.

Thomas Tabor
Zach Walden
Graham Wilson

Watch the video of this event here, courtesy of WDEB:

The Fallacy Of Fossil Fuels Vs. The New Green Deal

June 1, 2022

By Anne Beckett [contributor to The Tennessee Conservative and founder of Tennessee Action Group] –

The Green New Deal is part of a socialistic policy based on a long running fallacy: that we have limited amounts of oil that are not renewable.

The New Green Deal defines its goals as, “meeting 100 percent of national power” demand through renewable sources, retrofitting “every residential and industrial building for state-of-the-art energy efficiency, comfort, and safety,” and eliminating “greenhouse gas emissions from the manufacturing, agricultural, and other industries.”

That will be done through “green power,” defined by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as “electricity produced from solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, eligible biomass, and low-impact small hydroelectric sources.”

Many Americans (Dems 92%, Repubs 64%) back the Green Deal plan (which would include universal healthcare) until they know the cost of beginning estimates at $5.2 trillion over 20 years. It would also incur increased taxes to pay for the 170% increase in the federal budget for these 2 programs (would that be a 170% increase in taxes? Do the math). Ultimately, the Green New Deal, is actually just a “starter package for turning our mostly free-market economy socialist.”

But wait, oil is not renewable! Or is it? We need to conserve! Or do we?

According to an article published in 2016 by CNN Business, “America now has more untapped oil than any other country on the planet.” In 2016, we were the greatest producers of oil in the world.

Most importantly, there are two competing arguments for the source and composition of oil. Depending on which historical analysis you choose to believe, oil is either abiotic or biogenetic. That is, it is either abiotic- composed of non-living physical and chemical elements (water, air, soil, sunlight and minerals); or, biotic, biogenetic- composed of once-living organisms (animals, plants, fungi).

If the non-organic, abiotic theory is correct, then hydrocarbon reserves would be “enormous and almost unexhaustible.”

Since we have the ability to analyze the true composite of oil, it is no longer a theory. For readable in-depth analyses of the science and history of abiotic vs. biogenetic, see here, here, here, and here. We easily see that oil is abiotic. It is a renewable element produced by the earth itself.

So, what in the world is happening? It might be worth remembering Lenin’s words: “A lie told often enough becomes the truth.” And as is true for most quandaries, particularly political, to understand what is happening then follow the money. In other words, cui bono. Who benefits?

We do know Shell Oil company had record earnings the first quarter of 2022, beating its previous highest quarterly profits in 2008. It seems the past year has been good for the oil business. Here are their first quarter earnings for 2021 and 2022: $3.2B vs $9.1B. That is an 84% increase in one year. Wait, weren’t we in lockdown?

If that does not make you ill, then enjoy riding your bicycle to work. The rest of us find it outrageous and, well, criminal. No one faults business succeeding in our capitalistic society. We do protest when it is done deceptively. The founders of the oil companies were well aware of oil’s sources. They still are. Don’t be fooled. Please.

What will it take for the populace to rise up and say “no more”? Most, it seems, are hanging by fingernails waiting for 2022 elections. In the least, then, let’s hope conservative politicians dominate the elections, and, they have the courage, fortitude and patiotric sense to save America. Otherwise, we all need to find our sea legs in this rambunctious climate and make a stand ourselves.

Fun in Fentress Supper & Auction is May 14

Tennessee Action Group is having its first annual supper auction on May 14th, at the Community Center in Jamestown.

Fentress County’s politicians Senator Ken Yager, Rep. Kelly Keisling and Rep. John Mark Windle will be there for a competition to tell the best fish ‘tale’. The audience will be the judges.

All attendees are also invited to participate in a political jokecontest with a $50 cash prize! (keep it clean!)

The sheriff candidates will also be guests and speak briefly to introduce themselves.

And, we hear Elvis is in town…!

Auctions items will be updated on TAG website as we get closer to the auction. For now we have a variety of patriotic items including wood signs/flags, a Clydesdale Tour, a special TN flag that has been flown at the Capitol in honor of the auction winner with his/her name entered into the Legislative record, specialty cakes, ammo and other items from gun store, silent auctions on sterling silver jewlery with American Indian design, and many other items.

Seats are $25 for VIP in front, and $20 each for regular seating. A table seats 6 and you can reserve one of the 3 VIP tables that are still currently available with all 6 seats or a general admission table.

Tickets are on sale NOW at Chamber of Commerce downtown Jamestown, and Hook, Line & Trigger on Duncan Ave., west side of old hospital until May 6 only. Limited seating.

Proceeds will go towards Fentress County outreach and election efforts.

Sign Up For Legislative Alerts!

Will Tennessee Turn Blue? Tennessee is being targeted by the Left! The 2022 Legislative Session is critical with explosive issues about key freedoms being decided by the end of April. Our legislators are being bombarded by the opposition to approve radical agendas. What do you think about the following bills?:

• Do you want illegal immigrants to vote in Tennessee?
• Do you want K-12 textbooks to promote gay/lesbian and transgender lifestyles?
• Do you want covid vaccines mandatory for your K-12 children?
• Do you want laws that protect your medical and religious exemptions in the workplace?
• Do you want laws that keep churches open during pandemics?
• Do you want to be assured that our voting system is secure?

These key issues and others will be decided by the end of April with or without your input. Do you want your voice heard? Conservative voices are barely at a whisper. Legislators do count your calls and emails! And our elected men and women on the front lines want our help and support as they fight to make a difference.

Tennessee Action Group partners with other organizations and legislators to monitor upcoming bills. We send Alerts within 48 hours of voting – when calls and emails are most critical.

For Alerts that update on bills and how to contact your state legislators, sign up at:
https://www.tennactiongroup.org/contact

Joint Study Committee on Refugee Issues

Final Review And Recommendations

January 28, 2022

By Anne Beckett [contributor to The Tennessee Conservative and founder of Tennessee Action Group] –

On Thursday January 27, 10:30AM CST, the Joint Study Committee on Refugee Issues held their last meeting in the Cordell Hull Building in Nashville, TN.

This meeting was to approve and adopt a draft of their review for a Final Report to be released to the public and media. The committee voted to adopt the draft, with Rep. Bruce Griffey voting against and Rep. Chris Todd passing.

Sen. Dawn White (Chair) was kind enough to release the report immediately for the Tennessee Conservative news.

Sen. White stated the Final Report is a ”factual report” from the testimony and videos seen during the four committee meetings since June of last year. Recommendations for consideration are included.

The committee was charged by Lt. Gov. McNally and Speaker Sexton to investigate the federal government’s immigration program within Tennessee, and determine the state’s interest in the following areas:

Evaluate the number of migrant children being permanently relocated to Tennessee by the Federal Government.

Determine the number of migrant children being flown into Tennessee and then relocated to other states by the Federal Government.
Determine how to increase transparency from the federal government regarding its relocation of unaccompanied migrant children to and through Tennessee

Study the impact (financial and otherwise) of the federal government’s relocation program on Tennesseans.

There is only one facility in Tennessee to relocate children processed through ORR (federal Office of Refugee Resettlement). They report 1,100 children permanently relocated in Tennessee according to ORR data as of June 2021.

The Fiscal Review Committee was “unable to provide an exact cost due to a lack of available data concerning the number of UAC (unaccompanied alien children) in Tennessee.” Instead, “substantial assumptions” were used to estimate annual costs over 13 and 15 years, respectively: TennCare between $85,000 and $223,900 a year; Public education from $3.9 million to $13.9 million a year.

On May 21st, during a White House Press Briefing, the White House Press Secretary acknowledged that the federal government had been transporting UAC through Tennessee because of its central geographic location.

However, determining how many children are being flown through Tennessee and how to increase transparency from the Federal Government were both left unanswered.

Tennessee Senators Blackburn and Hagerty, Governor Lee’s office, state counterparts in law enforcement and repeated attempts from Tennessee government liaisons to the offices of Health and Human Services (HHS) and ORR were left unanswered except to be directed to the websites of HHS and ORR.

Catholic Charities / Tennessee Office for Refugees (TOR) reported to the committee on August 12 th . They vetted approximately 500 refugees in their highly regulated federal program for the year. However, Catholic Charities has many related organizations of the same name under one umbrella. Governor Lee gave $ 7.3 million dollars from TANF (Tennessee Assistance to Needy Families) to Catholic Charites of Tennessee in November 2020. The larger organization was invited to speak at the subsequent meeting but did not appear.

The committee heard from Mr. Glenn Reynolds, Distinguished Professor of Law University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Legally, the Federal Government has constitutional power over immigration. However, “states maintain the right to regulate issues dealing with public health and safety.”

Therefore, “private contractors are still subject to state laws and rules” that are used by the Federal Government in both land and air transportation for illegal immigrants.”

Attorney Reynolds further opined, “the states maintain police powers and that a business’ status as a federal contractor does not preclude them from state laws.” He suggests an argument could be made that” illegal aliens place a financial burden on the state” in order to control the burden via state law and the courts.

The committee then made recommendations.

They first acknowledged the “extensive federal nature of immigration and UAC placement,” adding, “this issue is largely regulated at the federal level.” A distinction between legal immigration and illegal immigration was not made.

For the protection of Tennessee citizens the committee called for:

The Federal Government to “seek approval from the state prior to the location of UAC’s,” and support for the “Migrant Resettlement Transparency Act” introduced by Sen. Blackburn and Sen. Hagerty.
Additional reporting requirements for residential child care agencies (RCCA).
Immediate reporting of juveniles missing from a licensed facility.
Licensure revocation and ineligibility for renewal when multiple facility employees are charged with criminal behavior.

The Final Report is now available to legislators and several members have expressed plans to submit bills on these issues.

Sen. Dawn White said she would be working on a resolution to incorporate the committee’s ideas, especially the first recommendation related directly to a resolution. White also said any committee member could file a bill related to what the committee discussed and learned.

Representative Griffey recently has filed several bills related to immigrant issues. House Bill 1994 is tailored after an idea forwarded by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis that would relocate anyone found in Tennessee who is not legally in the country to Delaware, California, Connecticut, Martha’s Vineyard or Vermont, the home states of the Democrats who Griffey said are responsible for the country’s border crisis.

Griffey also proposed House Bill 1648, which would allow a school district to deny enrollment to any student found to be in the country illegally and eliminates state funding for those students.

According to a poll by Tennessee Conservative News, and read into the record in the November 15 th meeting, Tennesseans strongly “want action on the issue of illegal immigration.” We await the response of the 2022 General Assembly.

A Look at Public Education Purpose and Oversight

What do you want your child to learn in school? Do you want an emphasis on basic education? Or do you want public schools to oversee his/her mental health “needs?” (1)

The Tennessee Commissioner of Education Penny Schwinn, after her appointment in 2019, implemented a 5-year plan to focus on students’ emotional needs called the “whole child” approach. (2) Schwinn says educators have identified “emotional needs” as a top concern. Is that why you send your child to school?

Schwinn’s “concerns” included an attempt to send someone to see every child in TN to conduct “well-being” checks as a “new government initiative.” (3) Are you ready to have a stranger knock on your door to check on your child’s “well-being”? If a child simply uses the word ”uncomfortable” in an interview with a state worker it can incur bureaucratic intervention.

In 1963, a Tennessean congressman entered a list of communist goals into the congressional record. Centralizing governmental control over education is goal #34. (4) Are we headed there?

Gov. Lee appointed Schwinn without her submitting a resume or receiving any legislative overview or support. The legislature has voiced repeated concerns about her policies and actions (for 3 years) threatening a “no confidence” vote on her even as Governor Lee continues to support her. (5)(6)
Schwinn, a native Californian, signed a state plan in 2021 to submit TN schools to federal oversight. Look for masks and vaccine mandates this Spring, and then call your legislator and ask why. For further details see our website. (7)

(1) http://stand.org/washington/blog/2013/02/12/what-does-basic-education-mean

(2) https://tn.chalkbeat.org/2019/11/5/21109209/whole-child-among-tennessee-s-new-priorities-amid-concerns-about-student-mental-health

(3) http://www.silentnomorepublications.com/Money/files/Communist_Goals_1963.pdf

(4) https://tn.chalkbeat.org/2020/8/27/21404921/tennessee-lawmakers-want-answers-from-schwinn-after-fallout-over-child-well-being-checks

(5) https://www.parispi.net/opinion/columns/article_255b39ce-5ab2-11eb-909c-c7df41e31c55.html

(6) https://tn.chalkbeat.org/2020/9/10/21431460/gov-bill-lee-reasserts-support-of-education- commissioner-penny-schwinn-i-am-pleased-with-her-work

(7) On Telegram, look for “”The Great Takedown-TNDOEChat” to get all federal documents on how the federal government is planning a complete take down of education in Tennessee. Expect masks and vaccine mandates by late Spring if TN is participating.

Appeared in January 26, 2022 Fentress Times

Duty to Oppose IIllegal Immigration in TN

Last June the TN legislature formed a committee to study illegal immigration in the state. They concluded their investigation but have not issued the final report.(1)

Committee member Senator Richard Briggs of Knoxville admits Tennessee has illegal immigrants, but says, “It is primarily a federally created problem.” He says Congress needs to take action. Congress is not acting. Why isn’t Tennessee?

Tennessee can not depend on Congress to protect its citizens from federally-permitted illegal activity. Read the TN Constitution. (2) It is the job of the state legislators to make laws to protect the citizens of Tennessee.

Sen. Briggs admits that Tennessee has an illegal immigration problem. But he says we are “not in crisis.” Really? Is crisis needed before any action is taken?

The federal government has zero transparency and is unwilling to communicate on any level with Tennessee. The feds have created an illegal problem, and our legislators’ job is to stop it at the border of Tennessee.

The issue is not about immigrants. It’s about illegal immigrants. And by doing nothing, TN is participating in illegal activity. At the very least, start with laws to penalize business contracts with companies that transport illegals, as Florida’s Gov. DeSantis has done. Or, as Florida is also doing, budget $8 million to bus illegal immigrants to Biden’s Delaware. (3)

Your voice does matter. Call or write Sen. Ken Yager and Rep. Kelly Kiesling to make sure committee members submit bills to penalize illegal immigration activity.

(1) https://tennesseeconservativenews.com/tennessee-senators-fear-little-can-be-done-to-curb-illegal-immigration-within-state/

(2) https://www.capitol.tn.gov/about/docs/TN-Constitution.pdf

(3) https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2021/12/13/desantis-seeks-8m-to-bus-illegal-aliens-out-of-florida-to-bidens-delaware-obamas-marthas-vineyard/

ADDENDUM: Report Issued https://tennesseeconservativenews.com/joint-study-committee-on-refugee-issues-releases-final-review-and-recommendations/

Appeared in January 12, 2022 Fentress Times

Who Rules Tennessee?

God warned his people about the danger of being ruled by a king, that is, one man. (1) Our country was founded on a division of powers to try and keep the same thing from happening. (2)

On March 11, 2020, Governor Bill Lee declared a State of Emergency with a lengthy executive order restricting life activities, including shutting down commerce, businesses and schools. (3, 4)

Tennessee statutes allow a state of emergency for 60 days in which time Gov. Lee can make temporary regulations called executive orders. (5) The state of emergency lasted 21 months.

During this time, the members of the General Assembly were unable to weigh in on any of these decisions. Instead, Gov. Lee ruled over covid restrictions through 62 executive orders.

The legislature is a coequal branch of government with exclusive responsiblity for making laws. (7) Several bills were submitted to limit a state of emergency and failed to pass. (8) We depend on our 133 representatives to juggle the many needs of Tennessee’s 6.9 million citizens.

The true definition of the word “emergency” is “an unforeseen occurrence requiring immediate attention.” A situation lasting 21 months is no longer an emergency.

Other states have more than 300 pending actions by their legislatures over governor’s powers. (9) (10) In January, its time for the Tennessee General Assembly to limit Gov. Lee’s ability to maintain a state of emergency. Thirty days is long enough. Call the offices of Sen. Ken Yager and Rep. Kelly Kiesling and let them know we depend upon them to ensure these limits are enacted.

CONTACT INFO:

Senator Ken Yager: Email, www.kenyager.com ; Phone (615) 741-1449

Rep. Kelly Kiesling: Email, rep.kelly.keisling@capitol.tn.gov
https://www.kellykeislingtn.com/contact
Phone (615) 741-6852

References

(1) Samuel 8:10-18

(2) https://www.ncsl.org/research/about-state-legislatures/separation-of-powers-an-overview.aspx

(3) Tennessee EO22 Lee_0.pdf

(4) https://www.lawserver.com/law/state/tennessee/tn-code/tennessee_code_58-2-110

(5) The duration of the protection provided by this subsection (l) shall not
exceed thirty (30) days, but may be extended by the governor by executive order
for an additional thirty (30) days, if required to ensure the provision of
emergency medical services in response to the catastrophic or major disaster.

(6) (HB9081, HB9029,
SP9024, HB 9072, HB1235, SB1169).

(7) https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/covid-cases-soar-gop-state-lawmakers-keep-fighting-limit-governors-n1247801

(8) https://www.etymonline.com/word/Emergency

(9) https://www.ncsl.org/research/about-state-legislatures/legislative-oversight-of-executive-orders.aspx

Legislative chambers in at least 47 states, Guam and Puerto Rico introduced or considered more than 300 bills or resolutions in 2021 that provide expressly for legislative involvement in and oversight of governors’ or executive actions during the Covid-19 pandemic or other emergencies. These actions include legislation that relates to legislatures’ ability to meet in special session. (For other legislation changing emergency management laws or other laws related to COVID-19, see NCSL’s COVID-19 database.)

(10) https://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2021/05/opinion-legislators-must-rein-in-governors-unchecked-emergency-power.html

News Stories

Articles of interest