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Stockard on the Stump: Accusations fly in House and nearly fisticuffs • Tennessee Lookout [1]
['Sam Stockard', 'More From Author', 'March']
Date: 2024-03-08
Promises, promises. This wouldn’t be the first time they’re broken.
Rep. John Gillespie of Memphis swore on the House floor Thursday he didn’t tell the family of slain motorist Tyre Nichols’ he would postpone a policing bill they oppose until next week when they could return to the Capitol. That claim brought an accusation from Rep. Justin J. Pearson, also of Memphis, that Gillespie lied to the family (and a subsequent rebuke that amounted to nothing).
Nichols’ parents, Rodney and RowVaughn Wells, also sent out a statement Thursday urging senators to vote against the bill when it reaches the upper chamber and reiterated what Pearson said, that Gillespie told them not to visit Nashville because he didn’t plan to bring the bill to the floor.
The Wells visited the Legislature Monday lobbying against Gillespie’s bill, which would turn back a Memphis City Council ordinance designed to prevent police officers from making “pretextual” stops such as pulling over motorists for a bad tail light. The Wells believe their son, Tyre, would be alive if such an ordinance had been in place in January 2023 when police stopped him and beat him (the incident is on video). He later died.
Gillespie responded by postponing the bill until Thursday and attaching an amendment — which is usually a no-no on the floor — making the bill apply only to “pretextual” stops. In other words, police would still make them in Memphis and statewide.
Several Memphis Democrats questioned whether he told the Wells he would delay the bill until they could return to the Capitol, which is more than three hours from Memphis — unless Rep. Joe Towns is driving.
Rodney and RowVaughn Wells, parents of the late Tyre Nichols, at a Monday press conference speaking out against a bill to overrule a local government measure to limit traffic stops of the type that resulted in Nichols' death. (Photo: John Partipilo) “They were told it would be presented next Thursday. John lied to them,” said Rep. Justin Jones, D-Memphis, of Rep. John Gillespie. (Photo: John Partipilo) Rep. Gloria Johnson hugs RowVaughn Wells, mother of the late Tyre Nichols. (Photo: John Partipilo)
Gillespie contended his community is “begging” for safer streets and refused to give in, saying the bill needed to pass immediately to cut Memphis crime.
Afterward, he said he texted Mr. Wells during Thursday’s session to let him know he was moving forward with the bill and received no response.
“I feel horrible that they feel this way. But I told them this bill was on the calendar today and that my intention was adding an amendment if I was allowed,” Gillespie said.
Regardless of who said what and when, Gillespie could have put it off again. Democrats practically begged him for a delay.
But the second-termer who succeeded the late Rep. Jim Coley wouldn’t budge — buoyed by supermajority Republicans. And two efforts by Towns to force postponement failed.
Eventually, the House voted along party lines to adopt Gillespie’s bill, bringing yet more criticism from Pearson.
“They were told it would be presented next Thursday. John lied to them,” Pearson told the Lookout later, basically the same thing he said on the floor.
Driving while Black: a process in which police pull over vehicles to make a “speculative” investigation unconnected to the reason for the stop — a practice that led to a U.S. Justice Department investigation of the Memphis Police Department.
The Wells issued a statement later Thursday saying the legislation is a “dangerous step back in the fight for accountability, transparency and justice within law enforcement.” They consider the Memphis ordinances a “part of Tyre’s legacy,” intended to build trust between law enforcement and residents and prevent tragic deaths.
The Senate is likely to follow the House on this issue, even though Lt. Gov. Randy McNally isn’t enthused with several other constitutionally questionable measures emanating from the lower chamber.
The real question, however, is whether Memphis Police will follow the Legislature’s orders if the bill becomes law or stick with the City Council directive to limit “pretextual” stops, those in which officers pull over vehicles to make a “speculative” investigation unconnected to the reason for the stop, and not for enforcing traffic laws.
Some folks call it stereotyping or “driving while Black,” and the U.S. Department of Justice saw enough problems with Memphis policing policy to investigate last year.
But the City Council, worn out with traffic stops turning into killings, took things into their own hands and prohibited “pretextual” policing.
It sounds like something the police department should have done years ago. But in the majority minority city on the banks of the Mississippi, change comes slowly — if at all.
How long has this been going on?
Change is likely coming to a bill that could make Department of Tourist Development information secret for five to 10 years.
Lt. Gov. Randy McNally said Thursday he believes keeping documents “out of the view of the public for any length of time deserves a lot of scrutiny.”
In light of opposition to the bill from the conservative Beacon Center’s advocacy arm, Republican senators appear ready to amend the measure that passed the House Monday. They hope to make it similar to policies in the Department of Economic and Community Development, which hands out tens of millions of dollars annually to retain and recruit business. The Beacon Center often puts those deals into its annual Pork Report.
This bill appears to be aimed at bringing the Super Bowl to Nashville as the Titans and local and state officials broke ground last week for a domed stadium near the ancient Nissan Stadium (can 25 years be considered old?).
And, by jiminy, we can’t let anyone see state, local, NFL or Titans documents showing how much taxpayers and ticket holders got rooked to play host to the Super Bowl.
Under the bill, the tourism commissioner and attorney general would decide whether economic recruiting information is exempt from the Public Records Act for five and then 10 years.
Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson, however, acknowledged Thursday “it’s a fair question” to ask whether that’s too long. The main concern is to keep the early stages of negotiations under wraps, he said.
Of course, there is no guarantee the Super Bowl is on the way once the new stadium opens. But they tell me any time a new NFL stadium opens the big game isn’t far behind.
Reckon we can see the emails for that?
What tax increase?
Lawmakers are getting cold feet on a Comptroller-pushed bill that would speed up property tax reappraisal cycles from four to six years to one to four years.
State Rep. Dale Carr, who’s carrying the bill in the House, postponed it until March 11 after a stiff wind started blowing his way as he tried to muster the votes Thursday.
Carr, a Sevierville Republican, told House members the bill is “budget neutral,” which is based on state law that says reappraisals leading to higher property valuations can’t create a tax windfall. Thus, a new certified tax rate has to be set to equalize a county’s old rate and reap the same property tax revenue.
Here’s the sticking point. Carr and Comptroller Jason Mumpower both say the bill is “budget neutral,” in spite of a $100 million fiscal note showing counties statewide would realize that much more in tax collections if the bill takes effect.
Mumpower told the Lookout last year 38 counties lost $100 million to $113 million in property tax collections because of dated property values. Davidson lost about $27 million and Shelby about $28 million.
Because of the lag time between appraisals, governments often have to discount property taxes by applying a sales ratio dealing with appraisals versus market values. Apparently, those are the culprits.
Asked how Fiscal Review staff came up with the $100 million, Carr said, “To be just as nice as I can be, it was a disagreement between the comptroller, myself and Fiscal Review.”
The state’s bean counters aren’t backing down on their analysis.
Neither did Rep. Tom Leatherwood, R-Arlington, a former Shelby County property assessor, who pointed out Thursday a reappraisal would not be neutral for homes in an area of “appreciating values.” Those property owners would pay higher taxes after reappraisal while property owners in areas with depreciating values might pay less.
Carr eventually admitted that people could pay a little more after more frequent reappraisals or they could pay “a big hike” by waiting up to six years.
Yet he still opted to push it off until Monday when lawmakers will be fresh and not quite as grumpy after a week of hell raising on the hill. It’ll also give him time to work fence-sitters over the weekend.
Bring out the gloves
State Rep. Scott Cepicky, a Culleoka Republican, and Rep. John Ray Clemmons, D-Nashville and chairman of the House Democratic Party, nearly squared off Thursday after a tiff over Metro Nashville Public Schools.
Cepicky requested a resolution honoring Metro schools be pulled from the House consent agenda, which is designed for lawmakers to vote on non-controversial resolutions. Clemmons got fired up about the move, then became nearly irate after Cepicky allegedly disparaged the district.
They only got up in each other’s grill, marking yet one more time in the last year bodily harm on the House floor was averted.
“We just had a disagreement. That’s all,” said Cepicky, who is steering the dratted private-school voucher bill through House committees. He denied talking trash about Metro schools.
An altercation between Rep. Scott Cepicky, R-Culleoka, at left, and Rep. John Ray Clemmons, D-Nashville, over comments Cepicky allegedly make about Metro Nashville Schools. (Photo: John Partipilo) The altercation between Cepicky and Clemmons escalates. (Photo: John Partipilo) Rep. Jason Powell, D-Nashville, moves to separate Cepicky and Clemmons. (Photo: John Partipilo)
Are we starting to see a theme here?
But Clemmons said afterward he was “sick and tired of the attack and disparagement” of public schools. Clemmons said he asked Cepicky not to send the resolution back to a committee, and that’s when he used some language Clemmons didn’t appreciate.
“He took exception and you saw what happened,” Clemmons said.
Fellow lawmakers had to separate them as they growled at each other.
It’s a good thing the wide-bodied Cepicky didn’t fall on the cagey Clemmons or somebody would’ve been calling 911.
Looking for cash
Priscilla Presley is set to visit the Legislature March 27 in an effort to raise money to move the Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum from the FedEx Forum in Memphis to the Lansky Building on Beale Street, according to lobbyist Melissa Bast.
Some $5 million has been brought in for the move, and the late Elvis Presley’s wife will be asking lawmakers to match that amount, Bast said.
It’s a tough budget year, and Presley “knows the competitive nature” of fundraising, especially at the General Assembly, she acknowledged.
Ms. Presley might be prepared to play “If I can dream” over and over again.
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