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By Rep. Craig Fitzhugh

While Republicans & Democrats had many honest disagreements this past session, we were able to come together and solve some serious problems facing Tennessee. In no area is this cooperation more apparent than in our response to the new drug crisis involving methcathinone and its derivatives.

Methcathinone is a well know psychotropic drug with a high potential for addiction. In the United States, it is a schedule 1 drug and carries a Class B Felony for its production, distribution or sale. However, drug makers in China have found a way around this prohibition with new products known as “Molly’s Plant Food” or “Bath Salts.”

These two products, which were banned by the European Union in 2010, have no real purpose according to officials with the TBI. Commonly sold in gas stations throughout the state, these methcathinone derivatives have proved particularly popular among young people who snort them for a cheap high.

Since the products are derivatives of methcathinone and not technically the drug itself, law enforcement didn’t have the ability to go after people using or selling this highly addictive drug.

Responding to calls from local law enforcement officials, a bipartisan group of legislators introduced HB 457 commonly known as the “Bath Salts Bill.” This legislation makes it a Class A Misdemeanor to knowingly produce, sell or manufacture six specific derivatives of methcathinone-including Molly’s Plant Food & Bath Salts.  

This legislation, which does not outlaw legitimate bath salts like those found in a health & beauty store, passed 96-0 in the House of Representatives. I was proud to cast my vote for this bill, because we need to close the loophole and give law enforcement the tools they need to get these highly addictive drugs off the street.

On another note, this summer I am starting a new e-mail program where I send out bi-weekly updates-including “Craig’s Corner”- to subscribers. If you would like to get e-mail updates from me, you can sign-up at www.craigfitzhugh.com. Also don’t forget to find me on Facebook www.facebook.com/craigfitzhugh & Twitter www.twitter.com/craigfitzhugh.

As always, if you have any questions about this new law or would like to hear more about another issue, please contact my legislative office and we’ll get your questions answered as soon as possible. Have a great week!

NASHVILLE – State Representative Craig Fitzhugh (D-Ripley) &  State Senator Eric Stewart (D-Belvidere) announced Monday that they are filing a bill to make it a punishable crime when parents or guardians fail to timely notify authorities when a child under their care is missing.

“With any missing person’s case, and especially with children, every second counts,” Fitzhugh said. “If a child in our state is missing, we want authorities to be able to begin searching immediately. This law would make it a crime for any parent or guardian to delay the process that could bring a child to safety.”

The bill, known as “Caylee’s Law,” requires that authorities be notified as soon as a parent or guardian has reason to believe that a child within their custody or care has gone missing. Currently, Tennessee law (TCA 37-10-202) requires parents to report such information, but does not provide any means for enforcement.

Under Fitzhugh and Stewart’s bill, failure to notify authorities would constitute a misdemeanor. In situations in which bodily injury or death of the child resulted, the crime would be elevated to a felony. 

Tennessee currently participates in the AMBER Alert system, which brings the state’s law enforcement community, media broadcasting agencies and the public together to locate missing and abducted children. Those resources can’t be used, however, until the parent or guardian picks up the phone and notifies authorities. 

“As Tennessee lawmakers, we cannot do anything to change the outcome of the Casey Anthony trial in Florida, but we can and should strengthen our laws here in Tennessee,” Stewart said. “If a child is missing, the authorities should be notified immediately, not one day or 30 days later.”

Stewart and Fitzhugh said they are speaking with district attorneys and legislative lawyers to determine reporting timeline requirements that could vary based on the age of the child.  

The bill follows last week’s verdict in the Casey Anthony trial, which garnered national attention after the mother waited 31 days to report that her 2-year-old daughter Caylee had gone missing. The girl’s remains were later found near her Florida home.

By Rep. Craig Fitzhugh (D-Ripley)

The United States is the envy of the world because of our open, free and fair elections. Our most sacred right as a people is voting and we must always do whatever is necessary to protect that right.

Unfortunately, in Tennessee, your right to vote has come under attack. This year HB 007, commonly known as the “Photo-ID” bill was passed over the opposition of Representatives from both parties.

It used to be that all you needed to vote was your voter registration card or some other form of valid identification. Now, under HB 007, you will be required to present a photo ID in order to exercise your constitutional right to vote.

On the surface, this doesn’t seem like a bad idea. After all, we all want open, free and fair elections, but like so many issues the devil is in the details.

Take for example the impact this legislation will have on rural communities. In Tennessee, only 44% of our counties have a driver’s license station. In our district, we only have one station for all three of our counties, while areas like Nashville & Memphis have multiple DMV’s. This makes it easier for people in cities to obtain a photo ID and vote, while some people in rural areas will have to travel 30 miles or better just to get an ID.

Think also of the elderly. Those who are 60 years or older no longer have to put a photo on their driver’s license. Under HB 007, these individuals are now prohibited from voting.

While debating this bill, I supported several amendments that would have made this legislation much better. One amendment would have allowed senior citizens to use their Medicare or Social Security card to vote if their driver’s license didn’t have a photograph. Another amendment would have allowed a picture to be placed on your voter registration card. Unfortunately, both of these ideas were rejected by the majority party.

I am not opposed to the idea of photo IDs for voting, but we must put in place protections for our rural voters and, especially, our senior citizens. Because this legislation did not protect these groups, I voted against the bill. Voting is our most sacred right in this country and I will always fight to protect your right to the ballot box.

If you have any questions about this new law or would like to hear more about another issue, please contact my legislative office and we’ll get your questions answered as soon as possible. Have a great week!

By Rep. Craig Fitzhugh (D-Ripley)

As I go to work each day and travel around the district, people constantly stop me and say “Craig, we’ve got to do something about illegal immigration.”

I agree.

While immigration is traditionally an issue reserved for the federal government, Washington’s lack of action has led many states to take charge. Tennessee is no exception and we have made responsible progress during this legislative session with HB 1378, the Tennessee Lawful Employment Act.

The Tennessee Lawful Employment Act, which passed 96-0 in the House, is a bipartisan approach to immigration reform, focused on utilizing the E-verify system.

E-verify is an internet based program run by the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration. It allows employers to punch in a potential new hires social security number and, within seconds, receive a response that tells whether or not that individual is eligible to work in the US. E-verify is free to businesses and in Tennessee 4,000 companies already use the program.

The Tennessee Lawful Employment Act requires companies in the state to run every new hire through the E-verify system. Failure to do so results in a $500-$2,500 fine for the business. Additionally, any business found to have knowingly hired an illegal alien faces suspension of it’s business license for up to 1 year.

There are two exceptions to the new law. One, companies with 5 or fewer employees, mainly Mom & Pop operations that employ family members, are exempt from the new rules. Two, companies may opt to keep a copy of a valid drivers license on file as proof of a new hires legal status. However, if a business chooses the drivers license option over E-verify, they will not be exempt from the penalties if the new hire is later found to be an illegal.

I was proud to support this legislation. Tennessee has an unemployment rate above 10% and we need to make sure businesses are hiring Tennesseans. This bill accomplishes that goal. It is a responsible step toward comprehensive immigration reform and I look forward to more action on this issue next year.  

If you have any questions about this new law or would like to hear more about another issue, please contact my legislative office and we’ll get your questions answered as soon as possible. Have a great week!

Nashville, TN: Rep. Craig Fitzhugh today is praising the federal government for their swift action in declaring Crockett, Dyer and Lauderdale counties federal disaster areas.

“As the waters recede, people need to know that help is available to them,” said Rep. Fitzhugh. “I am proud that President Obama and Governor Haslam have worked so quickly to get the citizens of Crockett, Dyer and Lauderdale counties the help they need to rebuild.”

Crockett, Dyer & Lauderdale counties have all been approved for public assistance. This means that their local governments are eligible to apply for federal assistance for debris removal, emergency protective measures, and rebuilding and repairing roads, bridges, water control facilities, buildings, utilities and recreational facilities. Local officials can also apply for assistance from the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, which provides grants to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures after a disaster.

Additionally, Dyer county has been approved for private assistance. This means that Residents and business owners who sustained losses can begin applying for assistance immediately through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) by registering online at www.fema.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).

“I am also pleased to announce that I will be introducing legislation today with a bi-partisan group to give sales tax breaks to anyone buying big ticket items to replace those lost in the flood or storms. We’ll have more on this later, but for now people should save their receipts to take advantage of sales tax rebates if we pass this legislation,” said Fitzhugh.

Residents with questions about programs available under the federal disaster declaration are urged to visit www.tnema.org or contact the Office of Rep. Craig Fitzhugh at 615-741-2134 or 1-800-449-8366 ext. 1-2134.

By The Huffington Post

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER – Democrats in the Tennessee General Assembly introduced legislation yesterday to restore the state’s eligibility for the federal Extended Benefits program, which provides the final 20 weeks of bennies for the long term unemployed and which lapsed in April with no public debate. Bill sponsor Rep. Craig Fitzhugh (D) told HuffPost he got moving on the bill after hearing about the issue from a jobless constituent who’d lost his benefits. “It’s certainly something in my opinion we should move forward on,” Fitzhugh said. The lapse prematurely cut off EB for some 28,000 Tennesseans whose elected leaders offered no decent explanation for what happened.

By Rep. Craig Fitzhugh & Sen. Lowe Finney

Governor Bill Haslam’s announcement concerning the restructuring of the Department of Economic and Community Development came as a surprise to both of us, as well as our constituents. The department is generally recognized as one of the best in the country, and Tennessee has repeatedly been named one of the top places in the nation for businesses, entrepreneurs and relocations. Now, Gov. Haslam indicates that his changes will make Tennessee the best place in the Southeast for jobs. We fear he is lowering the bar to claim success.

When Governor Phil Bredesen took office in 2003, one of the biggest criticisms of the previous administration was its inability to attract jobs from outside the state. So Gov. Bredesen focused on leveling the playing field for businesses to invest in Tennessee, no matter where they were from. As a result, the department brought in 200,000 jobs and more than $34 billion in economic investment. It is directly responsible for luring Volkswagen, Hemlock, Nissan, Wacker Chemie, Electrolux, Bridgestone and numerous other businesses to Tennessee. In a recession, Tennessee was creating jobs and attracting companies. As the national economy recovers, one would expect such efforts to reap even greater rewards.

But Gov. Haslam says that he can do better at growing jobs by cutting positions and focusing on in-state businesses, rather than attracting businesses from across the country to Tennessee. He has every right to do so, and we are cautiously optimistic that his plan will create jobs across the state. To be fair, however, we must note that Gov. Haslam is talking about focusing on the very companies that Gov. Bredesen attracted. Now, the governor is saying that if such opportunities present themselves in the future, he will not make it a priority to attract them to Tennessee. It’s the wrong message to send.

Our unemployment rate remains stagnant while the national rate declines. The administration just celebrated its first 100 days in office – yet if you lost your job on the day Gov. Haslam won his election, your unemployment benefits expired this week. There’s no time for celebration. We should be doing everything we can to grow jobs in Tennessee, through a combination of working with established companies while continuing to convince new businesses to relocate here. Instead, the governor is cutting 71 positions, more than half of whom are community planners who typically assist communities in developing long-term economic plans. These services are invaluable in rural areas we serve, many of which have double-digit unemployment rates.

Gov. Haslam has not indicated how he will administer these services under his plan, and there has been no mention of whether cutting staff equates to cutting expenses. The governor has already given huge pay raises to many of his cabinet members, and he insists that it is the right thing to give these increases to them instead of veteran jobs-growth officials. We hope that he will at least save Tennessee taxpayers some money in the process.

When it comes down to it, the governor’s announcement is not a jobs plan. Instead, it amounts to chair shuffling in an attempt to refocus the state on job creation, while drawing attention away from bills that propose a state currency for Tennessee, attack teachers and disenfranchise voters. There is no doubt that such a move is needed during a legislative session that has been about anything but jobs. But never forget that when watching a magician perform, it’s not the hand he is waving so dramatically that is performing the trick. It is his other hand that is creating the illusion. In the case of the Governor’s proposals, the hand he is not waving is in your pocket.

Sen. Lowe Finney of Jackson is the Senate Democratic Caucus Chairman. Rep. Craig Fitzhugh of Ripley is the House Democratic Leader.

Nashville, TN: Rep. Craig Fitzhugh will host a town hall meeting this Thursday, April 28, 2011 4:00pm at the Crockett County Adult Education Center in Bells. The public & media are invited to attend.

Who: State Representative Craig Fitzhugh and his legislative staff.

What: Town Hall meeting to update constituents on the happenings of the 107^th General Assembly and how they will affect the public. A question and answer period will allow the public to express their concerns.

When: Thursday, April 28, 2011, 4:00pm.

Where: Crockett County Adult Education Center (5533 Hwy 412 South, Bells)

Additional questions can be directed to Zak Kelley at zachary.kelley@capitol.tn.gov or (731) 413-7392.

Nashville, TN: Rep. Craig Fitzhugh will host a town hall meeting this Thursday, April 28, 2011 6:30pm at the UT-Martin Center in Ripley. The public & media are invited to attend.

Who: State Representative Craig Fitzhugh and his legislative staff.

What: Town Hall meeting to update constituents on the happenings of the 107^th General Assembly and how they will affect the public. A question and answer period will allow the public to express their concerns.

When: Thursday, April 28, 2011, 6:30pm.

Where: UT-Martin Ripley Center (315 South Washington St, Ripley)

Additional questions can be directed to Zak Kelley at zachary.kelley@capitol.tn.gov or (731) 413-7392.

By Jason Cannon, Dyersburg State Gazettee

The state’s budget, current legislation, and local concerns were just a few of the issues Rep. Craig Fitzhugh (D) touched on during his town hall meeting at Dyersburg State Community College on Thursday.

Roughly 50 residents showed up to listen to the House minority leader’s take on the numerous subjects currently affecting Tennesseans as well as Dyer County residents.

He gave attendees a rundown of his background, which included his time spent as a lawyer and his entry into the banking business before his entry into the Legislature in 1994.

Fitzhugh noted his time spent as chairman on the Council of Pensions and Insurance, saying the state’s pension fund is funded in an exceptional manner and can carry on for 30 years without adding into it.

He also commented that House Speaker Beth Harwell (R) is doing an exceptional job and the two of them get along well. She also asked him to serve on the House Education Committee, which he accepted. He also serves on the House Joint Rules Committee and the Finance, Ways and Means Committee.

After his introduction, Fitzhugh turned his focus to the last election and said a lot of the issues were national issues and the concern was mostly about the size of government and the national debt and the national deficit.

“The ironic thing about it is we in Tennessee don’t have a lot of those problems,” said Fitzhugh.

“We have the lowest long-term debt of any state in the country,” said Fitzhugh.

He also noted Tennessee has a very solid ability to pay its long-term debt, which there is very little of. And he added that Tennessee is the 47th lowest-tax state in the country. He also stated Tennessee is 41st in education, but was coming up in this category.

One point of interest Fitzhugh was proud to announce was Tennessee having a balanced budget, unlike the federal government.

“Our Constitution requires us to, but we do it anyway,” said Fitzhugh.

He also noted some of the issues that were coming through the House such as the professional negotiation bill, charter school bill, and the voter ID bill.

“We had a bill giving more power to the state election commissioner to be able to subpoena and do things like that, to hopefully prevent some voter fraud,” said Fitzhugh.

He then opened the floor up to questions to the audience.

Alderman Bob Kirk asked about tort liability issues. A tort is a civil wrong that leads to legal liability. Fitzhugh said there is a current bill moving through the House and the Senate that would in effect cap the amount of damages on lawsuits.

“As it was originally proposed I think there would be a $750,000 cap for damages other than actual damages,” said Fitzhugh.

He said there is also an amendment working its way through that would raise that cap.

District Attorney General Phil Bivens then brought up the issue about the redistricting.

“I think Dyer County needs to be in its own district,” said Bivens.

He also mentioned the state’s voter ID bill, saying Attorney General Robert E. Cooper Jr. ruled it was unconstitutional.

The bill requires people to show a photo ID before they register to vote.

Fitzhugh said he supports the bill and the issue was having people to travel to another location and pay for an ID. He said the attorney general stated that amounts to a poll tax and requires people to pay a fee.

“That should bother us because we don’t want to do things like that,” said Fitzhugh.

Dr. Carol Feather asked Fitzhugh about the attempt to politicize the election of school superintendents.

Fitzhugh said he has always supported what he feels his district wants, which is the process of an appointed school superintendent.

He noted a recently proposed bill died in a committee by one vote to change the position to an elected position.

“In the 16 years I’ve been up there, I’ve always been for appointing school system superintendents, but what I’m saying is it is getting closer and closer to allow the elected ones,” said Fitzhugh.

After taking a few other questions, the issue turned to the proposed shooting range in the Viar community.

Amy Schmitt McDonald, who lives in the Viar community, asked Fitzhugh what his position was on the location of the gun range.

He said he supported the gun range, but did not know there was an issue with the location until recently.

Fitzhugh said he believed it was possibly an appropriate place since there was already a wildlife management area there.

Another Viar resident also noted to Fitzhugh, who sits on the advisory committee of the Northwest Tennessee Shooting Sportsman Association, they were going to take a double hit on housing prices if the shooting range goes in. And he wanted to know what the other option was the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency looked at before making the ultimate decision to place the range there on Beaver Road.

After taking several more comments and questions on the issue, Fitzhugh asked the concerned parties to meet with him after the meeting and he would discuss them.

Another resident posed a question to Fitzhugh, asking if he thought a 1.6 percent raise for state employees was sufficient.

“No ma’am, I sure don’t think so, but I’m certainly glad we’ve got something on the table,” said Fitzhugh.

He added it has been four years since state employees and teachers have had a raise and he and his colleagues would fight to get it raised.

Fitzhugh noted to the attendees he was a little disappointed about the progress of the mega-site in Haywood County.

“I hope we can get a budget amendment to have enough money to finish the infrastructure so we can get somebody in here as soon as possible,” said Fitzhugh. “We know jobs will help a lot of things.” After fielding a couple more of questions, Fitzhugh adjourned everyone and remained afterward to speak with members of the Viar community and others.

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