Commissioned by StudentsFirst, a non-profit organization that promotes reform in public education, the well-respected polling organization, Public Opinion Strategies, conducted a statewide poll with voters of Tennessee to test attitudes about the education reform agenda passed last year in the General Assembly.
The numbers reveal that Tennesseans are serious about education reform, and 54 percent  believe the governor and General Assembly are taking the state in the right direction.
•72 percent approve of Governor Haslam’s performance.
• 63 percent of the voters approve of the job of the Legislature.
•53 percent believe public schools are on the wrong track.
•52 percent believe schools need “major change.”
 Specifically, these polls questioned voters about the agenda we passed last year on education reform.
These results show similar approval ratings by voters:
•Tenure Reform:  Received a 75 percent positive rating.
•Evaluation Reform for Teachers:  Received a 72 percent approval rating.
•Ending collective bargaining for unions in education received a 54 percent approval rating, including 67 percent of Republicans.
 So, it appears that voters believe we are headed in the right direction by placing these higher standards and performance measures in gear.
With all change comes the “bumps in the road,” but the foundation is now in place that can further help aspects of society like career opportunities and economic development.
It is an honor to team work with dedicated leaders in the legislature and to have a visionary governor at the helm, making Tennessee a better place to live, to work, and to raise a family. 
 There is much heated debate in the House this week concerning gun rights and property rights.
As one who supports Second Amendment rights and property rights, this legislation is a hard one on which to conclude.
HB3559 prohibits employment discrimination based on an employee’s ownership, storage,  transportation, or possession of a firearm that is otherwise in accordance with state and federal law.
HB3560 prevents employers and landowners from prohibiting individuals licensed to carry from storing guns in a locked personal car.
Essentially, if you have gone through the background checks and the training to become licensed to carry, how do you begin to draw the ever-extending lines of where you can carry?
Businesses argue that it violates their property rights, and NRA and other gun groups defend the Second Amendment gun rights and the right to store a gun in privately locked cars.
Now that the 107th has reached its halfway mark, subcommittees have already given the two-week closure notice.
The Tennessee State Fire Marshal and Commerce & Insurance Commissioner reminds us to change our homes’ smoke alarm batteries, as well:   http://www.tn.gov/commerce/.
The change in time is a good opportunity to change your batteries.
 As always, it is an honor to serve the folks of the 40th.
If you have not had the opportunity to join me on the House Floor and still want to do so, please call my office, 615-741-2192, and my assistant, Grace, will assist you.
Never hesitate to call on me if I can be of service to you.