Howdy there, Partners of the 40th District!
I do not know where the week goes, but it goes, and here I am at this laptop again giving you, those for whom I work, the latest saga of  “How the Legislature Turns.”
You know, when you're full speed ahead (to get finished early to save the folks of Tennessee some bucks), sometimes unforeseen booboos occur.
Case in point: some bills are moving to the floor and not being fully vetted in the committees, or we need to bring back a bill because we might have neglected an important point that somehow got overlooked.
In other words, fast is not always prudent.  Subcommittees are moving along, though, and scheduled to close this week.
Chairing transportation sub has been such a learning experience for me and a huge challenge, as well.  
On my “menu” of bills this past week were those dealing with financial responsibility, otherwise  known as car insurance.
Because the issue is such a vast and vital concern, I submitted that the committee select a “working group” to form one piece of legislation for 2014.
Consisting of players from all aspects of what car insurance would look like for Tennessee, we need to pause and consider and gain knowledge from other states like Texas, Utah and Georgia, who currently have law in place for all motorists.
I applaud those members who put much work into their legislation, for their ideas are good ones, and will welcome them, as well, to the working group table so that we can come up with the first steps toward responsible car insurance for all motorists.
Stay tuned, for this will require much preparation before next session in January.
It's Friday, and every Friday morning I am in the 40th doing a legislative update, known as Coffee & Conversations.  Being a “less is more,” principled conservative who wears my beliefs on my sleeve, I felt it necessary to be up front and honest about this whole “Medicaid expansion” issue.
Conservatives are about “limited” government, not expanded government.
Obamacare is a wealth distribution entitlement and will be a total nightmare, breaking the very back of our state and this great nation! Whether it is this year or in three years, we will have to deal with this monster.
Citizens are coming to my office and saying, “My insurance, now $200, will be $450, $500 a month by summer. This is unsustainable.”
Look, I am not blaming hospitals who have to treat the uninsured in their ICU for weeks, but we have got to get to the core of this issue, and that is the cost of health care.
The everyday citizen cannot bear the burden; the hospitals cannot bear the burden; our state cannot bear the burden.
Open up competition across the state line, bringing competitive pricing to the mix and causing insurance companies, doctors, pharmacists, the whole darn medical profession, to bring costs down and put in motion a way that we, the state of Tennessee, can lead and do what is right and not  be bullied by D.C.
Let's not kick the can down the road, but do something for the people of this state.  FYI, yesterday was the first of many roundtable discussions on the “what if we did this?”, looking into the possibilities of  health care compacts, as are numerous other states in the country.
Those who are at the helm as a hospital administrator have a very difficult task to tend. I know and have the highest respect and regard for every one of them in my district.
This morning, I have invited  them to join the discussion. What are their ideas in order to decrease the cost of health care?
Their expertise and experience are paramount, for they work in it.
C.S Lewis said, “In order to be wise oneself, live in the circle of those who are.”
I do not have all the answers, but this one thing I do know, Tennessee has been through the muck and mire of TennCare and Tennessee can lead and bring real reform in health care cost. That's my story and I am sticking to it.
From my bag of bills, HB1295, as introduced, provides that a mother can be prosecuted for an assaultive offense or homicide if she illegally takes a narcotic drug while pregnant and the child is born addicted, is harmed, or dies because of the drug.
Drugs are driving the costs of health care out the roof.  Babies who suffer from Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome are exposed to opiates (including heroin, methadone, morphine), stimulants, sedatives, and are born addicted to drugs.
This is alarming, and these little ones have no choice but to ingest what the mother provides. There must be consequences.
There are programs available to mothers who seek help in their addictions, thus the Safe Harbor Bill, which I have co-sponsored, but for those who only care about their next fix instead of the other life they carry, where is the justice for a newborn who tests positive for drugs?
Whether inside or outside of the womb, harm is being done to a child, and it is an act of child abuse. Period.
There are many critical concerns at hand on the Hill. Your voice is vital.  I encourage you to stay the course and remain engaged.
This legislative session has seen a huge upswing in the visits from District 40. It was a great honor to recognize and welcome enough constituents to fill almost all of the seats in the Criminal Justice Committee last week.  

   Blessings and Grace to You,
        Terri Lynn Weaver