(September 19, 2011, NASHVILLE) – Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey today appointed state Sen. Mae Beavers (R-Mt. Juliet) to the Tennessee Economic Council on Women.

“Sen. Beavers is a leading economic conservative committed to revving up the Tennessee economic engine,” said Lt. Governor Ramsey. “Her record speaks for itself and I’m glad she has agreed to advance the cause of job creation for women.”
The Tennessee Economic Council on Women was formed in 1998 to assess Tennessee women’s economic status. It develops and advocates solutions to help women achieve economic autonomy.

Sen. Mae Beavers began her public service as a Wilson County Commissioner from 1990 and represented West Wilson County in the House of Representatives from 1994 to 2002. She was elected to the Tennessee State Senate in 2002 and was re-elected in 2006 and 2010. Beavers currently serves as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

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(August 19, 2011, NASHVILLE) – Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey (R—Blountville) and House Speaker Beth Harwell (R—Nashville) today announced their respective appointments to the Ad Hoc Joint Committee on the Court of the Judiciary. The bipartisan, bicameral committee will be charged with examining issues surrounding the Court of the Judiciary—an entity created to investigate complaints against judges and administer punishment for infractions when warranted.

The joint committee will be led by Senate Judiciary Chairman Mae Beavers (R—Mt. Juliet) and House Judiciary Chairman Eric Watson (R—Cleveland). In letters released today, Ramsey announced Sen. Mike Bell (R-Riceville), Sen. Ophelia Ford (D—Memphis), and Sen. Brian Kelsey (R—Germantown) will take the three Senate seats on the panel. Speaker Harwell notified Rep. Jim Coley (R—Bartlett), Rep. Eddie Bass (D—Prospect), and Rep. Rick Womick (R—Rockvale) of their appointment.

Lt. Governor Ramsey stated, “Tennessee deserves a quality judiciary. To achieve and sustain that quality we must maintain the highest standards not only for our judges but those charged with keeping them honest. I'm confident that the lawmakers we have appointed will work diligently to keep the Court of the Judiciary on mission, transparent and completely accountable.

Harwell agreed and added, “These are proven leaders on judicial reform who want to see our system perform efficiently and fairly. I look forward to hearing about their ideas for reforming the Court of the Judiciary and making sure our judges are conducting their courtrooms in fair and appropriate ways.”

“Having observed the Court of the Judiciary for many years, I am more convinced than ever of the need for serious and extensive reform," stated Chairman Beavers. "Tennessee's judicial branch is just as important as the legislative and the executive. Their decisions, interpretations and opinions have consequences that affect the lives of real people. In order to have a serious judiciary we must have a serious body overseeing them. The Court of the Judiciary must be beyond reproach. I look forward to leading the effort to make it so.”

Chairman Watson concluded, “I have constantly advocated for greater transparency and more careful oversight when it comes to the actions of the Court of the Judiciary. We have a fantastic legal system in Tennessee but we need to ensure the CoJ reviews complaints in a timely manner and acts swiftly when it is called for. Requiring greater clarity in the judicial system is a legitimate interest of the General Assembly and I am proud to help lead that effort.”

The Joint Committee on the Court of the Judiciary is scheduled to meet September 20th and 21st at 9am in Legislative Plaza.

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(NASHVILLE, TN), July 26, 2011  -- Local businesses and consumers will get a boost from Tennessee’s “Sales Tax Holiday” set to begin on Friday, August 5 at 12:01 a.m. according to State Senator Mae Beavers  (R – Mt. Juliet).  The holiday ends on Sunday, August 7 at 11:59 p.m.
 
“This is the sixth year for Tennessee’s Sales Tax Holiday,” said Senator Beavers, who was a key supporter of legislation which implemented the sales tax relief  law.  “Although it is mainly geared toward helping parents with back-to-school expenses, it provides relief to consumers of all ages with sales tax exempt clothing purchases and other items like home computers.”

During the holiday, clothing with a purchase price of $100 or less per item is exempt from sales tax.  School supplies exempted include items of $100 or less like binders, book bags, calculators, tape, chalk, crayons, erasers, folders, glue, pens, pencils, lunch boxes, notebooks, paper, ruler, and scissors.  Additionally, there is no requirement that purchases be made only for students. If an item is tax exempt, anyone may make the purchase tax–free. 

Computers with a purchase price of $1,500 or less, not for use in a trade or business, are also exempt from tax. Laptop computers, if priced at $1,500 or less, qualify as well as tablet computers. 

For more information, please contact the Tennessee Department of Revenue online at www.tntaxholiday.com or at www.TN.gov/revenue.  Citizens or merchants with inquiries can also email salestax.holiday@tn.gov, or telephone 1 (800) 342-1003 7 a.m. – 5 p.m., CST, Monday through Friday.

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(NASHVILLE, TN), June 24, 2011 –State Senator Mae Beavers (R-Mt. Juliet) and Representative Terri Lynn Weaver (R-Lancaster) announced today that the Friends of the Appalachian Center for Crafts of Tennessee in DeKalb County will receive a $6,300 grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission.  The award was given in the category of Rural Support for the Arts.

“We are very pleased these funds have been allocated to this organization,” said Senator Beavers.  “I am sure it will help them in their efforts to preserve our arts heritage for future generations.”   

The Tennessee Arts Commission’s matching grants are mostly made possible through proceeds from the purchase of collegiate/university, personalized , and specialty motor vehicle license plates; but is also assisted by federal dollars from the National Endowment for the Arts. The Commission will award over 950 community grants through the 2012 fiscal year, totaling $7.3 million. The allocation process involves a review by citizen advisory panels made up of Tennesseans with expertise in appropriate disciplines and a final review by the full 15-member Tennessee Arts Commission. 

“We appreciate the Appalachian Center and all of our local arts organizations,” added Representative Weaver.  “They play an important role in preserving our rural Tennessee roots for generations to come.”                     

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(NASHVILLE, TN), June 22, 2011 --  Governor Bill Haslam stood with pro-life lawmakers today to mark the signing of  legislation that will give Tennesseans the opportunity to restore their voice in determining what state law should be regarding abortions.  Prime Sponsor Senator Mae Beavers (R-Mt. Juliet) said Senate Joint Resolution 127 addresses a State Supreme Court decision in 2000 that struck down commonsense provisions in Tennessee law allowing women to receive “informed consent” information about the surgery and to wait 48 hours before they receive an abortion.

“This legislation, or similar measures, have been pending for the past decade since the decision was handed down,” said Senator Beavers.  “I am very pleased that this resolution is finally on its way to voters for their approval so that we can restore commonsense provisions regarding our state’s abortion law.” 

The state Supreme Court also ruled against a Tennessee requirement that all abortions after the first trimester be performed in a hospital. That ruling made Tennessee more liberal than the U.S. Supreme Court required in Roe v. Wade and made the right to abortion a “fundamental right” in Tennessee.

“The resolution we have sent to voters allows citizens to amend Tennessee's Constitution to say that the right to an abortion is only protected under the U.S. Constitution as interpreted by the U.S. Supreme Court,” added Beavers.  “The practical effect of the legislation would be to bring Tennessee back into a position of neutrality so the people’s elected representatives can decide within the bounds of federal decisions what provisions can be put into place.”

The resolution must be approved by the people on the next gubernatorial ballot and receive a plurality of votes cast in that election to amend the Tennessee Constitution.  That will occur in November 2014.
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