The teacher tenure bill is making its way:

State officials hope to have the new evaluation system, authorized by legislation passed last year, in place and operating by July. House Democratic Leader Craig Fitzhugh of Ripley proposed an amendment that would have delayed launch of the new tenure system for a year after the evaluation system is implemented - or probably until July, 2012.

Fitzhugh also said the bill leaves uncertain how to handle tenure for educators who do not go through the evaluation system, including those who teach art, special education, pre-kindergarten and some other subjects. Until those matters are cleared up, he said, passage of a new tenure system is "putting the cart before the horse."

Rep. Bill Dunn, R-Knoxville, acting as lead sponsor of the Haslam administration bill, said that delay could leave "thousands of students" being impacted by "terrible teachers" who cannot be dismissed under current law. And Acting Education Commissioner Patrick Smith said that any non-tenured teacher will not face decision-making based on the evaluation system for at least three years.

Current law grants teachers tenure after three years. The bill extends the probationary period to five years and make multiple other changes in the law, including revocation of tenure for a teacher who fails to meet stated standards for two consecutive years. Teachers who already hold tenure, however, would not be covered by the new provisions.

Perhaps Sen. Campfield is anticipating a slate of drug legalization laws that would put us in conflict with the Federal Government, or maybe he's preparing for enforcement of some consumer protection laws, I'm not sure...

"I voted for the bill because it would help level the playing field, which is tilted towards money and wealth. As for my friend Bill Dunn done he is one of the most honest thoughtful people i have ever met, his argument against the bill was solid and reasoned. He pointed out that my reason's for voting for the bill might be correct but he thought it sent the wrong message and might open the system to abuse, which is also a sound reasoning. How ever he made a better case against the bill than I did for it and even convinced Craig Fitzhugh ( another honest and reasoned person ) to change his vote. However we still have system that favors the wealthy when it comes to fundraising and we will look at this bill again in January, when we will not be up against a deadline ( the ending of the session ) and have more time to look at both the pro's and con's of the bill."

The House has unanimously passed a measure to allow members of local governments to communicate in online chat rooms without violating Tennessee's open meetings laws. Republican Rep. Bill Dunn, the bill's main sponsor, says the proposal would be modeled on a pilot program in effect in his hometown of Knoxville.

There is a group that is in the formative and discussion stages. Dunn, Kelsey and other legislators are in the category of legislators that we have talked about as the kind of legislators we would want to have involved. I have not talked to either of them at this point. I don't know if they have had any other contact from those who are involved in the development of the group. The same is true of some of the other names mentioned. Some have weighed in, others have not been contacted yet. There are others not listed who have expressed interest as well. We are seeking input and developing a more concrete plan with some of the key individuals involved and then hope to be able to take that basic plan to a wider audience to seek additional input and involvement. There is a draft working paper that has some prospects listed that is apparently the basis of the Metropulse article. It is not a PAC that will be targeted at any particular legislator, including Steve McDaniel. The idea is to support conservative house and senate candidates in both primary and general election campaigns. The Left has poured millions into state races, including into Colorado for example, and there is no counterbalance in Tennessee at this point. Here is a link that gives some insight into how the extremist Left is turning its attention to state races, including plans to insure that they are in position to put their "allies" into positions that decide those races. The principles that are included in the draft working paper are intended to provide a discussion point for clarifying the type of conservative issues that have broad support among Tennessee voters. Most, if not all of those issues, poll well over 50-60% among Tennessee voters so they are clearly not "wedge" issues. They are mainstream issues to Tennessee voters. I would expect that by mid-January we should be in position to make a formal announcement of the intents and purposes of the group.

The group is attempting to find 15 founding donors good for $20,000 each for each election cycle ($10,000 annual) and other donors to achieve a $375,000 annual budget. The acting chair of the group is Steve Gill, a Nashville radio talk show host. The group also includes major Republican Party donors like Lee Beaman, A.J. McCall, Jimmy Wallace, and James Peach. Legislative members include Republican state Reps. Bill Dunn, Frank Niceley, Brian Kelsey, Donna Rowland, Glen Casada, and Bill Ketron, among others. The group has a list of 18 conservative positions having to do with opposition to a state income tax, Second Amendment protections, pro-life, traditional marriage, pro-business, repeal of the Hall Income Tax, strict border enforcement, and pro-drilling for energy independence.

For while the Speaker Pro Tem does not often preside over the House in Tennessee, he or she does have the ability to walk into any committee of the House and vote a bill up or down, just as the Speaker does. Bill Dunn, who is not a man out to seek any leadership position for the sake of his own advancement, once told me that from a personal perspective-if he were only considering himself-he would like being Speaker Pro Tempore for that very reason.

Nicodemus said she had heard that Dunn at one time had favored term limits and that she believes in them. "I'm not looking for a career of 20 years," she said. Dunn, who has been in the Legislature since 1994, quoted U.S. Rep. John J. Duncan Jr. of Knoxville as saying it's a question that's "best for the people to decide." However, he does favor limits on the speakers of the House and Senate in Nashville. "You would see a change in how government is run," he said.

Posted above, for your perusal and enjoyment and that of posterity, is a video of the recent unpleasantness that took place on the floor of the General Assembly yesterday. It is still lengthy but, in light of the considerable confusion over the controversey, I thought it best to leave as much of the events intact as possible. PREVIOUSLY: Naifeh Overruled Capitol Hill Chaos Wanted: Dead Or Alive Slow Train Coming

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“If we can’t stick together on that (a subsequent procedural vote), we may just as well let Mumpower start presiding,” the powerful speaker told fellow Democrats at a hastily convened party caucus meeting, referring to Minority Leader Jason Mumpower, R-Bristol.