Fake Conservative Group Endorses RINOs With Regularity

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The Tennessee Conservative Staff –

A political advocacy group in Tennessee that purports to represent conservative values repeatedly praises and endorses RINO legislators as if they are fighting for conservative causes. 

The Tennessee Faith & Freedom Coalition (TN-FFC) claims to fight for Christian values, children and family, defending the constitution, protecting 2^nd Amendment rights, limited government, and pursuing education policies that put children first.

Yet this very same group chooses to tout RINO legislators as the “conservative” politicians that conservative Tennesseans should be voting for and supporting.

Below are some of the voting records for various RINO legislators that TN-FFC has praised and portrayed as “conservative” as well as their respective TN-FFC awards.

Sen. Ferrell Haile (R-Gallatin-District 18) Votes & More 2021-2024

Haile 2021 –

• Helmed a letter, signed by 16 out of 27 GOP state senators, endorsing and pushing the “emergency use authorized” Covid-19 vaccine on Tennesseans

Haile 2022 –

• Voted to give illegal aliens professional licenses (SB2464)

• Carried the “Incumbent Protection Bill” to silence Tennessee grassroots organizations (SB1005)

• Voted against an individual’s right to refuse medical treatments (SJR0993)

• Voted against legislation to prohibit pharmacies from blocking patient access to certain Covid-19 treatments like Ivermectin and Hydroxychloroquine (SB1880)

• Voted to allow healthcare providers to give minors STD vaccines without parental knowledge or consent (SB0148)

• Voted to allow dentists in Tennessee to administer Covid-19 and HPV vaccines (SB2026)

• Voted for corporate welfare through the allocation of $500 million to Nashville/Davidson County for the new Titans stadium (SB2901)

In 2022, Haile “won” The Tennessee Conservative’s RINO Report designation as one of the “Top 5 RINOs in the Senate.”

Haile 2023 –

• Prime sponsor of Tennessee Constitutional amendment that would have allowed the state to purchase and own banks using taxpayer dollars (SJR0034)

• Prime sponsor of legislation to offer exceptions to Tennessee’s abortion restrictions, weakening the Tennessee Human Life Protection Act (SB857)

In 2023, Haile “won” The Tennessee Conservative’s “Senate RINO Legislator of the Year” award.

Haile 2024 – 

• Voted to undo the Mature Minor Clarification Act in Senate committee (SB2176)

• Voted to block public access to Department of Tourist Development records involving millions in taxpayer dollars (SB2093)

• Voted for Sen. Massey’s “Red Flag” bill (SB1673)

• Voted for legislation expediting the termination of parental rights following a subjective interpretation of “substantial non-compliance” (SB2660)

TN-FFC has announced Sen. Haile as a recipient of their “2024 Defender of Children Award” saying that Sen. Haile is “truly a Defender of Children.”

According to TN-FFC, this award is given to “those legislators in the Tennessee General Assembly that most ardently defend the health, safety, rights and freedoms of the children of our great state.”

Rep. Patsy Hazlewood (R-Signal Mountain-District 27) Votes & More 2019-2024

Hazlewood 2019 – 

• Voted against legislation to prohibit state and local governments from adoption sanctuary policies (HB2315)

• Voted against illegal immigration legislation to ban government entities from contracting with a person who does not provide evidence of work authorization status (HB1239)

Hazlewood 2020 –

• Refused to vote on legislation to ban abortions when a fetal heartbeat is detected (HB2263)

• Refused to vote on the “Abortion Reversal Bill” to require abortion clinics to inform patients and post signs stating that chemical abortions may be reversed following the first dose of a two-dose treatment (HB2568)

Hazlewood 2021 –

• Voted against legislation to authorize partisan elections for school board members (HB9072)

Hazlewood 2022 –

• Voted to give illegal aliens professional licenses (HB2309)

• Voted against stopping big tech censorship of Tennessee elections and citizens (HB2369)

• Voted for the “Incumbent Protection Bill” to silence Tennessee grassroots organizations (HB1201)

• Sponsored corporate welfare bill allowing the Chattanooga Lookouts to retain a sales tax deal to fund their new stadium (HB2609)

• Publicly voiced support for Gov. Lee’s 2023 $52.8 billion budget which allocated $8.9 billion more in state dollars than the 2023 budget and included $550 Million in corporate welfare to help fund a new Titans Stadium

• Voted against a bill that would have prohibited taxpayer-funded entertainment venues from requiring COVID-19 vaccinations or a COVID passport to enter, killing the bill in committee (HB2073)

• Refused to vote on a resolution to make the Holy Bible Tennessee’s Official State Book (HJR0752)

• Voted against lowering Tennessee’s concealed carry age to 18 (HB1735)

In 2022, Hazlewood “won” The Tennessee Conservative’s “House RINO Legislator of the Year” award.

Hazlewood 2023 –

• Voted for legislation to criminalize parents based on anonymous allegations of abuse or neglect (HB1109)

• Voted for legislation that paved the way for global currency in Tennessee (HB0316)

• Co-sponsored bill to use public-private partnerships for the construction of toll roads (HB0321)

• Co-sponsored a bill to allow a subjective standard for physicians to potentially and willfully permit abortion for a patient in bad faith (HB0883)

• Co-sponsored legislation to offer exceptions to Tennessee’s abortion restrictions, weakening the Tennessee Human Life Protection Act (HB1440)

Hazlewood 2024 –

• Voted to block public access to Department of Tourist Development records involving millions in taxpayer dollars (HB1692)

• Voted against bill that would require age-appropriate firearm safety courses for Tennessee public school students (HB2882)

• Voted for Rep. Zachary’s “Red Flag” bill (SB1673/HB1625)

• Voted in favor of blocking access to the autopsy reports of children who are victims of violent crime, thereby allowing their cases to go unsolved in some situations (HB1695)

• Voted for legislation expediting the termination of parental rights following a subjective interpretation of “substantial non-compliance” (HB1808)

TN-FFC has also announced Rep. Hazlewood as a recipient of their “2024 Defender of Children Award” saying she is “a leader in the fight to defend Tennessee’s kids.”

Sen. Becky Massey (R-Knoxville-District 6) Votes & More 2021-2024

Massey 2021 –

• Supported millions of taxpayer dollars in corporate welfare being allocated towards a minor-league baseball stadium in Knoxville

Massey 2022 –

• Voted against stopping big tech censorship of Tennessee elections and citizens (HB2369)

• Voted against an individual’s right to refuse medical treatments (SJR0993)

Massey 2023 –

• Refused to vote on the Mature Minor Doctrine Clarification Act (SB1111)

• Refused to vote on bill to expand Tennessee’s school voucher pilot program to Hamilton County students (SB0012)

• Co-sponsored legislation to offer exceptions to Tennessee’s abortion restrictions, weakening the Tennessee Human Life Protection Act (SB857)

• Voted to use public-private partnerships for the construction of toll roads (SB0273)

• Was part of Gov. Lee’s “Inner Circle” on gun control legislation that met behind closed doors leading up to the special session on “public safety” in August

In 2023, Massey “won” The Tennessee Conservative’s RINO Report designation as one of the “Top 5 RINOs in the Senate.”

Massey 2024 –

• Prime sponsor of Rep. Zachary’s “Red Flag” bill in the Senate (SB1673/HB1625)

• Voted to block public access to Department of Tourist Development records involving millions in taxpayer dollars (SB2093)

• Voted for legislation expediting the termination of parental rights following a subjective interpretation of “substantial non-compliance” (SB2660)

Sen. Massey is also a recipient of the TN-FFC “2024 Defender of Children Award.” According to TN-FFC she has “fought for children and babies” for the entirety of her tenure in the state Senate.

Sen. Ken Yager (R-Kingston-District 12) Votes & More 2021-2024

Yager 2021 –

• Signed Sen. Haile’s letter endorsing and pushing the “emergency use authorized” Covid-19 vaccine on Tennesseans

Yager 2022 –

• Voted against making Ivermectin an over-the-counter medicine in Tennessee for individuals over 18 (SB2188)

• Opposed legislation to ban all abortions in Tennessee (SB2582)

• Voted to give illegal aliens professional licenses (SB2464)

Yager 2023 –

• Refused to vote on bill to expand Tennessee’s school voucher pilot program to Hamilton County students (SB0012)

• Co-sponsor of Tennessee Constitutional amendment that would have allowed the state to purchase and own banks using taxpayer dollars (SJR0034)

• Refused to second a motion for the “Restoring State Sovereignty Through Nullification Act” so it could be heard in committee (SB1092)

• Co-sponsored legislation to offer exceptions to Tennessee’s abortion restrictions, weakening the Tennessee Human Life Protection Act (SB857)

In 2023, Yager “won” The Tennessee Conservative’s RINO Report designation as one of the “Top 5 RINOs in the Senate.”

Yager 2024 –

• Voted to block public access to Department of Tourist Development records involving millions in taxpayer dollars (SB2093)

• Voted for Sen. Massey “Red Flag” bill (SB1673)

• Voted in favor of blocking access to the autopsy reports of children who are victims of violent crime (SB2020)

• Voted for legislation expediting the termination of parental rights following a subjective interpretation of “substantial non-compliance” (SB2660)

Sen. Yager is yet another recipient of the TN-FFC “2024 Defender of Children Award.”

Rep. Jason Zachary (R-Knoxville-District 14) Votes & More 2022-2024

Zachary 2022 –

• Publicly voiced support for $550 million in corporate welfare to fund new Titans Stadium

Zachary 2024 –

• Prime Sponsor of “Red Flag” bill sponsored by Sen. Massey in the Senate (SB1673/HB1625)

• Voted to block public access to Department of Tourist Development records involving millions in taxpayer dollars (HB1692)

• Voted in favor of blocking access to the autopsy reports of children who are victims of violent crime (HB1695)

• Voted for legislation expediting the termination of parental rights following a subjective interpretation of “substantial non-compliance” (HB1808)

TN-FFC announced Rep. Zachary as a recipient of their “2024 Defender of Freedom Award” saying that he has been “knocking it out of the park with his conservative legislation.”

According to TN-FFC, this award is given to “those legislators in the Tennessee General Assembly that most ardently defend the rights and freedoms of the citizens of our great state.”

Sen. Shane Reeves (R-District 14) Votes & More 2021-2024

Reeves 2021 –

• Signed Sen. Haile’s letter endorsing and pushing the “emergency use authorized” Covid-19 vaccine on Tennesseans

Reeves 2022 –

• Voted to give illegal aliens professional licenses (SB2464)

• Voted against an individual’s right to refuse medical treatments (SJR0993)

In 2022, Reeves “won” The Tennessee Conservative’s RINO Report designation as one of the “Top 5 RINOs in the Senate.”

Reeves 2024 –

• Sponsored legislation to block access to the autopsy reports of children who are victims of violent crime (SB2020)

• Voted to undo the Mature Minor Clarification Act in Senate committee (SB2176)

• Voted to block public access to Department of Tourist Development records involving millions in taxpayer dollars (SB2093)

• Voted for Sen. Massey “Red Flag” bill (SB1673/HB1625)

• Voted for legislation expediting the termination of parental rights following a subjective interpretation of “substantial non-compliance” (SB2660)

Sen. Reeves is also a recipient of TN-FFC’s “2024 Defender of Freedom Award.”

Sen. Jack Johnson (R-Franklin-District 27) Votes & More 2021-2024

Johnson 2021 –

• Signed Sen. Haile’s letter endorsing and pushing the “emergency use authorized” Covid-19 vaccine on Tennesseans

Johnson 2022 –

• Pushed to close public records for investigations of deaths not resulting from crime (SB0009)

Johnson 2023 –

• Sponsored legislation to pave the way for global currency in Tennessee (SB0268)

• Comments leaked about calling “Red Flag” gun laws something else so the bills could be passed into law unnoticed by the public

Johnson 2024 –

• Sponsored legislation to allow the state to acquire farmland easements (SB2099)

• Sponsored bill to block public access to Department of Tourist Development records involving millions in taxpayer dollars (SB2093)

• Voted for Sen. Massey’s “Red Flag” bill (SB1673)

• Voted in favor of blocking access to the autopsy reports of children who are victims of violent crime (SB2020)

• Voted for legislation expediting the termination of parental rights following a subjective interpretation of “substantial non-compliance” (SB2660)

TN-FFC singled out Sen. Johnson this year as the “2024 Senate Champion Defender of Children.” He was also selected by TN-FFC as the “2023 Conservative Champion” in the Senate.

Rep. William Lamberth (R- Portland-District 44) Votes & More 2023-2024

Lamberth 2023 –

• Sponsored bill to allow non-citizens to apply for and be considered for positions in TN Law Enforcement (HB0056)

• Sponsored legislation to pave the way for global currency in Tennessee (HB0316)

Lamberth 2024 –

• Sponsored legislation to allow the state to acquire farmland easements (HB1890)

• Sponsored bill to block public access to Department of Tourist Development records involving millions in taxpayer dollars (HB1692)

• Voted for Rep. Zachary’s “Red Flag” bill (HB1625)

• Voted in favor of blocking access to the autopsy reports of children who are victims of violent crime (HB1695)

• Voted for legislation expediting the termination of parental rights following a subjective interpretation of “substantial non-compliance” (HB1808)

Rep. Lamberth is TN-FFC’s pick for the “2024 House Champion Defender of Children.” He was also selected by TN-FFC as the “2023 Conservative Champion” in the House.

Sen. Dawn White (R-Murfreesboro-District 13) Votes & More 2021-2024

White 2021 –

• Signed Sen. Haile’s letter endorsing and pushing the “emergency use authorized” Covid-19 vaccine on Tennesseans

White 2024 –

• Voted for bill to block public access to Department of Tourist Development records involving millions in taxpayer dollars (SB2093)

• Voted for Sen. Massey’s “Red Flag” bill (SB1673)

• Voted for legislation expediting the termination of parental rights following a subjective interpretation of “substantial non-compliance” (SB2660)

TN-FFC announced Sen. White as the recipient of their “2024 Senate Conservative Champion” award. Back in 2023, she was given the “Defender of Freedom” award.

Sen. Jon Lundberg (R-Bristol-District 4) Votes & More 2021-2024

Lundberg 2021 –

• Signed Sen. Haile’s letter endorsing and pushing the “emergency use authorized” Covid-19 vaccine on Tennesseans

Lundberg 2022 –

• Killed bill that would reject exemptions for schools that allow obscene materials by sending it to ‘Summer Study’ (SB1944)

• Voted to give illegal aliens professional licenses (SB2464)

Lundberg 2023 –

• Sponsored bill to allows individual school districts to set their own maximum class sizes (SB0197)

Lundberg 2024 –

• Voted against bill to ban pride flags in Tennessee classrooms in Senate Education Committee (SB1722)

• Voted against allowing law enforcement to assign SROs to schools that fail to request one in Senate Judiciary Committee (SB1715)

• Voted for bill to block public access to Department of Tourist Development records involving millions in taxpayer dollars (SB2093)

• Voted for Sen. Massey’s “Red Flag” bill (SB1673)

• Voted against legislation that would have increased penalties for transporting illegal aliens to Tennessee, removing the current fine exemption for common carriers (SB2802)

• Voted for legislation expediting the termination of parental rights following a subjective interpretation of “substantial non-compliance” (SB2660)

In early April, TN-FFC praised Sen. Lundberg saying he is “a great conservative and a leader who fights for his constituents. He provides common sense and thoughtful leadership in the General Assembly. Moreover, he’s a good man.”

Sen. John Stevens (R-Huntingdon-District 24) Votes & More 2022-2024

Stevens 2022 –

• Helped kill legislation that would have given law enforcement the authority to enforce federal law on illegal immigration (SB2264)

• Killed bill that would reject exemptions for schools that allow obscene materials by sending it to ‘Summer Study’ (SB1944)

In 2022, Stevens “won” The Tennessee Conservative’s RINO Report designation as one of the “Top 5 RINOs in the Senate.”

Stevens 2023 –

• Refused to second a motion for the “Restoring State Sovereignty Through Nullification Act” so it could be heard in committee (SB1092)

• Stevens “won” The Tennessee Conservative’s RINO Report designation as one of the “Top 5 RINOs in the Senate” in 2023 as well.

Stevens 2024 –

• Voted to block public access to Department of Tourist Development records involving millions in taxpayer dollars (SB2093)

• Voted for Sen. Massey’s “Red Flag” bill (SB1673)

• Voted in favor of blocking access to the autopsy reports of children who are victims of violent crime (SB2020)

• Voted for legislation expediting the termination of parental rights following a subjective interpretation of “substantial non-compliance” (SB2660)

Sen. Stevens was a recipient of TN-FFC’s “2023 Defender of Freedom Award.”