Governor Lee Extends State of Emergency To Review New Legislation

Photo: Gov. Bill Lee / Facebook

The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –

Governor Bill Lee extended Tennessee’s state of emergency on Friday as he reviews the new legislation recently passed by the Tennessee General Assembly.

He issued the order on Friday afternoon for a two-week extension of the emergency order. The extension is set to expire on November 19.

“I am placing a two-week extension on the current state of emergency as we continue analyzing impacts of recent legislation and how it affects certain provisions,” Lee wrote in his social media announcement. 

Along with this, Lee also extended the executive order that gives parents the right to opt their children out of school mask mandates, allowing them to override any local regulations that may be in place.

While many Tennesseans anxiously await Lee’s decision, others are glad to see him taking the time to carefully weigh out all of the potential benefits and consequences of the legislation before signing it into law. 

The governor has not given much insight into his thoughts on the legislation as he has been questioned in the week since it was passed in a special session of the General Assembly, saying that he cannot give an opinion until he has completed his review of the bills.

It seems that he was not in favor of the special session as he refused to call it himself. Instead, he said he was focusing his efforts on securing the deal with Ford Motor Co. for a new West Tennessee project.

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Political experts say Lee was backed into a corner, forced to make a decision that may or may not be in everyone’s best interest.

Kent Syler, political science professor at Middle Tennessee State University, says Lee has a difficult decision to make.

“He’s had to walk…a tightrope,” Syler said. “It appears that he would just rather not have the special session happen. But at the same time, he can’t be out fighting his caucus and, fighting, more importantly, what the majority Republican primary voters support.” 

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Conservatives are also hesitant because of the weakening of the legislation throughout the process.

Gary Humble, executive director of Tennessee Stands, said, “I’m disappointed on so many levels, with the fact that we have just now taken away permanently our protections from this COVID-19 shot that we fought so hard for to get earlier this year. They’re now gone.”

If Lee signs the bill into law, the state would have total control over determining when local governments can call for mask mandates. This conflicts with Lee’s earlier decision to allow local governments to make that decision on their own. Earlier in the pandemic, Lee said that local mayors were in a better position to make that call than the state. 

In April, he also stated that government intervention in public health should be eliminated.

“It’s time for government to get out of the business of public health interventions,” Lee stated.

Experts fully expect Lee to sign the bill because allowing failure to do so would put him at odds with legislators and the voters.

“What he could do is to sign the bill, or let it become law, and say, ‘It’s law now. We’ll see how it works and then we are going to react to it. We’ll tinker with it as time goes by,’” said Richard Pacelle, a political science professor at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.

State law gives Lee until November 13 to make a final decision.

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About the Author: Jason Vaughn, Media Coordinator for The Tennessee Conservative  ~ Jason previously worked for a legacy publishing company based in Crossville, TN in a variety of roles through his career.  Most recently, he served as Deputy Directory for their flagship publication. Prior, he was a freelance journalist writing articles that appeared in the Herald Citizen, the Crossville Chronicle and The Oracle among others.  He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor’s in English-Journalism, with minors in Broadcast Journalism and History.  Contact Jason at news@TennesseeConservativeNews.com

4 thoughts on “Governor Lee Extends State of Emergency To Review New Legislation

  • November 8, 2021 at 5:14 pm
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    Governor Lee needs to protect Tennesseans from the federal government’s overreacting efforts to push fir the shot mandates – if he fails to protect us we might as well have democrat for governor – wish I’d have stayed in Florida

    Reply
  • November 8, 2021 at 6:55 pm
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    So while everyone in Tennessee was worried about health freedom and personal liberties, as well as job protection, Lee was worried about rubbing elbows with Ford. I wonder what little personal perks Lee received for his role in bringing in Ford. I don’t care what he does from here on out, I will NOT vote for this person again. We need a leader not a brown noser!

    Reply
  • November 8, 2021 at 7:14 pm
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    PEOPLE OF TENNESSEE THE BUSINESSES WHO ARE FORCING PEOPLE TO TAKE THE POISON WILL BE ON THE END OF MAJOR LAWSUITS. JOE BIDEN DOES NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO FORCE VACCINES ON THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. HE HAS OVERSTEPPED HIS POWER UNDER THE CONSTITUTION. ANY COURT THAT SAYS HE HAS THE POWER IS WRONG AND AMERICA JUST WENT COMMUNIST IS GOING TO BE CIVIL WAR. IF THE JUDGES DONT CARE ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION THAN NEITHER DO WE. THATS WHY THE CONSTITUION AND AMERICAN HISTORY IS NOT TAUGHT YO OUR CHILDREN. i WAS PLANNING TO MOVE TO TENNESSEE AND BRING MY BUSINESS THERE BUT YOUR GOVT IS ACTING LIKE THE STATE I LIVE WHICH IS DELAWARE A COMMIE STATE ALOT OF US ARE LEAVING DELAWARE TIME TO LOOK TO ANOTHER SOUTHERN STATE – A HARD CORE CONSERVATIVE

    Reply
  • November 8, 2021 at 7:52 pm
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    Bill never ceases to underwhelm me.

    Reply

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