Massey Running For Reelection Next Year: A Look At Her Voting Record

Image Credit: beckymassey.com

The Tennessee Conservative [By Adelia Kirchner] –

Self-proclaimed Conservative Republican, Senator Becky Massey (R-Knoxville-District 6), is running for reelection in 2024. 

The Tennessee Conservative’s 2023 RINO Report distinguished Sen. Massey as one of the “Top 5 RINOS in the Senate.”

Some of the stances that earned her this distinction include:

Co-Sponsoring Legislation to Weaken Tennessee Abortion Law.

SB0857, sponsored by Sen. Ferrell Haile (R-Gallatin-District 18), was a piece of legislation introduced to exempt women whose pregnancies where the result of a rape or incest, from the criminal offense tied to abortion in Tennessee.

This bill as introduced, imposed on the “Human Life Protection Act,” which according to Tennessee Right to Life was saving an estimated 900 children from being aborted across the state each month as of February 2023.

The Human Life Protection Act Is Now Under Attack!

Despite supporting most pro-life legislation including SB0600 which banned counties and cities from funding abortions for employees, Massey was one of several Republicans co-sponsoring SB0857.

This legislation was not passed as introduced in the legislature.

Voting in favor of Toll Roads.

SB0273, sponsored by Sen. Jack Johnson (R-Franklin-District 27), enacted the “Transportation Modernization Act” and allowed the Department of Transportation to make deals with private companies to add toll lanes to Tennessee highways.

Toll collections would reportedly go to the private company in order to “recoup their portion of negotiated project costs.”

The bill was passed by the legislature and Gov. Lee signed it into law on April 17^th, 2023. Sen. Massey was a proponent of the bill and voted in favor of it in committee and on the Senate floor.

“I feel like this will be a transformational change,” she said. “[…] this bill makes a big effort in addressing our road needs.”

Tennessee Senate Approves Plan For Toll Lanes, Road Funding Boost

Not voting in favor of Parental Rights.

SB1111, sponsored by Sen. Janice Bowling (R-Tullahoma-District 16), was a piece of legislation intended to counteract Tennessee’s “Mature Minor Doctrine” by requiring the written consent of a parent or legal guardian in order for a healthcare provider to administer a vaccine to a minor. 

The bill was passed by the legislature and Gov. Lee signed it into law on May 17^th, 2023.

Sen. Massey was one of two Senate Republicans recorded as “present not voting.” However, once SB1111 passed in the House of Representatives she did vote to concur in the House amendments.

Not voting for School Choice.

SB0012, sponsored by Sen. Todd Gardenhire (R-Chattanooga-District 10), was meant to expand Tennessee’s Education Savings Account or school choice pilot program to Hamilton County. 

The bill was passed by the legislature and signed into law by Gov. Lee on May 5^th, 2023.

Sen. Massey was one of four Senate Republicans recorded as “present and not voting.”

Part of Gov. Lee’s “Inner Circle” on Gun Control Legislation.

Prior to Tennessee’s extraordinary special session on public safety this August, reports came out that Gov. Lee was holding closed door meetings with Democrat lawmakers and some Republicans for the purpose of discussing potential gun control legislation.

It was allegedly a group of about 12 to 15 state legislators that were privy to Gov. Lee’s “inner circle” discussions. Sen. Massey was one of three Republican Senators noted as attending these meetings.

Gov. Lee Meets With Democrat Lawmakers Behind Closed Doors to Discuss Gun Control Legislation

For 2023, the Tennessee Legislative Report Card gave Sen. Massey a voting score of 76 with a D- grade given for leadership. The report card shows that 54.6% of her campaign contributions come from special interests. Click HERE to see the full report.

Sen. Massey also appeared in The Tennessee Conservative’s 2022 RINO Report for voting against medical freedom. 

SJR0993, also sponsored by Sen. Bowling, would have declared an individual’s right to refuse medical treatment. Additionally, it would have required that an individual’s other rights not be denied due to refusal of medical treatment.

Sen. Massey was one of five Republicans who killed this resolution in committee.

She also supported corporate welfare back in 2021 when millions of taxpayer dollars were allocated towards the cost of a minor-league baseball stadium, which would become home to the Tennessee Smokies baseball team, in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Smokies Stadium Price Tag In Knoxville Increases

Despite the votes listed here, Sen. Massey has taken many conservative stances, voting for things like permanently extending protections from Covid-19 mandates or protecting the medical privacy of homeschooling families. 

However, it remains important that voters familiarize themselves with the voting records of incumbent senators and representatives before deciding who the most conservative candidate choices are in the upcoming election.

About the Author: Adelia Kirchner is a Tennessee resident and reporter for the Tennessee Conservative. Currently the host of Subtle Rampage Podcast, she has also worked for the South Dakota State Legislature and interned for Senator Bill Hagerty’s Office in Nashville, Tennessee. You can reach Adelia at adelia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.