Free Republic

State Sen. Stacey Campfield, co-chairman of Newt Gingrich’s campaign in Tennessee, announced today he is quitting that position to support Rick Santorum in the Republican presidential race. The Knoxville Republican made his announcement in a post on his blog. In an interview, Campfield said he believes that conservatives need to unite behind a single candidate and that Santorum is best positioned to defeat “establishment Republican” candidate Mitt Romney. Campfield’s decision comes after a conversation with Santorum earlier this week. In his blog post, Campfield said he was “twisted inside because of my loyalty to Newt, my loyalty must first lie...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (KTLA) -- Tennesee's Senate has passed a bill Friday that would forbid public school teachers from discussing homosexuality in schools. The bill was approved by 5 votes to 4 and would allow for legislators to introduce a ban on letting teachers make homosexuality part of a prepared lesson plan in K-through-8 schools. It must now pass through the state House, which plans on taking it up next year. The bill's longtime sponsor, State Sen. Stacey Campfield told CNN his bill is "neutral" and that discussions on sexuality should decided by families, not school. Passage would make Tennessee the...

GOP representative sees himself as underdog, but some colleagues think he's pigheaded partisan - NASHVILLE - During a House floor debate Thursday, a colleague informed Rep. Stacey Campfield that he had made himself "almost ineffective" and unable to represent his district. "I like you, but this is getting kind of old," said Rep. Mike Turner, D-Nashville, complaining that Campfield "can't pass a bill on your own" and has taken to improper floor interference with other legislators' bills "all the dadgum time." It was the latest example of escalating hostility between the combative Knoxville legislator, who presents himself as something of...

NASHVILLE - The Legislature's Black Caucus has not existed as a nonprofit corporation for 20 years, raising an array of questions that the organization's chairman declined to answer Wednesday. Records at the secretary of state's office show the Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators had its corporate charter revoked in 1985 for failure to file required reports. A document to re-establish the caucus as a legal entity was filed Tuesday, listing Allyson Sneed, executive secretary to caucus Chairman Johnny Shaw, D-Bolivar, as the incorporator. "The caucus has been operating as a nonprofit. They are a nonprofit organization," said Sneed. "We...