Cameron Sexton

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Cameron Sexton
83rd Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives
Assumed office
August 23, 2019
Preceded byBill Dunn (Acting)
Member of the Tennessee House of Representatives
from the 25th district
Assumed office
January 11, 2011
Preceded byEric Swafford
Personal details
Born (1970-11-11) November 11, 1970 (age 53)
Tennessee, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseLacey
Children3
EducationUniversity of Tennessee (BA)
WebsiteCampaign website

Cameron A. Sexton (born November 11, 1970) is an American politician from

Speaker of the state House
since 2019. Before becoming Speaker, Sexton was Majority Caucus Chairman.

Early life and education

Cameron A. Sexton was born on November 11, 1970, in Tennessee.[1][2] His father, Dwight Sexton, was a high school chemistry and biology teacher, and his mother, Jane Sexton, was a teacher at Blue Grass Elementary School in Knoxville.[3] Sexton attended public schools in Knox County before graduating from Oak Ridge High School in 1989.[4] He then attended the University of Tennessee,[4] graduating in 1994.

Early political career

After graduating from college, Sexton worked on the 1994 State Senate campaign of Randy McNally.[5] He had jobs in banking and marketing until 2008.[5] In 2008, he unsuccessfully ran for mayor of Crossville, Tennessee, losing by 60 votes.[5] Sexton was also a community liaison for U.S. Representative Van Hilleary.[4]

State House

Elections and rise to power

Sexton was first elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives in 2010.[5] He was elected as House Majority Whip for the 108th General Assembly,[6] and served as the Majority Caucus Chairman for the 111th General Assembly.[7]

Sexton became Speaker of the House in August 2019, replacing Speaker Glen Casada, who was ousted amid a scandal.[8][9] The previous month, Sexton was nominated by House Republicans as speaker after multiple rounds of voting, defeating Ryan Williams, Jay Reedy, Curtis Johnson, Mike Carter, and Matthew Hill in the internal party election.[9]

He was reelected in 2021[10] and 2023, with the unanimous support of state House Republicans.[11]

Tenure

Healthcare

Sexton was House Health Committee Chairman during the 109th and 110th General Assemblies. In 2016, former Speaker

Biden administration.[16][17]

In 2022, Sexton introduced legislation to regulate

pharmacy benefit managers; he described the legislation as necessary to protect independent pharmacies.[18]

In 2022, Sexton called for a new facility to replace Moccasin Bend Mental Health Institute, a state psychiatric hospital, as part of a larger effort to overhaul Tennessee's mental healthcare system.[19]

Crime, policing, and marijuana

In 2020, Sexton and other Republicans in the state legislature introduced legislation to substantially increase criminal penalties for unauthorized camping on state-owned land and for writing graffiti on state property (increasing both offenses from misdemeanor to felonies). The bill's sponsors introduced the measure in response to the George Floyd protests.[20]

In 2022, Sexton, along with Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally, cosponsored truth in sentencing legislation, which was enacted with the support of Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland. The legislation requires offenders to serve the full prison sentence (i.e., no parole) for certain crimes (such as attempted murder and burglary).[21]

In 2020, Sexton opposed proposals to

medical marijuana.[22] In 2023, Sexton said he was open to allowing "medical marijuana in the right forms" but continued to oppose legalizing the recreational use of marijuana, which he deemed a "terrible idea."[23]

Forrest Bust

See also: Nathan Bedford Forrest Bust

As Speaker, Sexton is a member of the State Building Commission, which governs the Tennessee State Capitol grounds. In 2021, Sexton voted against the removal of the Nathan Bedford Forrest Bust from the Tennessee State Capitol to the Tennessee State Museum. The bust, installed at the state Capitol in 1978, had faced calls for its removal, because Forrest was a Confederate general who founded the Ku Klux Klan after the Civil War. However, a majority of the Building Commission voted to remove the Forrest bust, as well as those of Admiral David Glasgow Farragut and Admiral Albert Gleaves.[24]

COVID-19

During the COVID-19 pandemic in Tennessee, Sexton was a key architect of a special session of the legislature to pass bills banning municipalities within Tennessee from establishing face mask or COVID-19 vaccine requirements; the legislation specifically targeted Metro Nashville government's authority.[25][26] Sexton also opposed the federal OSHA vaccine-or-test mandate for companies with 100 or more employees.[27]

Refugee resettlement

In 2019, President Donald Trump issued an executive order allowing state governors to block refugee resettlement in their states under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. Sexton, along with Lieutenant Governor McNally supported halting refugee resettlement in Tennessee, a position at odds with Governor Bill Lee.[28] In 2021, Sexton and McNally created a Joint Study Committee on Refugee Issues that consisted of 10 Republican state senators and state representatives.[29][30]

Education

In a

book bans and transgender students' rights.[34] The legislation was opposed by the Tennessee School Board Association and many school districts throughout the state.[35] As a result of the passage of the legislation, beginning in 2022, more than half of Tennessee's counties selected candidates to run in school board elections in partisan primaries.[34]

In 2023, Sexton said Tennessee should reject all federal education funds appropriated to Tennessee, and discussed the proposal with Governor Lee and other key Republican legislators.

U.S. Department of Education spokesperson described the proposal as "political posturing" that would impede education, particularly for the neediest students.[37]

In January 2022, Sexton interjected as Representative

anti-Semitism and neo-Nazism, Sexton abruptly interrupted him mid-sentence and reminded Clemmons his honoring of International Holocaust Remembrance Day did not fall within meeting guidelines.[41][42][43] Sexton said his objection was that Clemmons' honoring was being made during the "welcoming and honoring" portion of the calendar.[41][40][44][45]

Environment and energy

In 2017, Sexton sponsored a bill to place a 15-month moratorium on industrial

certificate of public convenience and approval of two-thirds of the local governmental body.[46]

Abortion

Tennessee's abortion ban, one of the strictest in the U.S., passed as a trigger law in 2019 and took effect in August 2022, after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.[48] It bans abortion without exceptions in the state, and makes performing the procedure a felony crime.[48][49] In January 2023, Sexton supported an amendment to the Tennessee law to permit abortion to save the life of the pregnant woman, an issue that divided Tennessee Republicans.[48][a] Sexton also said he supported exceptions to allow abortion in cases of rape or incest.[49]

Judiciary

In March 2021, Sexton, along with almost all Tennessee House Republicans, attempted to remove a longtime state judge, Davidson County

independence of the judiciary, and the attempt was opposed by Common Cause and the Tennessee Bar Association.[52]

Appointments

In 2021, Sexton nominated

questioned whether al-Qaeda was responsible for the September 11 terrorist attack. Cardoza-Moore's nomination was approved by a 66–26 vote in the state House.[53]

In 2022, Sexton appointed Chip Saltsman, a prominent Tennessee Republican Party operative and political consultant, to the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission, which oversees the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency; Sexton is a major client of Saltsman.[54]

Redistricting

In 2022, during the redistricting cycle, Sexton and Tennessee House Republicans maneuvered to split Nashville and Davidson County, a fast-growing region, into multiple congressional districts, making it easier for Republicans to flip a district previously won by Democrats. The split broke up the Nashville-based 5th district held by longtime Democratic congressman Jim Cooper, resulting in his decision not to run for reelection. Sexton denied accusations of gerrymandering, stating that he believed the new maps would give Nashville more representation in Washington.[55] The redrawn 5th district was won by Republican Andy Ogles.[56]

2023 expulsions

Main article: 2023 Tennessee House of Representatives expulsions

In April 2023, Republican representatives filed motions to expel Gloria Johnson, Justin Jones, and Justin J. Pearson from the House. The members had violated the chamber's decorum rules by leading gun control protests on the House floor during a legislative session. They were not recognized to speak and utilized a megaphone.[57] Jones and Pearson were removed from the House (by a 72–25 result for Jones' vote and a 69–26 result for Pearson's vote); the resolution to expel Johnson failed by one vote to obtain the necessary two-thirds majority.[58][59]

Sexton led the effort to expel the three members,[60] and had earlier revoked their identification-card access to the Capitol and stripped them of committee assignments.[59] He claimed the legislators intended to incite violence but later acknowledged that he had no evidence for this assertion.[60] In a radio interview after the protests, Sexton compared the demonstration to an insurrection and compared it to the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.[61][62]

Democrats, including President Joe Biden, condemned the expulsions as authoritarian and undemocratic.[63] Johnson, Jones, Pearson, the Tennessee Black Caucus, and other Democrats alleged that the two members were expelled because of racism. Sexton and other House Republicans rejected the accusation.[64][65] Jones and Pearson returned to office after the Nashville Metro Council and Shelby County Commission both unanimously voted to reinstate them.[59]

Personal life

Sexton has one child with his wife, Lacey McRae Sexton, a pharmacist, and two children from a previous marriage.[66]

Residency and per diem claims

In 2023, Sexton's collection of per diem payments drew scrutiny.[67]

Sexton owns a condo in Crossville in his district, as well as a home in West Nashville, which he purchased through an anonymous trust in September 2021.[68] His youngest child attends school near Nashville,[66] and Sexton lives in Nashville during the legislative session, though he collects per diem payments as if he commutes from Crossville.[66] Legislators who live at least 50 miles outside Nashville are entitled to a tax-free daily payment of $313 (which is meant to cover meals, lodging and incidental expenses incurred in travel); legislators who live within 50 miles of Nashville are entitled to only $79.[67] Sexton claimed the full $313 per diem, collecting approximately $78,000 in per diem expenses in 2021 and 2022.[67][68]

Notes

  1. ectopic pregnancies, "medically futile pregnancies" and "lethal fetal anomalies."[50] The bill was supported by the Tennessee Medical Association and opposed by the anti-abortion group Tennessee Right to Life.[51]

References

  1. ^ Nelson, Gary (April 7, 2010). "Ballot set for commission, BOE races". Crossville Chronicle. Bill Atkinson. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  2. ^ "Backroads & Backstories: A Conversation with Speaker of the House, Cameron Sexton". paulbaileyfortn.com. Paul Bailey. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  3. ^ Sloan, Alan (August 8, 2019). "'Speak'ing of Farragut". Farragut Press. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c Marta W. Aldrich, Tennessee replaces its voucher-friendly House speaker with a voucher opponent, Tennessee Chalkbeat (August 23, 2019).
  5. ^ a b c d Jake Love, Sexton sworn in as new Tennessee speaker of the house, Bryan Triangle (August 23, 2019).
  6. ^ "Gerald McCormick Unanimously Re-Elected House Majority Leader; Casada Is GOP House Caucus Leader". www.chattanoogan.com. November 26, 2012. Archived from the original on November 11, 2019. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  7. ^ "Tennessee Legislature picks its leaders, kicks off session". WREG.com. January 9, 2019. Archived from the original on November 11, 2019. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  8. ^ Allison, Natalie; Ebert, Joel. "House Speaker Cameron Sexton officially sworn in, succeeding ousted Speaker Glen Casada". The Tennessean. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  9. ^ a b Kimberlee Kruesi & Jonathan Mattise, Tennessee House GOP nominates new speaker after scandal, Associated Press (July 24, 2019).
  10. ^ Sergio Martínez-Beltrán, Tennessee Lawmakers Start 2021 Session With A Quiet First Day, WPLN (January 12, 2021).
  11. ^ Sexton, McNally re-elected speakers, Tennessee Journal (January 10, 2023).
  12. ^ "tennessee-house-speaker-creating-health-care-task-force". local3news.com. April 12, 2016. Archived from the original on April 3, 2023. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  13. ^ Tom Humphrey, Medicaid expansion: Still pushed by Democrats, panned by Republicans, Tennessee Journal (January 10, 2018).
  14. ^ Sam Stockard, McNally, Sexton part ways on Medicaid expansion, Tennessee Lookout (March 25, 2021).
  15. ^ Matt Steinhauer, State lawmakers refuse to expand Medicaid for yet another session (January 23, 2023).
  16. ^ Cameron Taylor, Gov. Lee signs resolution to authorize Medicaid block grant program, WBIR (January 15, 2021).
  17. ^ Tennessee lawmakers rush Medicaid block grant vote to preempt Biden, The Tennessean (January 14, 2021).
  18. ^ Brandon Shields (March 25, 2022). "State House Speaker combatting high drug costs". Jackson Sun. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023.
  19. ^ "State representatives hold mental health discussion at Moccasin Bend". WDEF. April 8, 2022. Archived from the original on May 3, 2022. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  20. ^ Kimberlee Kruesi, Bill would increase penalties for illegal camping, graffiti, Associated Press (June 15, 2020).
  21. ^ "Memphis mayor applauds Tenn. legislators for passing 'truth in sentencing' bill". action5news.com. May 9, 2022. Archived from the original on June 28, 2022. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  22. ^ "It's against federal law" Tennessee's speaker clarifies stance on medical marijuana, WVLT (January 10, 2020).
  23. ^ Speaker Sexton talks cannabis, 3rd grade retention for upcoming session, WJHL (January 19, 2023)/
  24. ^ "Building Commission votes to remove Nathan Bedford Forrest bust from Tennessee Capitol". wkrn.com. July 22, 2021. Archived from the original on January 23, 2022. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  25. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived
    from the original on September 20, 2021. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  26. ^ "Tennessee House Speaker Sexton expects Nashville to comply with new bills". WTVF. November 8, 2021. Archived from the original on January 31, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  27. ^ Gerald Harris & Caitlin Coffey, Tennessee lawmakers react to federal OSHA vaccine mandate, WREG (November 4, 2021).
  28. ^ Grant Schulte & Julie Watson, GOP governors grapple with whether to accept refugees or not, Associated Press (December 22, 2019).
  29. ^ Erik Schelzig, Speakers form study committee on refugee issues, Tennessee Journal (May 28, 2021).
  30. ^ Tennessee lawmakers create committee to investigate immigration concerns in state, WTVC (May 28, 2021).
  31. ^ Gainey, Blaise (October 28, 2021). "Tennessee House Speaker pushing to make school board races partisan". WPLN-FM. Nashville. Archived from the original on March 31, 2022. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  32. WZTV-TV. Nashville. Archived
    from the original on October 28, 2021. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  33. ^ Atterbury, Andrew; Perez Jr., Juan (December 29, 2021). "Republicans eye new front in education wars: Making school board races partisan". Politico. Archived from the original on March 31, 2022. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  34. ^ a b Marta W. Aldrich, Tennessee’s shift to partisan school board elections faces its first big test, Chalkbeat (July 12, 2022).
  35. ^ Styf, Jon (November 15, 2021). "Not all on board with new Tennessee law on partisan school board elections". The Center Square. Archived from the original on December 14, 2021. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  36. ^ a b c d e f Kimberlee Kruesi & Jonathan Mattise, Tennessee House speaker mulls rejecting US education money, Associated Press (February 8, 2023).
  37. ^ a b Kimberlee Kruesi & Jonathan Mattise, Feds: Tenn. plan to forgo school funds 'political posturing', Associated Press (February 10, 2023).
  38. ^ a b Chris Davis, 'Why would we not do that?' Tennessee Speaker defends proposal to reject billions in federal education funds, WTVF (February 9, 2023).
  39. ^ a b c Hannah Moore, School systems respond after House speaker says TN could reject federal funds, WATE (February 9, 2023).
  40. ^ a b c Alexis Marshall (January 27, 2022). "a-tennessee-school-board-removes-a-book-about-the-holocaust-escalating-tensions-over-what-kids-learn-about-history-and-oppression". wpln.org. Archived from the original on May 2, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  41. ^ a b c "Tennessee House Speaker admonishes Democrat for Holocaust Rememberance [sic] speech". January 27, 2022. Archived from the original on February 18, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2022 – via youtube.com.
  42. ^ Wegner, Rachel (January 27, 2022). "Tennessee school board's removal of Holocaust book 'Maus' draws international attention". The Tennessean. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  43. ^ Marshall, Alexis (January 27, 2022). "A Tennessee school board removes a book about the Holocaust, escalating tensions over what kids learn about history and oppression". WPLN News. Archived from the original on May 2, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  44. ^ Gerald Harris (January 28, 2022). "Tennessee lawmakers react to McMinn County schools removal of prominent Holocaust book from curriculum". WKRN.com. Archived from the original on February 4, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  45. ^ "State lawmakers react to McMinn Schools removal of Holocaust book from curriculum". WATE.com. January 28, 2022. Archived from the original on May 7, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  46. ^ a b Heather Mullinix, Wind energy bill headed to Senate, Crossville Chronicle (April 10, 2018).
  47. ^ $100M wind project suspended following Tennessee moratorium, Associated Press (June 13, 2017).
  48. ^ a b c Kimberlee Kruesi & Jonathan Mattise, Tennessee GOP split over adding exceptions to abortion ban, Associated Press (January 14, 2023).
  49. ^ a b Kimberlee Kruesi, Tennessee lawmakers reconvene, take up hot-button issues, Associated Press (January 10, 2023).
  50. ^ a b Kimberlee Kruesi, Tennessee advances bill to narrowly loosen abortion ban, Associated Press (February 14, 2023).
  51. ^ Sam Stockard, Abortion bill to save life of mother clears first hurdle amid rancor over political threat, Tennessee Lookout (February 14, 2023).
  52. ^ a b
  53. ^ Jonathan Mattise, Activist who opposed mosque confirmed to textbook panel, Associated Press (April 12, 2021).
  54. ^ GOP consultant tapped for Tennessee fish and wildlife panel, Associated Press (July 13, 2022).
  55. ^ Harris, Gerald (January 13, 2022). "TN House speaker defends proposed congressional maps, says gerrymandering is not happening". WATE-TV. Knoxville. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  56. ^ Elliott, Stephen; Herner, Hannah (November 8, 2022). "Republican Andy Ogles wins redrawn 5th Congressional District". NashvillePost.com. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  57. ^ Davis, Chris (March 30, 2023). "Bullhorn in hand, freshmen lawmakers could face sanctions after disrupting Tennessee House floor session". WTVF. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  58. ^
  59. ^ a b c Eliza Fawcett and Emily Cochrane, Tennessee House Expulsions: What You Need to Know, New York Times (April 13, 2023).
  60. ^ a b Phil Williams, REVEALED: House Speaker calls for expulsion of three Democrats, but 'can't prove' claims of violence, WTVF (April 4, 2023).
  61. ^ Tony Garcia (April 4, 2023). "Speaker Sexton compares gun protest to January 6 'insurrection,' draws backlash".
  62. ^ "TN House Speaker calls Democratic disruption at state capitol an 'insurrection'". March 31, 2023.
  63. ^ Sforza, Lauren (April 6, 2023). "Biden decries expulsion of Tennessee lawmakers as 'shocking' and 'undemocratic'". The Hill. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  64. ^ Jonathan Mattisee, Expelled Tennessee lawmakers both seeking seats again, Associated Press (April 9, 2023).
  65. ^ Chris Davis, 'It looked like a Jim Crow-era trial': Tennessee Black Caucus calls expulsion of two members racist, WTVF (April 7, 2023).
  66. ^ a b c Legum, Judd. "Where does the Tennessee House Speaker actually live?". popular.info. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  67. ^ a b c Adam Friedman, Tennessee House speaker’s multiple homes raise questions about per diem, Tennessee Lookout (reprinted in Chattanooga Times Free Press) (April 23, 2023).
  68. ^ a b Legum, Judd. "UPDATE: Tennessee House Speaker secretly bought $600,000 home in Nashville". popular.info. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
Political offices
Preceded by
Bill Dunn
Acting
Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives

2019–present 		Incumbent
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