Speak Out Against HB 2115, a Consolidated Power Grab for Control of UT System

Okay Vol Nation. If you want to help stop the controversial HB 2115 and prevent Governor Bill Haslam from reconstituting the UT Board of Trustees I'm going to make it easy for you. I'm going to set this up so you can email EVERY SINGLE MEMBER of the Tennessee House of Representatives at the same time. All right? 

First off, copy and paste the following into your TO block (your recipients) at the top of your email: 

rep.jason.zachary@capitol.tn.gov, rep.tim.wirgau@capitol.tn.gov, rep.john.windle@capitol.tn.gov, rep.ryan.williams@capitol.tn.gov, rep.sam.whitson@capitol.tn.gov,rep.mark.white@capitol.tn.gov, rep.dawn.white@capitol.tn.gov, rep.terri.lynn.weaver@capitol.tn.gov, rep.kevin.vaughan@capitol.tn.gov, rep.johnnie.turner@capitol.tn.gov, rep.ron.travis@capitol.tn.gov, rep.joe.towns@capitol.tn.gov, rep.rick.tillis@capitol.tn.gov, rep.dwayne.thompson@capitol.tn.gov, rep.bryan.terry@capitol.tn.gov, rep.mike.stewart@capitol.tn.gov, rep.rick.staples@capitol.tn.gov, rep.mike.sparks@capitol.tn.gov, rep.mike.sparks@capitol.tn.gov, rep.eddie.smith@capitol.tn.gov, rep.paul.sherrell@capitol.tn.gov, rep.johnny.shaw@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jerry.sexton@capitol.tn.gov, rep.cameron.sexton@capitol.tn.gov, rep.charles.sargent@capitol.tn.gov, rep.bill.sanderson@capitol.tn.gov, rep.tim.rudd@capitol.tn.gov, rep.courtney.rogers@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jay.reedy@capitol.tn.gov, rep.bob.ramsey@capitol.tn.gov, rep.john.ragan@capitol.tn.gov, rep.dennis.powers@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jason.powell@capitol.tn.gov, rep.joe.pitts@capitol.tn.gov, rep.antonio.parkinson@capitol.tn.gov, Rep.Jerome.Moon@capitol.tn.gov, rep.debra.moody@capitol.tn.gov, rep.bo.mitchell@capitol.tn.gov, rep.larry.miller@capitol.tn.gov, rep.steve.mcdaniel@capitol.tn.gov, rep.gerald.mccormick@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jimmy.matlock@capitol.tn.gov, rep.judd.matheny@capitol.tn.gov, rep.pat.marsh@capitol.tn.gov, rep.harold.love@capitol.tn.gov, rep.susan.lynn@capitol.tn.gov, rep.ron.lollar@capitol.tn.gov, rep.mary.littleton@capitol.tn.gov, rep.william.lamberth@capitol.tn.gov, rep.sabi.kumar@capitol.tn.gov, rep.kelly.keisling@capitol.tn.gov, rep.roger.kane@capitol.tn.gov, rep.sherry.jones@capitol.tn.gov, rep.curtis.johnson@capitol.tn.gov, rep.darren.jernigan@capitol.tn.gov, rep.bud.hulsey@capitol.tn.gov, rep.dan.howell@capitol.tn.gov, rep.andy.holt@capitol.tn.gov, rep.john.holsclaw@capitol.tn.gov, rep.timothy.hill@capitol.tn.gov, rep.matthew.hill@capitol.tn.gov, rep.gary.hicks@capitol.tn.gov, rep.patsy.hazlewood@capitol.tn.gov, rep.david.hawk@capitol.tn.gov, speaker.beth.harwell@capitol.tn.gov, rep.ga.hardaway@capitol.tn.gov, rep.curtis.halford@capitol.tn.gov, rep.marc.gravitt@capitol.tn.gov, rep.tilman.goins@capitol.tn.gov, rep.brenda.gilmore@capitol.tn.gov, rep.ron.gant@capitol.tn.gov, rep.john.forgety@capitol.tn.gov, rep.craig.fitzhugh@capitol.tn.gov, rep.raumesh.akbari@capitol.tn.gov, rep.david.alexander@capitol.tn.gov,
rep.bill.beck@capitol.tn.gov, Rep.Clark.Boyd@capitol.tn.gov, rep.harry.brooks@capitol.tn.gov,
rep.kevin.brooks@capitol.tn.gov, rep.sheila.butt@capitol.tn.gov, rep.kent.calfee@capitol.tn.gov,
rep.karen.camper@capitol.tn.gov, rep.dale.carr@capitol.tn.gov, rep.mike.carter@capitol.tn.gov, rep.glen.casada@capitol.tn.gov, rep.john.ray.clemmons@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jim.coley@capitol.tn.gov, rep.barbara.cooper@capitol.tn.gov, rep.john.crawford@capitol.tn.gov, rep.michael.curcio@capitol.tn.gov, rep.martin.daniel@capitol.tn.gov, rep.john.deberry@capitol.tn.gov, rep.barry.doss@capitol.tn.gov, rep.bill.dunn@capitol.tn.gov,
rep.jimmy.eldridge@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jeremy.faison@capitol.tn.gov, rep.andrew.farmer@capitol.tn.gov, rep.joanne.favors@capitol.tn.gov

It looks ridiculous and if you're like me, you probably thought, "Nah. No way you can send to that many people at the same time."

But, yes you can. I sent my email without a bit of trouble with this many subjects.

After you've set your email addresses for the representatives, on the subject line of your email put: Say No to HB 2115 

Then, write your email. Mine was a little long, but that's because I write epic fantasy. Yours can be as short or as long as you like. What important and you must state clearly is that these representatives answer to YOU. They were elected to represent the best interests of every citizen of the great state of Tennessee.

Or, if you want something quick and easy to copy/paste, I'll give you a few options.

OPTION 1:

Dear Representatives of Tennessee,
I am writing to encourage you to either vote against HB 2115 or to table discussion on the bill until the next legislative session. I strongly disapprove of any measure which allows Governor Haslam to wield more influence over the University of Tennessee than he and his family already do. This bill looks like a way for to consolidate power right before the hiring process begins to replace UT President Joe DiPietro. If this bill was drawn up by the Governor without any thought of personal gain, he could have no objection to putting this bill on the shelf until after this last year of his administration. 

OR OPTION 2:

Dear Representatives of Tennessee,
I wish to express my strong disapproval of HB 2115 and am writing to ask you to vote no against the bill or to propose the bill be delayed until the next legislative session. I feel there is no need to rush these changes through, and that the possible ramifications of this legislation need to be researched and analyzed thoroughly. That can't happen before July 1, 2018 as is now required by the amended bill. The way this bill has been introduced by Governor Bill Haslam concerns me as well. Considering the public feeling against the influence that the Haslam family already has over university affairs, this bill appears to me to be an attempt to once again solidify Haslam control over UT and that is unacceptable. I ask you in this election year to pay attention to the wishes of your constituency and say no to HB 2115

OR OPTION 3:

Dear Representatives of Tennessee,
Thursday, the House is set to vote on HB 2115, a bill which will reconstitute the UT Board of Trustees. I am opposed to this legislation and urge you to oppose it as well. I disagree that there's an immediate need to revamp the BoT and especially in the precipitous manner the legislation establishes. Last November, many of you stood with the citizens of Tennessee and the alumni and students of UT against a coaching hire we felt was unacceptable. We urge you to stand with us, your constituents, once more. In an election year, we feel it is important that you represent our wishes and not those of the Haslam administration. Vote against HB 2115 or vote that the legislation be tabled until after the end of Haslam's term. 

OR OPTION FOUR:

The matter is simple. You are an elected official, and 2018 is an election year. If you vote YES on HB 2115, citizens of Tennessee will vote NO to your campaign for re-election in NOvember. Only a NO vote or a vote to shelve HB2115 until the next legislative session is acceptable to me as a citizen of Tennessee.

After you write your email or choose one of these options, sign your name, your address, your telephone number, and your email address. Then hit send.

And you're done!

The only way to hopefully defeat this measure is for citizens of Tennessee to speak out. So take the two or three minutes it'll require to send this email so that it reaches every single representative in the State of Tennessee legislature. Make your voices heard.