Jerry Sexton

Representative Jerry Sexton (R), District 35, has served in the Tennessee State House since 2015. Representative Sexton has a commendable vote score of 96%, placing him #2 in a body of 99.  His leadership grade of A sets him above the crowd at #13.  Leadership grades are based on sponsorships, co-sponsorships, amendments, and other acts, both meritorious (+) and deleterious (-).

TLRC scores and grades reflect the entire process, not just end results. We count every vote on every selected bill. Bills are selected for their value to ordinary Tennesseans, or their insult to those values. We encourage our General Assembly members to support the former and oppose the latter. When they don’t, they lose points.

Representative Sexton supported the following TLRC endorsed bills:

• HB1137/SB1197 – No restrictions on church activities in declared emergency
• HB1749/SB2285 – Court decisions de novo, not based on a state agency’s interpretation
• HB1867/SB1823 – Vaccine exemptions protected
• HB1871/SB1982 – Recognition that natural immunity is equal or superior to vaccine
• HB1960/SB1884 – No government vaccine mandates
• HB2067/SB2189 – Would reduce number of votes necessary to keep a minor party on ballot. https://tennesseestar.com/2021/03/16/state-house-subcommittee-rejects-bill-lowering-signature-requirement-to-recognize-minor-political-parties-in-tennessee/
• HB2128/SB2245 – Election integrity measures  (weak)
• HB2316/SB2153 – No males in girls’ sports
• HB2331/SB2558 – Auditable paper trail voting machines
• HB2454/SB2292 – Redefines “obscene” to include educational material in K-12 making it unlawful
• HB2666/SB2247 – Requires Textbook Commission to provide a list of approved material to GA members
• HB2742/SB2728 – Requires HS to teach virtues of capitalism and the constitution
• HB2746/SB2188 – Makes Ivermectin available over the counter

Here are four TLRC-opposed bills that Representative Sexton also opposed:

• HB0204/SB0136 The Crown Act- protecting ethnic hairstyles in the work place
• HB2309/SB2464 – Allows professional licenses for illegal immigrants in Tennessee. https://tennesseestar.com/2022/04/13/tennessee-general-assembly-may-enable-illegal-immigrants-to-acquire-commercial-and-professional-licenses/
• HB2609/SB2890 – Cincinnati Reds 80% tax-break for Chattanooga farm team
• HB8002/SB8002 – Provides $678,218,300 of taxpayer money for Ford to build an electric vehicle plant in W. TN

Corporate welfare in all forms should be opposed. Our state government should not be giving economic advantages to any public or private for-profit entities. Let the free market pick the winners and losers. Jobs would come to Tennessee if we were to actually reform our education system and educate instead of indoctrinate. A well-educated workforce would be unique in America and every business would want to be in our right-to-work, no-income-tax state. Members should rethink these handouts. To his credit, Representative Sexton opposed corporate welfare bills.

A TLRC-opposed bill that Representative Sexton supported (his only deficient vote):

• HB1201/SB1005 – Changes in campaign finance giving advantage to incumbents; limiting freedom of speech

We regret that Representative Sexton is not returning to the General Assembly. We need principled members like him to battle against bigger government and for our tenth amendment rights to make good policy decisions for ordinary Tennesseans by Tennesseans. We are in crisis. We can and must do better. We hope his replacement can live up to Representative Sexton’s example.