Rusty Grills

Representative Rusty Grills (R), District 77, has served in the Tennessee State House since 2019. Representative Grills with a vote score of 80%, and a leadership grade of A sets him above the crowd. Leadership grades are based on sponsorships, co-sponsorships, amendments, both meritorious (+) and deleterious (-), and other bold and courageous acts (+) or furtive, unprincipled acts (-).

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 Grills supported the following TLRC endorsed bills:

• *HB1137/SB1197 – No restrictions on church activities in a 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
• 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

*Grills sponsored HB1137 which was passed into law.

Here are two TLRC-opposed bills that Representative Grills 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/

Three TLRC-opposed bills that Representative Grills supported:

• HB1201/SB1005 – Changes in campaign finance giving advantage to incumbents; limiting freedom of speech, discouraging small donors
• HB2886/SB2901 – Provides $500M for Titans to build new stadium
• 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 actually to 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.

A TLRC supported bill that Rep. Grills opposed:

• 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/

Representative Grills could lead in the battle against bigger government and for constitutional principles. We need principled members to battle against government expansion, for our tenth amendment rights, and to make good policy decisions for ordinary Tennesseans by Tennesseans. We are in crisis. We can and must do better.

By listing these bills, we hope that tells you what you need to know about your General Assembly members. We encourage you to reach out and let them know how you feel about the various issues and VOTE accordingly. To contact members, go to: https://www.capitol.tn.gov