(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) — Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) and Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge) are taking action to block local governments from any attempts to circumvent state law by politicized ballot measures or ordinances.

The Legislature will not tolerate any attempts to go rogue and perform political sideshows. If they do not want to participate within the state and state laws, then they do not need to participate in the state’s successes. Both Speakers will be acting to withhold state shared sales tax to any local government who attempts to take this type of action.

The Tennessee Constitution is very clear about the Legislature’s duty to maintain oversight of cities and counties. Both Speakers expect that any local government that has or will attempt to override state laws will rectify or drop them in the very near future.

“With the recent actions of the progressive, soft-on-crime DA in Shelby County and the Memphis City Council’s continued efforts to override state law with local measures, we feel it has become necessary to take action and protect all Tennesseans’ rights and liberties. We hope they will change course immediately.” – Speaker Sexton
 
“The Tennessee Constitution clearly outlines the roles and responsibilities of the state and local governments. Shelby County needs to understand that despite their hopes and wishes to the contrary, they are constrained by these explicit constitutional guardrails.” -Lt. Gov. McNally