Janice Bowling

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In 2021, Bowling spoke against early voting in Tennessee, saying she believed early voting created “mischief.” [2] [3] [4] She sponsored a bill reflecting her opinion but withdrew it quickly when she could find no member of the Tennessee House of Representatives willing to sponsor the bill in the house. [2]

Removal of controversial Forrest bust

In March 2021, the Tennessee State Historical Commission voted to remove the bust of Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest from the Tennessee State Capitol and relocate it to the Tennessee State Museum. [5] A controversial figure in the state's history, Forrest was a slave trader and one of the first leaders of the Ku Klux Klan.

Less than two weeks following the vote to remove Forrest's bust from the state capitol, Bowling was one of two state legislators who, instead of removing the bust of Forrest, wanted to vote to remove all 29 members of the Tennessee State Historical Commission.

The two legislators’ bills would replace all 29 members with 12 new members.

Bowling said she thought removing the bust was tantamount to the cancel culture movement, saying such cancel narratives that are “based only on fact” are a “dangerous precedent.” [6]

COVID-19

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Bowling expressed unverified claims about COVID-19 vaccines. [7] In legislative hearings, Bowling said the vaccines could lead to genetic modification, a theory deemed “misinformation” by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. [7]

Bowling opposed allowing COVID-19 vaccination for minors above the age of 14 and criticized the public health official who supported it by citing Tennessee law. [8] [9]

In July 2021, Dr. Michelle Fiscus, the medical director for vaccine-preventable diseases and immunization programs at the Tennessee Department of Health, was terminated after she sent a letter to medical providers who administer vaccines regarding vaccinating minors. [10] In her letter, Fiscus explained the state's “Mature Minor Doctrine,” a legal mechanism based on Cardwell v. Bechtol, 724 S.W.2d. 739 (Tenn. 1987), that stated physicians may treat minors between the ages of 14 and 18 without parental consent, unless the physician believes the minor is too immature to make his or her own health-care decisions. [11]

During a Senate hearing on Fiscus' firing, an angry Bowling argued that the state was misinterpreting its legal authority. [8] She proposed legislation barring government mandates of COVID-19 vaccines and allowing religious exemptions. [12] The legislation was signed into law by Republican Governor Bill Lee, effective May 25, 2021, despite the vocal and aggressive opposition of several organizations for physicians, first responders and other health-care providers. [13]

Furry litter boxes

Bowling claimed that her rural district were providing litter boxes in schools to children that identify as cats. This claim was not substantiated by basically anyone. [14]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Mojica, Adrian (2020-02-06). "Tennessee lawmakers: Traditional marriage doesn't 'promote' lack of moral restraints". WZTV. Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Tennessee bill to abolish early voting and machines is withdrawn". WKRN News 2. 2021-02-23. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  3. ↑ Gardner, Amy; Rabinowitz, Kate; Stevens, Harry. "How GOP-backed voting measures could create hurdles for tens of millions of voters". Washington Post. Retrieved 2021-07-13.
  4. ↑ "GOP Tennessee State Senator Wants To Abolish Early Voting". Across Tennessee, TN Patch. 2021-02-18. Retrieved 2021-07-13.
  5. ↑ WSMV Staff (March 19, 2021). "UPDATE: TN Historical Commission votes to allow removal of Nathan Bedford Forrest bust from the Capitol". 3WRCBtv. Sarkes Tarzian, Inc. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Bill would remove all members of the historical commission". WTVF. 2021-03-17. Retrieved 2021-03-18.
  7. 1 2 Yu, Yue Stella (March 21, 2021). "Tennessee bill allowing religious exemptions from COVID-19 vaccines advances in Senate". The Tennessean. USA Today Network. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  8. 1 2 Kelman, Brett. "Tennessee fires top vaccine official as COVID-19 shows signs of new spread". The Tennessean. Retrieved 2021-07-13.
  9. ↑ "Health official fired in retaliation for coronavirus vaccine guidance for teens, she says". Washington Post. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved 2021-07-13.
  10. ↑ Kelman, Brett (July 12, 2021). "Tennessee fires top vaccine official as COVID-19 shows signs of new spread". The Tennessean. USA Today Network. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Mature Minor Doctrine" (PDF). Tennessee Department of Health. State of Tennessee. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  12. ↑ Yu, Yue Stella. "Tennessee bill allowing religious exemptions from COVID-19 vaccines advances in Senate". The Tennessean. Retrieved 2021-07-13.
  13. ↑ "Legislative Summary Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth" (PDF). Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth. State of Tennessee. June 15, 2021. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  14. ↑ "Tennessee school officials: No, we did not give litter boxes to students identifying as furries". News Channel 5 Nashville. September 30, 2022.
Janice Bowling
Member of the Tennessee Senate
from the 16th district
Assumed office
January 8, 2013
Members of the Tennessee State Senate
113th General Assembly (2023–2025)
Lt. Governor and Speaker
Randy McNally (R)
Speaker pro tempore
Ferrell Haile (R)
Majority Leader
Jack Johnson (R)
Minority Leader
Raumesh Akbari (D)
  1. ▌ J. Adam Lowe (R)
  2. ▌ Art Swann (R)
  3. ▌ Rusty Crowe (R)
  4. ▌ Jon Lundberg (R)
  5. ▌ Randy McNally (R)
  6. ▌ Becky Massey (R)
  7. ▌ Richard Briggs (R)
  8. ▌ Frank Niceley (R)
  9. ▌ Steve Southerland (R)
  10. ▌ Todd Gardenhire (R)
  11. ▌ Bo Watson (R)
  12. ▌ Ken Yager (R)
  13. ▌ Dawn White (R)
  14. ▌ Shane Reeves (R)
  15. ▌ Paul Bailey (R)
  16. ▌ Janice Bowling (R)
  17. ▌ Mark Pody (R)
  18. ▌ Ferrell Haile (R)
  19. ▌ Charlane Oliver (D)
  20. ▌ Heidi Campbell (D)
  21. ▌ Jeff Yarbro (D)
  22. ▌ Bill Powers (R)
  23. ▌ Kerry Roberts (R)
  24. ▌ John Stevens (R)
  25. ▌ Ed Jackson (R)
  26. ▌ Page Walley (R)
  27. ▌ Jack Johnson (R)
  28. ▌ Joey Hensley (R)
  29. ▌ Raumesh Akbari (D)
  30. ▌ Sara Kyle (D)
  31. ▌ Brent Taylor (R)
  32. ▌ Paul Rose (R)
  33. ▌ London Lamar (D)
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