How Gov. Bill Lee flew to the Texas border
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee traveled to Eagle Pass, Texas this month on a plane owned by Gothams LLC – a private contractor who netted millions in Texas state contracts to facilitate Gov. Greg Abbott’s Operation Lone Star border security initiative.
Lee’s flight was arranged by a nonprofit affiliated with the Republican Governors Association, of which Lee was elected chair in December, according to the governor’s office. The governor traveled to the border to join a coalition of 13 Republican governors “for a briefing on the crisis at our southern border” – the day before he presented his State of the State address.
According to flight records, a Pilatus PC-24 business jet owned by security contractor Gothams LLC flew from Austin, Texas to John C. Tune airport in Nashville on Sunday morning, then flew directly to Maverick County Memorial International Airport, near Eagle Pass, arriving just before noon.
Hours later, after the governors’ joint news conference ended, the Gothams LLC plane flew back to John C. Tune before returning to Austin. None of the Tennessee-owned state planes flew to Texas on that Sunday, according to flight records.
Lee’s office did not respond to questions on what the flight cost, who paid for the flight, or whether the governor requested the private plane to be sent for him.
According to the RGA, the event was coordinated by State Solutions, Inc., a 501(c)(4) nonprofit associated with the RGA. State Solutions covered all costs associated with the travel. It is unclear whether the nonprofit organization — whose leadership consists entirely of RGA executives — sent private planes for every governor who attended the event, or if Lee was the only governor who received such treatment.
Unlike reporters in Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho and Texas, Tennessee media outlets were not notified of the governor’s travel plans before they occurred.
The governor’s office says the secrecy was due to efforts to separate the governor’s official and political undertakings.
But the trip was handled in other ways typical of an official activity of the governor. The governor was joined by his Chief of Staff Joseph Williams and Senior Adviser Alec Richardson for the duration of the trip, according to the governor’s office. During the news conference, Lee wore a shirt bearing the square red state logo. A news release sharing an official statement of the governor was released. The governor’s official social media accounts have shared extensively about the trip. Nor has the governor shied away from discussing the trip after the fact. On the plane home, Lee shared highlights and took questions from Tennessee reporters during a conference call.
“It is our policy to separate anything that could be considered political activity from the official media schedule,” Lee spokesperson Elizabeth Johnson told The Tennessean in an email.
Gothams LLC has netted millions from Texas in border contracts through Operation Lone Star. According to campaign finance disclosures, the firm’s owner Matthew Michelson has also contributed heavily to Abbot’s campaign in 2022.
Lee’s office touted the journey as coming “at no cost to Tennessee taxpayers.”
“All travel for the day trip on Sunday, February 4th was arranged by the independent entity, not by the Governor’s office, and overnight accommodations were not necessary,” Johnson told The Tennessean. “Again, no taxpayer dollars were utilized for travel.”
Hemmer requests AG opinion on Reynolds’ qualifications
Rep. Caleb Hemmer, D-Nashville, has requested an official opinion from Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti’s office regarding Tennessee Commissioner of Education Lizzette Reynolds’ job qualifications.
House Democrats called for Reynolds’ resignation last month after noting she does not technically meet commissioner requirements outlined in state code. The law states the top education official “shall also be qualified to teach” at a high school level.
Reynolds does not have a Tennessee teaching license. Lee, who appointed her, has stood behind her qualifications.
“While I acknowledge that Commissioner Reynolds is reportedly undertaking courses at UT-Martin to enhance her qualifications, it is imperative to ascertain whether her current credentials align with the statutory requirements for the position,” Hemmer wrote in his request.
Hemmer asked Skrmetti to conduct a “thorough review” of her qualifications in accordance with state law.
Skrmetti has never issued an opinion at a Democrat’s request since taking office in 2022, according to a Tennessean review.
Chrissy Metz, Jamie Moore advocate for artist AI protections
Actress and singer Chrissy Metz testified in the Tennessee House of Representatives this week, asking lawmakers to approve Lee’s proposed legislation aimed at protecting artists from misused artificial intelligence.
Metz, alongside hit songwriter Jamie Moore, shared the dangers unethical use of AI poses to artists and musicians, as the technology continues to evolve.
“I can attest to the pain and fear coursing through the creative community, knowing that years of committed hard work, countless heartbreaks, sacrifice, unwavering resilience… not to mention our very own character and reputations all can be torn down in a moment by an unaccountable deepfake,” Metz told the committee.
Metz testified on behalf of the Human Artistry Campaign, a global initiative advocating for responsible AI use.
“AI can facilitate – but never replace – a fundamental human element of our creative culture,” Metz said.
House Bill 2091 would add artists’ voices to state law protecting personal rights, and and protect sound recordings and audiovisual work to the state’s name, image, and likeness law. The bill passed a first House committee on Tuesday after Metz and Moore’s testimony, and is scheduled to be heard for the first time in the Senate on Feb. 20.
“As songwriters and artists, we