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Beth Harwell
| Beth Harwell | ||
 | ||
| Tennessee House Of Representatives District 56 | ||
| Incumbent | ||
| In office | ||
| 1989-Present | ||
| Term ends | ||
| November 4, 2014 | ||
| Years in position | 24 | |
| Party | Republican | |
| Leadership | ||
| Speaker of the House of Representatives | ||
| 2011-Present | ||
| Compensation | ||
| Base salary | $19,009/year | |
| Per diem | $173/legislative day | |
| Elections and appointments | ||
| Last election | November 6, 2012 | |
| First elected | 1988 | |
| Next election | November 4, 2014 | |
| Term limits | N/A | |
| Education | ||
| Bachelor's | David Lipscomb University, 1978 | |
| Master's | Peabody College, 1979 | |
| Ph.D. | Vanderbilt University, 1982 | |
| Personal | ||
| Birthday | July 24, 1957 | |
| Place of birth | Norristown, PA | |
| Religion | Church of Christ | |
| Websites | ||
| Office website | ||
 | ||
Contents |
Biography
Harwell earned her BA from David Lipscomb University in 1978. She later received her MS from Peabody College in 1979. She then earned her PhD from Vanderbilt University in 1982. Harwell was a research analyst for the State Board of Regents from 1981 to 1983. She then worked for the University of Tennessee Center for Labor Management as a trainer from 1983 to 1986. From 1986 to 1990, she was an Associate Professor at Belmont University.
Committee assignments
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Harwell served on the following committees:
| Tennessee Committee Assignments, 2013 |
|---|
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Harwell served on these committees:
| Tennessee Committee Assignments, 2011 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Calendar and Rules | ||||
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Harwell served on these committees:
| Tennessee Committee Assignments, 2011 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Calendar and Rules | ||||
| • Children and Youth | ||||
| • Commerce | ||||
| • Education | ||||
| • Ethics | ||||
Issues
2011
Budget
|
|
When Harwell was the GOP House speaker-nominee, she indicated that she would like to end the session earlier rather than later. She also hinted that the legislative budget process will begin picking up momentum in March.
Gov.-elect Bill Haslam releases his first-ever state budget plan on March 1 and the General Assembly receives the latest tax collection estimates.
“We want to work with the revenue figures we receive in March…so we can work toward an earlier adjournment,” Harwell said. “The earlier we can balance this budget given our limited resources, the better off we are going to be.”[2]
School voucher bill skipped
Rep. Bill Dunn was discussing his school-choice bill in the House Education Subcommittee meeting on April 27 when a 10-minute recess was called. Republicans met in that recess in Speaker Harwell's office and at the end of the recess, Reps Kevin Brooks and Richard Montgomery moved to send Dunn's bill to a summer study committee.
Lawmakers often do this to put off an issue for another day without killing the legislation.
The “Equal Opportunity Scholarship Act,” or HB388, would allow low-income students in the state’s biggest cities (Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville and Chattanooga) to be given a “scholarship” to attend a public school elsewhere in the district, a public charter school or a non-public school.
The bill passed in the Senate the week prior to this delay, 18-10.[3]
Collective bargaining
The Tennessee House and Senate approved competing plans overhauling the state’s collective bargaining laws in 2011. Both chambers’ leaders believe they’ll ultimately end up banning unions from negotiating teachers’ labor contracts.
“I think the vote today indicated that we can get it passed if it’s reasonably drawn and reasonably written. I think we have the opportunity to pass it here,” House Speaker Beth Harwell told reporters.
Harwell presided over a grueling four-hour debate on her chamber’s floor before the measure was approved.
On a 59-39 vote, majority Republicans moved to scale back teachers’ collective bargaining powers.
Opponents included all the House Democrats, one independent and five Republicans. They pitched more than two dozen alternatives to weaken or derail the bill, but only a few tinkering with technicalities passed — the rest were either tabled or later withdrawn.[4]
Presidential preference
2012
Beth Harwell endorsed Mitt Romney in the 2012 presidential election. [5]
Elections
2012
Harwell ran in the 2012 election for Tennessee House of Representatives, District 56. Harwell ran unopposed in the August 2 primary election. She was unopposed in the general election which took place on November 6, 2012.[6][7]
2010
Harwell ran for re-election to the 56th District Seat in 2010. She was unopposed in the August 5 primary.[8] She defeated Democrat Matthew Kenigson in the general election on November 2, 2010.[9]
2008
On Nov. 4, 2008, Harwell won election to the 56th District Seat in the Tennessee House of Representatives. [10]
Harwell raised $115,300 for her campaign. [11]
| Tennessee House of Representatives, District 56 (2008) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
 Beth Hartwell (R)
|
31,318 | |||
Campaign donors
2012
Campaign donor information is not yet available for this year.
2010
In 2010, Harwell received $119,066 in campaign donations. The top contributors are listed below.[12]
| Tennessee House of Representatives 2010 election - Campaign Contributions | |
|---|---|
| Top contributors to Beth Harwell's campaign in 2010 | |
| Federal Express | $10,000 |
| Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association | $5,500 |
| Fraternal Order Of Police | $5,250 |
| Tennessee Wine & Spirits Retailers Association | $4,500 |
| Tennessee Medical Association | $4,000 |
| Total Raised in 2010 | $119,066 |
2008
Harwell raised $115,300 in the 2008 election cycle.
Her major contributors are listed below. [13]
| Donor | Amount |
|---|---|
| National Heathcare Corp | $5,000 |
| J R Hyde III | $2,000 |
| Woody Millar | $2,000 |
| Gary Baker | $2,000 |
| Justin Potter Wilson | $2,000 |
| Bruce Wolf | $2,000 |
Personal
Harwell and her husband, Sam, have three children. They currently reside in Nashville, Tennessee.
Recent news
 |
Know more information about this profile? Submit a bio |
This section displays the most recent stories in a google news search for the term "Beth + Harwell + Tennessee + House of Representatives"
- All stories may not be relevant to this legislator due to the nature of the search engine.
Beth Harwell News Feed
- TN Republican leaders end joint fundraising efforts - The Tennessean
- House, Senate GOP will raise money for elections separately after disagreements - Examiner.com
- Wine bill gains new ground - The Tennessean
- Beth Harwell: 'Liberty is at stake' - Rheaheraldnews
- Hillis leads Purity Dairies to top recognition - Elk Valley Times
- Speaker Harwell, Millard Oakley to address TTU graduates - Cookeville Herald Citizen
- One Party is No Party: Haslam, Ramsey, Harwell Either Unite or Lose Control of ... - Knoxville Metro Pulse
- TN GOP says infighting typical of supermajority - Kingsport Times News
- TN REPORT: 'Ag-gag' bill reaches Haslam's desk - Murfreesboro Post
- Haslam, Ramsey seek U.S. House support for Internet tax bill - Knoxville News Sentinel
Cite error: <ref> tags exist, but no <references/> tag was found
External links
- Tennessee Legislature - Representative Beth Harwell
- Legislative profile from Project Vote Smart
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Campaign Contributions: 2008, 2006, 2004, 2002, 1998, 1996
- Tennessee Votes profile
- State Surge - Legislative and voting track record
- Official Website
References
- ↑ "Harwell Poised to Make History; Pledges to Firmly Assert Republican ‘Mandate’," Tennessee Report, November 19, 2010
- ↑ [http://www.tnreport.com/2010/12/republicans-envision-succinct-budget-debate/ "Post image for Republicans Envision Succinct Budget Debate Republicans Envision Succinct Budget Debate," Tennessee Report, December 11, 2010]
- ↑ "House Skips School-Voucher Bill," Tennessee Report, April 28, 2011
- ↑ "House Approves Collective Bargaining Limitations," Tennessee Report, May 20, 2011
- ↑ Mitt Romney for President, "Mitt Romney Announces Support of Tennessee Speaker of the House Beth Harwell," January 19, 2012
- ↑ Tennessee Secretary of State - 2012 Primary Candidates
- ↑ Tennessee Department of State - Unofficial primary results
- ↑ Unofficial Republican state representative primary results from the TN Secretary of State, 2010
- ↑ Official House Election Results, 2010
- ↑ Election Results, Tennessee House of Representatives, District 56
- ↑ District 56 Tennessee House Spending, 2008
- ↑ Follow the Money - 2010 contributions
- ↑ Tennessee House donor numbers
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Tennessee House of Representatives District 56 1989–present |
Succeeded by NA |
| |||||
 |
State of Tennessee Nashville (capital) |
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- 2012 endorsement of Mitt Romney for President
- State legislative article missing donor information
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