VOTING RECORD
www.finneyvotes.com
STATE SENATOR RAYMOND FINNEY,
who proudly represents the beautiful Great Smoky Mountains region of Tennessee--
the Eighth Senatorial District (Blount and Sevier Counties)...
*** VOTES FOR THE SECOND SESSION OF THE ONE HUNDRED AND FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY (IN 2006 ARCHIVES) ***
*** VOTES FOR THE FIRST SESSION OF THE ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY (IN 2007 ARCHIVES) ***
*** VOTES FOR THE SECOND SESSION OF THE ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY (ACTIVE 2008 RECORD) ***

INTRODUCTION

THANK YOU!
I thank the constituents of Blount and Sevier Counties for granting me the great honor and privilege of representing them in the Tennessee General Assembly. Their vote of confidence is humbling and one that is branded on my heart. The only way I can thank the voters for their confidence is to try to be the best senator I can be.

DIRECTORY OF TOPICS...
CLICK ON TOPIC IN THE BLUE INDEX BUTTON TO FIND ITEM OF INTEREST.
HOME PAGE You are here now...
BILL/ RESOLUTION VOTES (2008) My votes on bills and resolutions in the 2008 legislative session... CURRENT YEAR'S VOTES
CONSENT RESOLUTION VOTES (2008) My votes on consent resolutions in the 2008 legislative session... CURRENT YEAR'S VOTES
COMMITTEE VOTES (2008) My votes in committees in the 2008 session... CURRENT YEAR'S VOTES
ARCHIVES: 2007 VOTES Archival storage of my 2007 votes... VOTES FOR 2007
ARCHIVES: 2006 VOTES Archival storage of my 2006 votes... VOTES FOR 2006
CONTACT INFORMATION Numbers and addresses to contact me or my office...
LINKS Other Websites of possible interest...

ARCHIVES FOR PAST VOTES
2005 I regret that my votes for the 2005 session are not available. I did not think of recording my votes online until much of the 2005 session had passed. I apologize for not having this information for you.
2006 These votes are maintained in archival storage.
GO TO this storage site page.
2007 These votes are maintained in archival storage.
GO TO this storage site page.

Now available for residents of Blount and Sevier Counties...
2008 ONLINE CONSTITUENT SURVEY
Share your opinions and comments on issues that may come before the General Assembly this year.
Take this survey online at another of my Websites:
CONSTITUENT PREFERENCE SURVEY (2008)


NOTE TO CONSTITUENTS:

Several constituents have complained that it is difficult to learn how their elected officials vote. I agree. I maintain this Website for this reason. I record my voting record on bills, resolutions, and committee actions, and I offer pertinent comments, e.g., why I vote a certain way or how the measure impacts my district.

I wish to make my actions in Nashville completely transparent to the constituents of the Eighth Senatorial District, through this accurate, up-to-date record of my votes.

Please check this site often. During a legislative session (generally, January through May), the General Assembly typically meets on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, and committees meet on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. I will try to post my votes within a day or two of the sessions. My assistant and intern stay so busy that they cannot help with this site. I, too, work many hours in Nashville, when the General Assembly in session, and I will have to post this information at odd moments of time, as I can find time.

Let me know how you feel I represent you in the General Assembly. Whether you agree or disagree with me, drop me an email note. Your views are most important to me. I consider carefully every view, and I try to answer every constituent's comments. Provide your contact information, if you would like a reply. GO TO this Web page for a convenient online submission form to send me a message by email.


MY VOTING SCORECARD: How does my voting compare with that of other senators? The following scorecard summarizes my voting record relative to votes of the other senators.

NOTE: This scorecard is not to imply that I have a "follow the herd" mentality. However, the majority viewpoint is the better choice in most instances. This majority, typically bipartisan viewpoint is reached only after hearings in Senate committees (and, perhaps also, subcommittees), floor debate, comments from the administration (governor's office), input from citizens across the state, review by the Legislature's legal staff, and the collective wisdom and experience of many senators. If I vote much of the time in the same manner as the majority of other senators, I probably am choosing the better course of action. If I vote much of the time opposite to the majority of other senators, I should explain why.

COLUMN 1*
(MY VOTING OPPORUNITIES)
COLUMN 2*
(NUMBER OF VOTES WITH MAJORITY)
COLUMN 3*
(PERCENTAGE OF VOTES WITH MAJORITY)
SENATE BILLS/ RESOLUTIONS 62 61 98.4
SENATE/ HOUSE CONSENT RESOLUTIONS ... ... 100.0
*See FOOTNOTE 1.
SENATE ENVIRONMENT, CONSERVATION AND TOURISM COMMITTEE ... ... ...
SENATE FINANCE, WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE ... ... ...
SENATE GENERAL WELFARE, HEALTH AND HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE ... ... ...
SPECIAL ELECTIONS/ VOTES ... ... ...

*COLUMN 1: Number of voting opportunities I have. I only record the vote on the final version of a bill or resolution. There are many hundreds of votes on amendments and amendments to amendments, which would be too voluminous to try to record in this site.
*COLUMN 2: Number of times I vote with the MAJORITY of members. A "majority vote" is my aye vote, if the measures passes, or my nay vote, if the measure fails.
*COLUMN 3: Percentage of my votes which coincide with the MAJORITY of members' votes.
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*FOOTNOTE 1: By Senate rules, to be passed as a consent resolution the resolution must be passed unanimously. My vote agreement for this type of resolution will, therefore, always be 100%.


PROMISES MADE, PROMISES KEPT:
When I campaigned for the office of state senator, two of my campaign promises were: (1) I would stay in close communication with constituents, and (2) I would consider carefully constituents' wishes in every vote I would cast in the General Assembly. When I make a promise (whether political or personal), I do everything possible to fulfill that promise.

The following information may be of interest:

MY WEBSITES TO INFORM YOU OF MY ACTIONS

VOTING RECORD OF SENATOR RAYMOND FINNEY:
You are presently on this Website. I record all votes I cast in the Senate for bills, resolutions, and committee hearings, including explanations for difficult votes. I want my actions in Nashville to be completely transparent (open) to the constituents I serve.

INFORMATIONAL WEBSITE OF STATE SENATOR RAYMOND FINNEY:
GO TO www.raymondfinney.com. I present personal information, including speaking engagements, community oureach efforts, contact and other information.

SENATOR FINNEY LISTENS, An "Online Town Hall Meeting" for Constituents:
GO TO www.finneylistens.com. Bills and resolutions that will come before the Senate in the future are presented for constituent comment (online "vote"). Checked daily, constiuent input is instructive as I determine how to vote.

FINNEY BLOG:
GO TO www.finneyblog.com. Constituents may post and read comments about issues of concern. This online diary presents a cross-section of beliefs within the community.

Bookmark your PC, and visit these Websites often. I really do value your views.


REPORT WASTE, MISMANAGEMENT, FRAUD, OR ABUSE IN STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT SPENDING
Governments spend your hard-earned money. Demand that government spending is efficient and honest!
TYPE OF IMPROPER SPENDING OR ACTIVITY: MAKE REPORT TO: TOLL-FREE TELEPHONE NUMBER:
All governmental departments and agencies, except those listed below Comptroller of the Treasury 1.800.232.5454
TennCare or Medicaid TennCare Inspector General 1.800.433.3982
Workers' Compensation Department of Labor and Workforce Development 1.888.243.7283
Food Stamps and Benefits Department of Human Services 1.800.241.2629
Tax fraud Department of Revenue 1.800.372.8389
Unethical or illegal activity of an elected or certain appointed government officials Ethics Commission 1.866.416.4730
If you are reluctant to report any inappropriate use of government funds, contact me and I will report it for you in my name.
Go to another Web page for my CONTACT INFORMATION


This Website is paid for by State Senator Raymond Finney, not by Tennessee government (taxpayer) funds.

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