JOE TOWNS, JR.

COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP
STATE REPRESENTATIVE

CORDELL HULL BUILDING, SUITE 416

House of Representatives COMMERCE

State of Tennessee
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE 37243-0184 EDUCATION
(615) 741-2189
4528 ST. HONORE
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE 38116
(901) 332-7009
Nashville

May 24, 2019

The Honorable Bill Lee

Governor
State Capitol
Nashville, Tennessee 37243

Dear Governor Lee:

Due to the unprecedented controversy surrounding HB939 as it relates to public confidence and how the bill
was passed, we are asking that this bill not be signed into law until the FBI has completed its investigation.

Many of us are not satisfied and distrust how the process concluded. The vote was 49-49 which means the bill
failed. Yet, the voting board was held open for approximately 40 minutes. Within that 40 minutes something
peculiar occurred and it does not give the public confidence that the vote was properly taken because initially it
failed.

As you know, the FBI may have probable cause to look into whether or not there were any illegalities.
Obviously, at this critical moment, no member of the General Assembly should want to give the impression we
were complicit with an improper vote being taken.

If the vote was improper, it should never become law. In the event that you have prematurely singed it, we ask
that you rescind your signature and keep this possibly illegal action from becoming the law of the land.

Sincerely,

Joe Towns, Jr. G. A. Hardaway

Chair Chair
Shelby County Democratic Legislative Caucus Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators

Barbara Cooper Mike Stewart

State Representative Chair
House Democratic Caucus
Cc: Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally

SERVING THE 84TH LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT