Tennessee Lawmaker Introduced a Bill To Officially Label CNN and WaPo as “Fake News”

Here's more, from local Newschannell 11:

Tennessee lawmakers have advanced a resolution that recognizes CNN and The Washington Post as “fake news.”

The measure by Rep. Micah Van Huss (R-Jonesborough) was approved Tuesday by a House subcommittee. Four Republicans voted to advance the resolution, one Democrat voted against it, and two Republicans abstained from voting.

The resolution condemns the two news organizations for their reporting on President Donald Trump and for “denigrating” citizens. 

“Tennessee would officially recognize CNN and The Washington Post as fake news and part of the media wing of the Democratic Party,” Rep. Van Huss explained during Tuesday’s subcommittee meeting. “It would further condemn them for denigrating our citizens and implying that they are weak-minded followers instead of people exercising their rights that our veterans paid for with blood.” 

Rep. Bo Mitchell (D-Nashville) voiced his opposition to the resolution. 

“Believe it or not, there’s other networks out there that I don’t agree with,” Rep. Mitchell said. “Do I have the right to use my office and my position to tell the public that those people are something less than other networks or other journalists? What gives us a right as elected officials to pick winners or losers in the media?” 

“It’s sad to me to see journalism of the CNN or MNSBC flavor,” said Rep. Bruce Griffey (R-Paris), who voted to advance the resolution. “We have great journalists here in the state of Tennessee. We don’t see that like they do up there, and I’m thankful for that. I think this is important for us to send a signal.”

Fox 17 confirms:

A Republican member of the Tennessee House wants to label CNN as "Fake News" for "denigrating" Trump supporters.

On his small House subcommittee which is supposed to deal with sentencing and justice issues, both a Republican and Democrat expressed concern that the legislature should not be attempting to make such a political statement or spending taxpayer money and time on such.

Representative Micah Van Huss said he is simply doing what his constituents want.

"Why spend your time on that," reporter Alex Apple asked Van Huss from Jonesborough in east Tennessee. "You're a former Marine; you have a computer science degree. You could spend your time on a lot of different things, so why is that to the point for you that you think you need to?"

"Because my constituents sent me up here to speak on their behalf, and when people denigrate them, I'm going to stand up and speak for my constituents," Van Huss answered. "And they're tired of Republicans that won't fight."

This bill comes as Tennessee battles a host of issues. Tennessee ranks second in rural hospital closures, and rural main streets are shrinking. Meanwhile, convicts reoffend more in Tennessee than in 40 other states and the number of insured Tennesseans is down.

Representative Bo Mitchell, the committee's lone Democrat said, "If he believes that, that's fine. he can believe that, but he shouldn't try to use the power of the state to espouse his political views upon the rest of the state."

State lawmakers make at least $20,000 per year plus per diem spending. Mitchell's contention is that Van Huss' bill does not appropriately use that time and cash.

"Bo Mitchell seemed to think that you're saying that adds to the very problem you're trying to solve," reporter Alex Apple said. "How would you respond that that makes the environment around here worse?"

Van Huss drew a simple contrast, "I'm not denigrating citizens for the their votes."

Van Huss' bill cites several examples of bombastic language, but several are opinion pieces hosted on those websites, not news, which led Republican Michael Curcio to abstain from the vote.

And from local CBS 8:

A small group of Tennessee lawmakers has advanced a proposal for a non-binding resolution stating that the state recognizes CNN and The Washington Post as “fake news.” 

Republican Rep. Micah Van Huss said Tuesday that he wants to condemn the news organizations for their coverage of President Donald Trump and his supporters. 

Four Republican on a House subcommittee supported the measure, while one Democratic member opposed. Two Republicans declined to vote on the proposal.