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Knoxville News Sentinel, Nashville Bureau Chief

The “dean” of Tennessee’s Capitol Hill press corps been covering Tennessee state government and politics as chief of the News Sentinel's Nashville bureau since 1984. Before that, Humphrey reported on those topics -- and many others -- for United Press International. In addition to his newspaper reporting and weekly column, he has operated the “Humphrey on the Hill” blog for the past three years, posting about 6,000 items on state government and politics in that period. He is a Middle Tennessee native, a graduate of the University of Tennessee, an Army veteran, a graduate of the Nashville School of Law (licensed as a lawyer, though never practicing), a father of five and a grandfather of eight. He and his wife, Betsy, live in Bell Buckle, Tenn.

Featured Statements

Tennessee Republican Party
stated on October 11, 2012 in a mailer sent for a state legislative campaign.:

Says House Democrats "voted to use your tax dollars for abortions" by voting against bill defunding Planned Parenthood.

By Tom Humphrey • October 21, 2012
Jim Kyle
stated on September 29, 2012 in a story in the Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle:

"All legislative mail, from the content to the timing, is approved by the speaker's office."

By Tom Humphrey • October 8, 2012
Paul Summers
stated on September 2, 2012 in in an op-ed article written for Tennessee newspapers.:

Tennessee's appeals court judges "were selected by a handful of party officials in Nashville" before the system of "merit selection" was put into effect.

By Tom Humphrey • September 14, 2012
Tennessee Democratic Party
stated on August 17, 2012 in Tennessee Democratic Party press release sent via email in a version specifically cri:

The "Health Care Compact bill would end Medicare's guaranteed benefit for Tennessee's Medicare recipients and shift management of the federal health care plan to the state's TennCare program."

By Tom Humphrey • September 7, 2012
Bob Corker
stated on August 18, 2012 in in a story in the Chattanooga Times-Free Press:

"We have only one person on the (TVA) board, to my knowledge, who even has any corporate board experience."

By Tom Humphrey • August 26, 2012
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
stated on July 11, 2012 in Campaign news release:

"Foreign Chinese prostitution money is allegedly behind the groups funding Congressman Scott DesJarlais's (TN-04) Republican Majority."

By Tom Humphrey • August 1, 2012
Julia Hurley
stated on June 23, 2012 in an email to constituents:

"If you have ever visited Nashville or Washington D.C. you will see MANY names and initials carved into ... desks."

By Michael Collins • July 18, 2012
Ron Ramsey
stated on June 2, 2012 in rally for coal miners:

"(Environmentalists) said ‘We’re only going to stop coal mining above 2,000 feet.’ ... Well guess where all the coal in the state of Tennessee is? Above 2,000 feet."

By Tom Humphrey • June 30, 2012
Beth Harwell
stated on May 7, 2012 in an interview about WTVF-TV’s “ghost voting” story.:

Says in U.S. Congress, members "don’t even have to be on the floor for debates or votes."

By Michael Collins • May 18, 2012
Bill Haslam
stated on April 20, 2012 in a speech to Carter County Republican Party:

"Personal income is growing faster in Tennessee on average than any other state in the country."

By Tom Humphrey • April 27, 2012