House of Representatives

State of Tennessee

Press Release
For Immediate Release Contact: Rep. Brian Kelsey: (615) 741-4415
June 6, 2007

Kelsey Questions Pork for Certain Churches

NASHVILLE – Representative Brian Kelsey (R-Germantown) requested an Attorney’s General opinion
today regarding whether it is constitutional to use state taxpayer dollars to further religion by providing
so-called Community Enhancement Grants to certain churches.

Members of the House of Representatives have asked the state to disburse more than $85,000 of taxpayer
funds to twenty churches in the Memphis area. No instructions are offered on how the taxpayer money is
to be spent by the churches.

“I can’t imagine how members chose to give money to certain churches in their districts but chose to give
others nothing,” stated Rep. Kelsey.

If it passes both chambers of the legislature, the Community Enhancement Grant legislation will allot
$100,000 to each state representative and $300,000 to each state senator to spend in each district on pet
projects of the member’s choice. Rep. Kelsey, Rep. Beth Harwell (R - Nashville), Rep. Susan Lynn (R -
Mt. Juliet), Rep. Donna Rowland (R - Murfreesboro), and Rep. Jimmy Matlock (R - Lenoir) were the
only members of the House of Representatives to refuse to file requests for the Community Enhancement
Grants. Republicans in the State Senate have also opposed allowing individual members to dictate where
the funds should be spent.

A copy of Rep. Kelsey’s request for an Attorney General opinion is attached.

###
 Committee on the Judiciary
Brian Kelsey
State Representative House of Subcommittee on Judicial
Administration
District 83 – Germantown & East
Memphis Representatives Subcommittee on Civil Practice

203 War Memorial Building State of Tennessee Committee on Children and

Family Affairs
Nashville, TN 37243-0183 Subcommittee on Domestic Relations
phone (615) 741-4415 Nashville
fax (615) 253-0349
rep.brian.kelsey@legislature.state
.tn.us
June 6, 2007

Attorney General Robert E. Cooper, Jr.

State of Tennessee
Post Office Box 20207
Nashville, TN 37202

Via Fax to (615) 741-2009 and Capitol Hill Delivery

Dear General Cooper:

I respectfully request an expedited Attorney’s General opinion on the following:

Is the State of Tennessee providing Community Enhancement Grants to the following organizations without
specific instructions regarding how the funds are to be spent a violation of the United States Constitution or the
Tennessee Constitution?
Antioch Baptist Church $2,500 Shelby Co.
Vollintine Baptist Church $2,500 Shelby Co.
Golden Gate Full Gospel Baptist Church $2,500 Shelby Co.
Breath of Life Church $2,500 Shelby Co.
Greater Middle Baptist Church $2,500 Shelby Co.
Greater Abyssinia Youth Club $5,000 Shelby Co.
Cane Creek Youth Club $5,000 Shelby Co.
New Friendship Youth Club $5,000 Shelby Co.
New Hope Youth Club $5,000 Shelby Co.
Macedonia Youth Club $5,000 Shelby Co.
Pentecostal Youth Club $5,000 Shelby Co.
Shiloh Baptist Youth Club $5,000 Shelby Co.
Norris Avenue Youth Club $5,000 Shelby Co.
New Little Rock Youth Club $5,000 Shelby Co.
Alcy Ball Youth Club $5,000 Shelby Co.
New Growth Youth Club $5,000 Shelby Co.
Christ Baptist Youth Club $5,000 Shelby Co.
Mt. Gilead Youth Club $5,000 Shelby Co.
St. Peter’s Youth Club $5,000 Shelby Co.
Center Chapel Youth Club $5,000 Shelby Co.
Sincerely,

Brian Kelsey
State Representative