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TN Black Caucus slams Casada's action plan

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — There's more fallout following the controversy first uncovered by NewsChannel 5 Investigates as the Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators says they may have more dirt on House Speaker Glen Casada and his office.

"We're not as stupid as the Speaker's office may think we are," said caucus chair Rep. G.A. Hardaway (D-Memphis). "You can't respond to everything that you know we know, and assume that we don't know more: we do."

Hardaway said the caucus would be taking additional steps that they will reveal on Friday. He did not specify what those steps could be.

Wednesday, Hardaway said the caucus needs to hear more from Casada, following the release of Casada's action plan that Hardaway said didn't go far enough.

"It seems that he's not addressed the issues adequately that he knows that we know about, and there are other issues that he's not sure that we know about, that he needs to come straight," Hardaway said.

The caucus lawmakers are calling for a TBI investigation -- the same thing Casada is now pushing for in his action plan.

And caucus members say Gov. Bill Lee needs to take a stronger stance against Casada's office, following the release three months ago of a college yearbook photo showing Lee dressed in a Confederate uniform.

At the time, Lee had said he has grown from that mindset.

"We said back then that we would look to his actions to determine if he's truly grown," Hardaway said. "We need to see more out of the governor to convince us that he's truly grown."

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