The current politics of school choice legislation.
We’ve remained silent most of the week as the story on the bill for the Governor’s school choice proposal changes about every hour. But here we are nearing the end of the line and this is worth saying.
It does seem that SB 503 now has the votes to pass on the floor as the majority vote is now reflected in the bill’s co-sponsors. But how did so many senators co-sponsor this legislation overnight?
An effort by Lt. Gov. Randy McNally and Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson, threatened members of the senate that anyone who did not sign on as a co-sponsor would lose funding in the budget for any bill they passed this year having a fiscal note with needed budget appropriations. Additionally, some members were told that groups like Americans for Prosperity would spend money against them in their upcoming Republican Primary elections if they failed to fall in line with the legislative agenda on school choice.
The bigger picture politically is that if the Senate is able to get this passed on the floor, knowing the difficulties of getting this done in the House, the Senate now has the ability to point the finger at the House as the chamber that “failed” to get the Governor’s agenda passed for the people of Tennessee. And that ball may get tossed back and forth before this all comes to a close.
What Tennesseans should recognize in all of this is that these are not policy discussions. This is nothing more than political gamesmanship, threats, and finger pointing. This is the result of corrupt leadership.
While we expect that this bill should garner a majority vote in the Senate, we have much reason to doubt its success in the House. We still believe that ultimately, this bill will fail.
Tell legislators in Tennessee to vote NO on the Governor’s proposed school choice agenda (HB1183 / SB503)
The opposition to the Governor’s plan for school choice has been incredible. Conservatives across the state are learning the truth about the dangers of school choice and the threat that it brings to both private education and homeschoolers.
Despite the billboards, phone banking, door knocking, earned media, and the millions of dollars spent by national groups like Americans for Prosperity and the American Federation for Children in support of this nefarious legislation, the bill is on life support in Tennessee. Due to the success of our efforts, many believe that this legislation will fail.
So far, Tennesseans have sent over 34,000 emails to the General Assembly through our website at www.tennesseestands.org in opposition to this school choice legislation.
Now is the time to make one final push. Make sure to take action now using our tool below.
THIS WEEK’S ACTION FOR SCHOOL CHOICE WILL GO DIRECTLY TO YOUR STATE SENATOR AND REPRESENTATIVE.
(Even if you’ve taken action already on these bills, we need you to make this FINAL effort. Let’s send the message strong this week!)
🚨 Critical — Governor’s school choice plan and education omnibus.
| OPPOSE CAPTION BILL – This bill is awaiting the official amendment that will address the Governor’s plan for Education Freedom Scholarships (school choice) along with other education initiatives included in the omnibus bill. |
Take action on each of these bills by clicking on the corresponding Take Action button and send an email of support to each of these committee members. IMPORTANT: It is helpful to personalize your message.
| 🚨 Critical — Restricts cities and counties from enacting emergency risk protection orders. SUPPORT Firearms and Ammunition – As introduced, preempts the entire field of legislation regarding extreme risk protection orders to the exclusion of all county, city, town, municipality, or metropolitan government law, ordinances, resolutions, enactments, or regulation; declares a federal statute, rule, executive order, or a federal judicial order that has the effect of enforcing an extreme risk protection order to be null and void; creates a Class A misdemeanor offense of attempting to enforce a federally implemented extreme risk protection order. TAKE ACTION ON HB 2035 |
| 🚨 Critical — Creates criminal penalty for trafficking minors across state lines for an abortion. SUPPORT Abortion – As introduced, creates the criminal offense of abortion trafficking of a minor; provides for a civil action against a person committing the offense of abortion trafficking of a minor for the wrongful death of an unborn child that was aborted. TAKE ACTION ON HB 1895 |
| Authorizes school faculty and staff to conceal carry with training and other requirements. SUPPORT Teachers, Principals and School Personnel – As introduced, authorizes a faculty or staff member of a school to carry a concealed handgun on school grounds subject to certain conditions, including obtaining an enhanced handgun carry permit and completing annual training.TAKE ACTION ON HB 1202 |
| Protects property owners from eminent domain takings for recreational use purposes. SUPPORT Eminent Domain – As introduced, excludes recreational facilities, recreational purposes, and parks from the definition of “public use” as it applies to eminent domain. TAKE ACTION ON HB 2120 |
| Restricts certain foreign investments and ownership in land located within this state. SUPPORT Real Property – As introduced, restricts certain foreign investments in land located within this state through the creation of two separate prohibitions, one that restricts a prohibited foreign-party-controlled business from acquiring real property and another that restricts a prohibited foreign-party from acquiring agricultural land located within this state. TAKE ACTION |
| Authorizes death penalty for rape of a child. SUPPORT Sentencing – As introduced, authorizes the death penalty as a punishment for rape of a child, aggravated rape of a child, or especially aggravated rape of a child. TAKE ACTION ON HB 1663 |
| Click on the button below to share the above action items via email with other groups, family, and friends. CLICK TO SHARE |
| You are making a difference. Please continue to take the time to engage with us on these important issues. |
