Rep. London Lamar’s bill would remove KKK GRAND WIZARD DAY in Tennessee.
Rep. Andy Holt (“We’ve all done things we wish we hadn’t”) and Rep. Mike Sparks (“atrocities on both sides”) push back.
“I’m not certain those in favor of leaving that bust there recognize how hurtful it is to African-Americans.”
Senator Brenda Gilmore spoke with us after the state Capitol Commission’s meeting about moving the KKK GRAND WIZARD BUST out of our state capitol.
Chairman Stuart Mcwhorter & Governor Lee have STILL not set a date for the vote.
THIS POST WAS ORIGINALLY SEEN ON THE TENNESSEE EDUCATION REPORT… For more on education politics and policy in Tennessee, follow @TNEdReport
On Feb. 5, Gov. Bill Lee’s education chief presented the department’s “Best for All” plan to layout the administration’s goals for future of education in Tennessee.
During the 27-slide presentation, commissioner Penny Schwinn briefly described a new initiative to increase the number of charter schools operating in rural school districts.
Schwinn told the audience of mostly legislators and staff that a $24 million line item for “Charter Schools Facilities Funding” in the governor’s budget included a $10 million, one-time grant for high school charter facilities called “Innovative High School Models.”
Schwinn said:
“…and Innovative High School Models. The thing that I want to touch on there is the governor proposed $12 million recurring, $12 million one time for charter school facilities funds.
One of the things that we’re proposing with the one-time funds is $10 million that would go to help build public charter schools with districts — in partnership with districts — to create more opportunities for students in rural communities.
One would suspect that rural districts would be very interested to know the Commissioner’s plans for expanding charter schools into their territory. Perhaps the new school privatization commission will be the vehicle to make this happen?
For more on education politics and policy in Tennessee, follow @TNEdReport
Gov. Bill Lee’s public school-harming vouchers barely passed thru “sketchy” “bribes & threats” after disgraced former speaker Glen Casada held the board open for 35 minutes — until Rep. Jason Zachary finally flipped his vote and pushed through a program that will ONLY effect Nashville & Memphis, whose reps voted AGAINST it. (Zachary’s math was way off, but we digress)
Many reps say they were bribed and threatened, even with military promotions.
The FBI supposedly opened an inquiry.
There’s a $4 Million Slush fund that seems to have been used to bribe rural reps for their votes, but nobody wants to talk about it.
Lawsuits have begun.
Today, I announced that the Metro Government, including our Board of Public Education, has filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the State of Tennessee’s controversial 2019 school voucher law.
— Mayor John Cooper (@JohnCooper4Nash) February 6, 2020
Now it seems the Tennessee Department of Education “robbed” a teacher bonus program to fund a no-bid $2.5 MILLION Class Wallet contract to implement the program that far exceeds what the allocation was… without the comptroller even reviewing it “for merit.
A mess. The mess is so bad even TN GOP House Caucus chair Jeremy Faison regrets his vote, and Appropriations Committee Chair Matthew Hill wants answers. He voted for the bill also.
Meanwhile Governor Lee blames everyone but himself, as he always does.
Let’s keep in mind, this is not the only way Lee is coming after public schools. A charter school commission has now been formed to overrule local school boards, even in rural communities.
Watch what he does, not what he says.
Rep. Bo Mitchell & Rep. Mike Stewart grill Gov. Bill Lee Finance commish Stuart Mcwhorter about a reported 50-60 grant commitments from a $4 MILLION SLUSH FUND TO GET VOUCHERS PASSED.
As Bo reminds McWhorter of a perjury law, Rep. Martin Daniel CUTS OFF his mic.
REPUBLICAN REP. Kent Calfee says “There’s a bill to repeal VOUCHERS… because there was every kind of DIRTY TRICK IN THE BOOK — BRIBES, THREATS, everything else to get it passed.”
Calfee lets loose on how Disgraced former Speaker Glen Casada & Gov Bill Lee got Lee’s public school-harming vouchers through.?
Ogles stresses “distraction” & activist “yelling”?says moving it is “respectful”—suggests putting crosses in the capitol.
Newly woke disgraced ex-speaker Casada now says “change is painful but good”.
Senator Jack Johnson: “THE GOVERNOR HAS NOT WEIGHED IN YET” — Johnson reminds us Governor Lee controls 7 of the 12 state Capitol commission votes on MOVING THE KKK GRAND WIZARD BUST out of our Capitol.
You know who also hasn’t weighed in? SENATOR JACK JOHNSON.
Wilson County Resident Trisha Farmer talks to Wilson County Commissioner Bobby Franklin about their “unkind” anti-refugees proclamation intended to send Gov. Lee a message, which will be voted on tonight.
Franklin says he takes issue with the resources refugees take up – but only 13 refugees have been placed in Wilson County since 2002. The impact on Wilson County’s budget is statistically insignificant.
He also says people are being “recruited”, a dubious claim, and says in Minnesota refugees are changing things “culturally” which he calls a “downside” – clearly toeing the line of racism and bigotry at worst, xenophobia at best.
Governor Lee has been attacked by conservatives for his willingness to allow refugees to continue to come to Tennessee.
The Wilson County vote is scheduled for TONIGHT.
Holler at the County Commissioners HERE.
Take Action: Earlier this week, we defeated anti-refugee resolutions in Bedford, Greene, and Madison Counties. But on Monday, Wilson County is considering a similar resolution. We need you to take action again! https://t.co/C0tfmkamTC
— TIRRC Votes (@TIRRCVotes) January 24, 2020
Watch Lee & announce his “comprehensive pro-life legislation” – despite bumbling on details.
TN Dems call it “extreme & divisive”, “unconstitutional”, say it does nothing to help TN’s health care crisis.
It will lead to costly lawsuits. TN’s maternal mortality rate is 3rd world, yet Lee refuses $1 BILLION/year in Medicaid expansion funds. That isn’t pro-life.
WATCH Senator Paul Rose’s bill to permit taxpayer-funded discrimination pass the Senate, making TN a less welcoming place that doesn’t put the best interests of kids first.
Governor Lee will sign it despite having an LGBT sibling. ?️?