Just when we thought Tennessee’s red legislature could not become scarier or exercise worse judgment, this now closed 2014-15 session receives an “F” for failure and an all-time worst legislative session. I’ve turned to several devoted activist friends to articulate the failures in various arenas.
Medicaid Expansion Fails Again:
Last year, after bowing to tea party-esque pressure to not align with President Obama and expand Medicaid Waiver for the poorest of uninsured Tennesseans, Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam, at the start of his second term, crafted his own version of the plan entitled Insure Tennessee. Too late. The Governor and Tennessee missed the boat. The Republican-controlled legislature, now a greater majority, post 2014 elections, voted it down.
Michelle Johnson, Executive Director, Tennessee Justice Center—
“What happened with Insure Tennessee this session was a failure of leadership. Politicians put their own self-interest before the interest of their constituents. As a result, 280,000 Tennesseans will go without health coverage for at least another year, shortening their lives and lengthening unnecessary risks and suffering. These people are waitresses, construction workers, musicians, college students, veterans, and domestic violence victims. Our state economy will continue to lose $2.7 million, daily, in funds taxpayers put into the federal system and that is set aside for Tennessee. Our health care infrastructure will suffer as more rural hospitals close and those workers have no other jobs in their area. Insure Tennessee’s defeat was a defeat for all of us.”
Aging Caregiver Bill Passes:
Donna DeStefano, Assistant Director of the Tennessee Disability Coalition, served as a resource for this information. The sarcastic editorializing is my own—
In a pathetic “alms for the poor” gesture, our legislators did pass the “Aging Caregiver Bill” so that individuals with Intellectual disabilities on the Medicaid Waiver wait list will roll off when their parents are 80. Gee, thanks. Last year’s legislative version failed. The age limit for that version was 75. So, they bumped it up five years. At this rate, Grace and I would live in Tennessee 25 years before she could begin receiving services. No thanks.
Charter Schools and Vouchers:
Chelle Baldwin, Parent Activist—
“Not a lot happened on the charter front. The Achievement School District (ASD,) got a law passed that allows them to take students from outside of the zone of the ASD school. According to data from New York, after such laws are enacted, ASD claims they are making progress with failing schools, but the law, because it allows new students into the mix, nullifies their claim that they are improving academic outcomes of students in the failing school that they took over.
Emi Canahuati, Owner, Thrive Education
“The Tennessee General Assembly passed laws that will enact licensing regulations designed to close abortion providers, implement a 48-hour mandatory waiting period, and mandate politically scripted informed consent. While we knew that these restrictions were coming after Amendment 1 passed in the last election, we were shocked and horrified by the level of disrespect many legislators demonstrated towards women. Every amendment that would prevent further harm was rejected by the Republican supermajority—even amendments to protect victims of rape and incest. All the posturing about making abortion safer for women is just a facade to make abortion inaccessible to women.”
Governor Signed into Law a Bill Allowing Guns in Parks
Linda McFadyen-Ketchum, Tennessee Chapter Leader for Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America
“Despite receiving hundreds of calls, e-mails, and letters from concerned Tennesseans, Governor Haslam signed the Guns in Parks bill into law, choosing the gun lobby’s interests over the safety of Tennessee’s children and families.
“While it’s disappointing that Guns in Parks passed, it’s important to remember we defeated even worse bills that would have:
—Allowed people to carry guns in public, openly or concealed, without a permit or safety training—including stalkers and domestic abusers;
—Forced all colleges, universities and K-12 schools to allow people to carry guns on their property;
—Let the gun lobby sue mayors and local police chiefs over existing gun laws.
“The legislative session has ended for the year, and none of these reckless bills became law. Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America/Tennessee thanks all who contributed to a successful legislative year.”
The Bible Not Chosen as the Official State Book:
Unlike the House, at least the senate had the sense and understanding of the U.S. Consitution to vote down an ammendment to name the Bible as the official state book. (But legislators did agree on an official state gun.)
Bill Peach, Author and “Franklin Philospher”
“I have spent most of my life teaching Sunday school in the Church of Christ, with emphasis on the New Testament and teachings of Jesus. We have a secular government. To adopt the Bible with some official establishment by a vote of the State Legislature trivializes our sacred document, and should be an offense to all Christians.”
