(The Center Square) – House Democratic Caucus Chairman John Ray Clemmons said an upcoming special session that includes school choice and disaster relief is an “affront to Tennessee families.”
Gov. Bill Lee and Republican leaders announced the three-day special session on Wednesday morning. Lawmakers will consider a $450 million disaster relief package, along with school choice and public safety issues.
Clemmons, from Nashville, said Lee wasted four months while North Carolina lawmakers have approved three rounds of aid for their state.
“Using long-overdue relief for the northeast Tennessee families who were impacted by flooding from Hurricane Helene as cover and political leverage for Lee’s voucher scam is an affront to Tennessee families,” Clemmons said in a statement. “The reality is that if the governor really cared about Tennessee families, he could have and should have taken this necessary action months ago.”
Tennessee Democrats said Lee was not governing but compared the special to “hostage taking.”
“Governor Lee is exploiting the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene to advance his partisan agenda, forcing legislators to choose between helping disaster victims and undermining our public education system,” said Hendrell Remus, chairman of the Tennessee Democratic Party. “Holding disaster relief hostage to push school vouchers is political opportunism at its worst.”
Tennessee lawmakers set aside $144 million to expand school choice statewide in the fiscal year 2025 budget. But lawmakers failed to pass the plan. The money is still in the state coffers if the plan passes during the special session.
Senate Democrats echoed their opposition.
“When we open up this can, when we put this into law, it’s not something we can go back from so we need to be measured in this,” said Senate Minority Leader Raumesh Akbari. “It needs to be a process that includes all stakeholders. If it’s such a good program, then why don’t we wait to see how well it performed in Nashville, Memphis and Chattanooga.”
The three school districts are enrolled in a school choice pilot program. The Hamilton County Board of Education asked the Legislature to continue to evaluate the pilot programs.
A poll by the Beacon Center shows the majority of Tennesseans support school choice. The poll of 1,200 registered voters released on Jan. 6 shows 67% back the plan, including 73% of Republicans and 51% of Democrats. Just 13% said they oppose the expansion and 20% are not sure.