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Tell Tennessee Legislators to Keep Our Communities Together and Embrace Tennessee's Diversity
Several education bills that SOCM's Social Justice Committee ( socialjustice@socm.org) sees as harmful to our youth will be going to committees for votes this week. We need your help in contacting members of these committees.
1. For-Profit Charter Schools: Currently in Tennessee, for-profit charter school operation is not allowed. This bill would change that and allow publicly funded charter schools to hire for-profit operators. SOCM members oppose this bill and any other that would drain desperately needed resources from traditional public schools, which continue to serve the neediest children and families in our communities. We are also concerned about the re-segregation effects that charter schools have had. Read SOCM's factsheet on this bill here. Action: This bill is on the agenda for the House Education Subcommittee meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 11th. Please contact the Subcommittee members and tell them to vote NO on this bill (House Bill 1693). Click here for the names and email addresses of the House Education Subcommittee members. __________________________________________________ 2. Censorship of Diversity in Textbooks: Part of a recent trend in state legislatures with the political makeup of Tennessee's, this bill would eliminate (TCA § 49-6-2202) which ensures history textbooks "portray the full range of diversity and achievement of racial and ethnic minorities." This bill seeks to create new barriers for how the historical achievements of minorities in Tennessee are portrayed by deleting important guidelines on diversity in textbooks. Read SOCM's factsheet on this bill here. Action: This bill is on the agenda for the House Education Committee meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 11th. Please contact the Committee members and tell them to vote NO on this bill (House Bill 1129). Click here for the names and email addresses of the House Education Committee members. ________________________________________________ 3. Restructuring Textbook Commission: This bill would restructure the textbook commission and the textbook selection process. It would replace perceived bias with real bias, in what should be an unbiased process. Objectivity and expertise are needed on the commission, not politics and ideology. We support our state's attempts to promote an accurate education of all the rich and diverse people, faiths and civilizations that make up our history. SOCM members have serious concerns about the ultimate goal of the national groups backing this legislation. Action: This bill is on the agenda for the Senate Standing Committee on Government Operations meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 12th. Please contact the Standing Committee members and tell them to vote NO on this bill (Senate Bill 1602). Click here for the names and email addresses of the Senate Standing Committee on Government Operations members. ________________________________________________ Other Bills of Note 1. ACA Noncompliance Act: This bill enacts the "Health Care Freedom and and Affordable Care Noncompliance Act", which prohibits state entities from establishing or administering any regulatory scheme to operate the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Action: This bill is on the agenda for the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee on Tuesday, Feb. 11th. Please contact the Committee members and tell them to vote NO on this bill (Senate Bill 1888). Click here for the names and email addresses of the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee. 2. Prohibiting Medicaid Expansion: This bill prohibits Tennessee from participating in any Medicaid expansion authorized under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Action: This bill is on the agenda for the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee for Tuesday, Feb. 11th and the House Finance, Ways and Means Subcommittee for Wednesday, Feb. 12th. Please contact the Committee and Subcommittee members and tell them to vote NO on this bill (Senate Bill 804/ House Bill 937). Click here for the names and email addresses of the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee members and click here for the House Finance, Ways and Means Subcommittee. 3. Raising the Minimum Wage: This bill would raise the minimum wage in Tennessee to $8.25 per hour for certain employers who do not offer health benefits to employees and employees' dependents, subject to exceptions for certain types of employment. Action: This bill is on the agenda for the House Consumer and Human Resources Subcommittee for Wednesday, Feb. 12th. Please contact the Subcommittee members and tell them to vote YES on this bill (House Bill 1694). Click here for the names and email addresses of the House Consumer and Human Resources Subcommittee. |
