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Important Education and Environmental Bills to be Heard this Week
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: The House Education Subcommittee had deferred this bill TWICE and it is now on the agenda for March 11th. Please contact the Subcommittee members and tell them to vote NO on this bill (House Bill 1693). The Senate version of this bill is scheduled to be heard in the Senate Education Committee on March 12th. Please contact the Committee members and tell them to vote NO on this bill (Senate Bill 1684).
__________________________________________________ 2. Censorship of Diversity in Textbooks: Thanks in part to our efforts, the House Education Committee passed the bill but with several amendments. In its original form, House Bill 1129 would have deleted a section of the Tennessee code that ensures history textbooks "portray the full range of diversity and achievement of racial and ethnic minorities as well as the role and importance of religion in history." After these amendments, the bill now focuses on teaching the U.S. Constitution, Tennessee Constitution and other founding documents. The bill, as amended, no longer deletes the section of the code that focuses on diversity. Action: Parts of this bill can still be harmful and the overall nature of the bill intends to promote censorship of diversity. It is on the agenda for a full House vote on March 13th. Please ask your representative to vote NO on this bill (House Bill 1129). ________________________________________________ 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: The House version of this bill is on the agenda for the Education Subcommittee meeting on March 11th. Please contact Committee members and tell them to vote NO on this bill (House Bill 2249). ________________________________________________
4. Using Public Money for School Vouchers: This bill would establish a school voucher program in Tennessee. SOCM members want to stop the privatization of our schools and public education system, and stop the diversion of public funds to private schools and companies. Vouchers take essential resources away from public schools and give them to private and religious schools, while offering on real "choice" for the overwhelming majority of students. We are for equal choice for all Tennessee's students/parents. Read SOCM's factsheet on this bill here.
Action: This bill has been deferred TWICE and is on the agenda for the Senate Education Committee on March 12th. Please contact the Education Committee members and tell them to vote NO on this bill (Senate Bill 2025).
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5. The Scenic Vistas Protection Act: The Scenic Vistas Protection Act would ban mountaintop removal coal mining on ridgelines above 2,000 feet in Tennessee. SOCM has been fighting mountaintop removal and other destructive strip mining practices throughout our 40 years as an organization. There are two versions of this bill: House Bill 1844/Senate Bill 1925 and House Bill 2023/Senate Bill 1980. Read SOCM's factsheet on these bills here.
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6. The SMCRA Primacy Bill: This bill would give oversight of coal mining permit to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), moving it away from the Federal Office of Surface Mining (OSM). There are two versions of this bill: House Bill 1832/Senate Bill 1883 and House Bill 2207/Senate Bill 1998. It looks like HB 2207/SB 1998 is the one to watch.
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7. The "Ag Gag" Bill: As introduced, this bill revises intent required for the offense of acquiring control over an animal facility to include the intent to deprive the owner of the facility or disrupt the enterprise conducted at such facility; present law requires there be an intent to deprive the owner and to disrupt such an enterprise. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 14, Part 8. This would prevent important documentation of factory farms operations and practices, which routinely include animal abuses and pollution of air and water.
March 11th. Please contact these Committee members and
tell them to vote NO on this bill (House Bill 2258/Senate Bill 2406).
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8. 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 has been deferred TWICE in the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee and is now on the agenda for March 11th. Please contact the Committee members and tell them to vote NO on this bill (Senate Bill 1888). |
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Join Us for A Rally for Living Wage Jobs, Public Schools, and Our Democracy
At noon on on Tuesday, March 11th, SOCM members and allies will rally on the South Capitol Steps in Nashville. Contact Brad Wright at brad@socm.org if you would like to attend. Carpooling may be available. You must RSVP here if you are interested in carpooling. |
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Public Hearing and Press Event on TVA's Gallatin Coal Plant
On Thursday, March 13th at 6 p.m. CT, SOCM members and allies will gather to let TVA and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) know that we want them to protect our community from toxic coal ash. This is a press event and public hearing on a permit for a proposed coal ash landfill at TVA's Gallatin Coal Plant. It will be held at the Sumner County Administration Building at 355 N. Belvedere Dr., Gallatin. Please arrive by 5:30 p.m. for the press event. Contact Brad Wright at brad@socm.org if you would like to attend. Carpooling may be available. |
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Tennessee Human Rights Commission Announcement
The Tennessee Human Rights Commission is seeking community leaders, researchers and others to bring testimony regarding human rights issues facing Tennessee communities at a series of hearings to be held in the spring of 2014. Presenters and attendees are requested at the following meetings. For more information, to submit testimony, or to register for the events go to www.tn.gov/humanrights March 25 UT Extension Campus, Knoxville March 26 Bank of Tennessee Board Room, Johnson City May 12 Downtown Nashville Public Library, Nashville |
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