Voucher bill gets clearer path to House floor
A key Tennessee House lawmaker will vote in favor of proposed school voucher legislation this year, improving the odds the controversial bill makes its way to the House floor for the first time.
House Finance, Ways and Means Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Curtis Johnson, R-Clarksville, said Tuesday he will vote in favor of the revived voucher bill, House Bill 1049, during Wednesday's subcommittee meeting.
"As far as how the vote is going to go — I couldn't tell you," Johnson said.
He added: "I will be voting in favor of it."
The bill was tabled last year by sponsor Rep. Bill Dunn, R-Knoxville, after he said it didn't have enough votes to get out of the subcommittee. A voucher bill has died in the same committee in previous years, with former subcommittee chairman Rep. Mike Harrison, R-Rogersville, voting against it multiple times.
Dunn, who does not sit on the subcommittee, said he is uncertain what will happen.
“I’m very optimistic the kids will get a chance,” he said.
The bill would allow eligible students to use public money for private school tuition.
School voucher bill dead again
The students have to qualify for free or reduced lunches, typically an indication they come from a low-income family, and have to be zoned for or attend a school that is in the bottom 5 percent of all schools in the state to qualify. The bill caps the total number of students who can apply, with different totals in different years of the program.
Voucher proposals have seen an easier time making it through the Senate, but repeatedly stalled in House committees.
Gov. Bill Haslam has supported the idea of a voucher program in the past. Last year, a spokesman for the governor said that Dunn's bill was "consistent with what the governor proposed in the past, and it's something he'd like to see happen."
The controversial bill has also drawn plenty of opposition by numerous groups over the years.
Opponents, including Tennesseans Reclaiming Educational Excellence and most Tennessee Democrats, argue the program doesn't show overwhelmingly positive results and vouchers pull public funds from the schools that need them the most. Lawmaker opposition has centered on worries about the effect vouchers will have on their local schools.
It also has its share of proponents, such as the Beacon Center of Tennessee, who have said the bill creates new school choices for students attending the lowest-performing schools in the state. Before tabling the bill, Dunn said he would work to address concerns about vouchers with other legislators.
A limited form of voucher legislation was passed last year that allows families to use local and state funds for education expenses, including private school tuition, for students with severe disabilities.
Reach Jason Gonzales at 615-259-8047 and on Twitter @ByJasonGonzales.