In the House Education Subcommittee, today, a sudden and unexpected amendment was made to the Anti-Teacher Bill, HB130. The amendment can be viewed below.
The amendment was first seen by Speaker Emeritus Naifeh at 11:45 a.m., less than four hours before the subcommittee convened. Members of the committee were then instructed, by the GOP, to consider and vote on the amendment TODAY after only having it for such a short period of time. Mind you, this amendment was eight pages and legislators had not had time to talk with stakeholders of the bill about the amendment (i.e. school directors, principals, teachers, citizens).
Not only was the subcommittee asked to vote on the amendment, but also the bill in its entirety. Conventionally, when an amendment is presented on such short notice, the bill is rolled for one week so members can examine the amendment and its effects on the legislation, according to Naifeh.
Today, customs were thrown out the window, along with the spirit of democracy. In the GOP’s continuing efforts to undermine teachers and the voice of the working class, the subcommittee voted (8-5) along party lines on the amendment and to send the bill to full committee (also 8-5).
These particular events, along with Gov. Haslam’s email to teachers today, further illustrate the agenda of radical conservatives who are succeeding in taking away the voice of teachers and the working class.
When hundreds of citizens wanted to address and be addressed by Haslam Tuesday, Haslam denied them a voice. He refused to take part in two-way dialogue about his legislative agenda. Today, however, Haslam was more than happy to facilitate one-way dialogue through email between teachers and himself.
Haslam and the GOP are continuing to deny citizens one of the basic rights of our nation… a voice.
No longer is the GOP attacking only teachers, but now it is attacking democracy itself.
The sponsor of the bill, Rep. Debra Maggart, said this bill will remove the politics from schools. I suppose that by removing the voice of teachers and only allowing for the voice of school boards, it won’t be political because there will only be once voice. Sounds a little like fascism to me…
