Incoming House speaker concerned over early school voucher program push

Tennessee’s incoming House Speaker Cameron Sexton is concerned about Gov. Bill Lee’s push to begin his school voucher program next year, earlier than first anticipated.

“I do not think it needs to be accelerated at this point,” said Sexton, a Crossville Republican who voted against the education savings account program.

He said others in the House share his concern for pushing the program forward beginning in the 2020-21 school year.

“Hearing from the [House] members, I think they are lockstep in that, as well,” Sexton said Monday.

Lee administration officials indicated they are working to get the school voucher program off the ground earlier. Lee’s education savings accounts will allow parents in Davidson and Shelby counties to use public funds to send their students to private school.

The program could be running by next school year because the law passed by the Tennessee General Assembly said the program should begin “no later than” the 2021-22 school year. Many expected it to begin that year.

Lee spokesman Chris Walker said the governor continues to believe putting the education savings account law in place quickly will ensure better outcomes for Tennessee’s schools and students.

“Every day without implementation is another day that a child is stuck in a failing school and parents are lacking a choice for their son or daughter,” Walker said.

Sexton said he will “have conversations as we go” with the governor. He also said the speaker’s office won’t push any legislation to roll back the program.

But Sexton said he won’t stop individual lawmakers from filing legislation to do so.

“Each individual member can file whatever they want to,” he said.

Sexton also alluded to possible legal challenges over the bill, which he said is something to consider.

The Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition has argued the program is unconstitutional because it doesn’t allow immigrants without proper documentation to use it.

The controversial program saw plenty of opposition from Republican and Democratic lawmakers before its passage in both chambers.

The vote in the House proved especially controversial, with outgoing House Speaker Glen Casada holding it open for 40 minutes with lawmakers deadlocked at 49-49.

Eventually, Casada was able to convince Rep. Jason Zachary, R-Knoxville, to change his vote and clear the way for the bill’s passage in the House by a 50-48 tally.

Sexton said he would have looked to avoid the situation and instead of holding the vote open would let “whatever happens, happen.”

“Usually when you have a bill that gets to the floor and it is that close, then the committee system didn’t function properly,” Sexton said.