The week in politics: Tennesseans should 'understand' federal education money, Lee says

Melissa Brown and Vivian Jones, Nashville Tennessean
·8 min read
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Gun reform supporters attend an early morning prayer vigil at the Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Aug. 21, 2023. The state legislature is holding a special session on public safety starting today.
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A panel appointed to consider rejecting about $1.8 billion in annual federal funding for K-12 education in Tennessee will begin meeting next month.

Republican legislative leaders have asked the group to determine what strings are attached to federal education funding that Tennessee receives, and formulate a plan for how the state could go about rejecting it before the legislature returns in January.

A report from the Tennessee Department of Education earlier this year showed that the state has received $10.4 billion in federal education funds since 2019.

Gov. Bill Lee has expressed openness to rejecting federal education funds, citing “excessive overreach.” House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, was the first to float the idea earlier this year, noting his concern with federal testing requirements, though lawmakers have not cited additional examples of the strings attached to the federal funds they find objectionable.

The Tennessean on Thursday asked Lee how it is fiscally responsible for state leaders to block federal income for Tennesseans who pay federal taxes.

"I think what's responsible is that Tennesseans understand what comes with the federal money into our state," Lee said, remarking that Tennesseans "want to know what the federal government is requiring of me before I accept those dollars for my school system."

The Federal Education Funding Working Group will have its first of five meetings on Nov. 6 at 2 p.m. at the Cordell Hull State Legislative Office Building. Further meetings are scheduled for the first two weeks of November.

The working group would have to make recommendations for full legislative approval and sign off from Lee.

Democrats have roundly criticized the proposal.

“Federal education funding is a strategic investment in the future of our state and nation. The harsh consequences of rejecting this $1.8 billion of funding cannot be overstated," said Senate Minority Leader Raumesh Akbari, D-Memphis, who was appointed to the funding working group. “Through this committee, I will advocate that Tennessee keep accepting these necessary funds. After all, our tax dollars should be used to support Tennessee students, not students in other states."

Among the areas supported by the $1.8 billion in federal funds are programs for low-income students, students with disabilities and school lunch, among others, reports our colleague Rachel Wegner.

Federal funds account for major portions of school budgets across the state, particularly in rural areas.

More: Tennessee may reject federal education funding. Here's how much each district spends now.

Lee declines to support voting rights restoration for felons

Gov. Bill Lee, a strong advocate of prisoner reentry programs, declined to voice support for smoothing the process for restoring voting rights for rehabilitated offenders, deferring to the state legislature.

Lee previously served on the board of directors of Men of Valor. Speaking at a ribbon cutting for a garden at the Men of Valor prison ministry campus in Antioch on Monday, Lee cited his administration’s work to help rehabilitate offenders to reenter society in productive ways.

“Most everyone in a prison is going to get out, and the rate at which they return to prison is the rate at which young men's lives are destroyed, victims are created, taxpayer dollars are wasted,” Lee said at the ribbon cutting. “When we can reduce recidivism… everyone in our state benefits.”

Tennessee’s Department of Corrections announced this week that the state’s recidivism rate — the rate at which offenders later commit another crime — dropped below 30% for the first time to 29.6%.

“We have a long way to go, but we’re making really good progress,” Lee said.

But speaking to reporters after the ceremony, Lee did not commit to smoothing the process for restoring voting rights for the formerly incarcerated — like those who graduate from Men of Valor’s program.

Anyone convicted of a felony in the state of Tennessee, whether in state or federal court, loses their right to vote. To regain voting rights, individuals must receive a pardon or have their full citizenship rights restored, and then they must pay all restitution and court costs, and be current on any child support obligations.

Approximately 421,000 people in Tennessee are not eligible to vote because of felony convictions, according to the Campaign Legal Center — about 8.2% of the adult voting-age population.

“We’ll talk to the General Assembly about what their ideas are. I think the most important thing we’ve got to do is let people get their life back,” Lee said. “This is an example of how men get their lives back — how we restore the dignity of work for individuals. When people have a mentor, when they have a job, when they have a direction to go, they’re much less likely to go back into prison.”

Nathan Pierce, a graduate of the Men of Valor program, who manages and maintains the garden at Valor Ridge, said he thinks the voting rights restoration process for people like him should be more streamlined.

“There should be a better process. I’m 39, and I ain’t never voted,” Pierce told reporters, standing with his 9-year-old son, Dyson, on his shoulders. Pierce was incarcerated at 18 years old and released at 37.

“I’d rather just keep following the Lord like I am, and show that I’ve changed — show by my walk," Pierce said.

Christopher Green, who has also graduated from the Men of Valor program, said graduates of reentry programs like he participated in should have voting rights restored — particularly if program managers vouch for them.

“At this point, I think I should,” Green said. “The changes that I made, my morals, the way I think and who I am — my whole character — there should be no reason why I shouldn’t be able to vote.”

“There’s only an elite group of guys that actually make it through this program. And I believe that any guy that can make it through here, considering the numbers, they should definitely have their voting rights back,” Green said. “Especially for guys that completely changed.”

Blackburn asks Biden to freeze $6B in sanctions relief as Iran backs Hamas

In an address Tuesday afternoon, President Joe Biden called Hamas’ attack on Israel “pure unadulterated evil” and vowed that the United States would “make sure Israel has what it needs to take care of itself.” At least 22 Americans are dead in Israel, the State Department said Wednesday. The U.S. military has relocated an aircraft carrier closer to Israel in the eastern Mediterranean, and has begun supplying Israel with munitions and military supplies.

But the administration has not frozen $6 billion in sanctions relief to be released to Iran, negotiated amid a prisoner swap before Hamas’ attack on Saturday.

In a letter sent to Biden on Monday, led by U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, 19 Senate Republicans asked the U.S. State Department to freeze Iranian bank accounts in Qatar holding $6 billion in Iranian funds. Hamas political leadership is located in Qatar.

“To stand by and allow Iran access to these funds as Hamas infiltrates Israel and murders, rapes, and mutilates countless Israelis is unconscionable,” the senators wrote. “Your administration claims these funds are only available for humanitarian use, but money is fungible, and there is a significant risk they could be used to further efforts by Iran or Hamas against Israel.”

The letter cites reports that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps worked with Hamas terrorists to plan the attacks.

“We must stand with Israel and restrict access to these Iranian funds. Iran should be placed under the most stringent sanctions admissible,” the senators wrote. “Anything short of this is unacceptable and only aids in the ability of Iran and Hamas to fund these heinous acts.”

U.S. Sen. Bill Hagerty did not sign the letter.

Meanwhile, House Speaker Cameron Sexton and Lt. Gov. Randy McNally issued a proclamation this week condemning the Hamas attack, and the Tennessee House Republican Caucus urged the congressional delegation to expedite aid for the evacuation of U.S. citizens.

Skrmetti threatens federal suit over proposed rule requiring workplace abortion expenses coverage

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti sent a letter threatening to sue the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission if it implements a proposed rule requiring employers to provide workplace abortion accommodations — which he says violates state law.

In a letter sent Tuesday to Raymond Windmiller, the commission’s executive officer, Skrmetti led 18 other state attorneys general in opposing a proposed rule that would require employers to include abortion in their mandate under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act to provide workplace accommodations for “pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.”

“In a perverse plot twist, three unelected EEOC members have proposed hijacking the Act’s pro-pregnancy provisions to require employers to accommodate abortions,” the letter states. “If finalized, EEOC’s rule would require the State of Tennessee and other covered employers to devote resources — including by providing extra leave time and potentially paying for travel — to assist their workers’ decisions to terminate fetal life.”

Attorneys general from the following states joined the letter: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota and Utah.

EEOC did not respond to a request for comment from The Tennessean for this story.

“The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act is an important piece of legislation that ensures women aren't forced to choose between work and motherhood, but that law absolutely does not authorize the EEOC to impose pro-abortion mandates,” Skrmetti said in a statement. “If the EEOC continues on this path, we will sue to stop the agency from illegally coercing employers to facilitate abortions in violation of state law.”

Catch up on the week:

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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Gov. Lee: Tennesseans should 'understand' federal education money