NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – Tennessee’s legislative session is heating up with battles over some of the most contentious issues facing the state. One of those issues is Gov. Bill Lee’s controversial school voucher program, which puts state dollars in the pockets of families sending kids to private school.
State Representative Sam McKenzie’s (D) effort to collect information about who receives education vouchers was defeated in subcommittee last week along straight party lines—a move he says reveals lawmakers don’t want Tennesseans to know the truth.
“Unfortunately, I presented a bill, pretty simple, asking basic information about who the students are getting the vouchers,” McKenzie said. “And by that, I mean, where they come from. Are they coming from outside the state or is this their first time entering into Tennessee? Or are they private school students that are just trying to get money from the vouchers? Are they truly people coming from public schools transferring to private schools because of the voucher?”…