Backlash to the Tennessee Senate’s passage of a bill to allow school districts to ban undocumented students from schools began as the vote was recorded Thursday — and was from sources as varied as clergy, small business, and, of course, state Democrats. One group called it “madness.”
Bills for the move were filed in early February by Tennessee House Majority Leader Rep. William Lamberth (R-Portland) and state Sen. Bo Watson (R-Hixson).
The bill would challenge the 1982 U.S. Supreme Court Plyler v. Doe decision, which entitled all children to public education despite immigration status. That’s exactly what the bill’s sponsors said they want to do, citing the cost of public education.
“The flood of illegal immigrants in our country has put an enormous drain on American tax dollars and resources. Our schools are the first to feel the impact,” Lamberth said in a statement to the Nashville Banner in February. “Tennessee communities should not have to suffer or pay when the federal government fails to secure our borders. Our obligation is to ensure a high-quality education for legal residents first.”
The Tennessee Small Business Alliance issued a statement Thursday condemning the bill, saying the group has “opposed the bill since its introduction” and called it “madness.”
“This bill is bad for Tennessee’s economy, and we have warned the state legislature repeatedly that this bill is bad for business,” the group said in a statement. “If this bill becomes law, we’re going to immediately lose workers, and we’re shooting ourselves in the foot when it comes to workforce development. The sponsors of this bill, Sen. Bo Watson and Rep. William Lamberth, are playing with people’s livelihoods and threatening children.”
Faith leaders associated with the Southern Christian Coalition said the bill violates the teaching of Jesus. Group member Ellen R. Sandidge Gentry, a member of the same church Watson attends had taught words for the legislation
‘As a conservative, and member of First Presbyterian Church, I’m unhappy that Sen. Bo Watson’s bill is associated with our church, Sandridge Gentry said in a statement. “My message for my fellow parishioner and state senator, Bo Watson is this: Coming after children who’ve done nothing wrong is a betrayal of Jesus’ teachings.
“Taking millions in sales and property taxes from undocumented families, then denying their children an education by claiming it’s “not paid for,” isn’t just bad policy — it’s unethical and unchristian.”
A group called Education for All Tennessee was created to work against the bill. It pointed to the bill’s narrow passage (19-13) as a sign that there is “weakening support for this cruel attack on children’s education.”
“With razor-thin vote margins and growing bipartisan opposition, this bill can still be stopped,” the group said Thursday. “Tennessee families deserve better than a bill that targets kids and divides communities.
“Every child deserves an education — no matter where they were born.”
State Democrats issued plenty of tough talk and even some tears in a news conference following the vote Thursday.
Sen. London Lamar (D-Memphis) said the GOP are using children targeted by the bill as “political pawns.” She called the bill a “new low” for state Republicans, saying, “They didn’t send us up here to bully kids.”
“Did you forget Jesus was an immigrant? Did you forget?” she asked. “Jesus stood with the least of these and it’s up to him to decide who is righteous and who’s not. But it on us to love everybody. It’s not for us to pick and choose who we love and who we support.”
Sen. Raumesh Akbari (D-Memphis) said she asked Watson in committee if he’d heard from any school districts that requested the legislation.
“He said, ‘We’ve all had those conversations — maybe not on the record — with folks from our school districts,” Akbari said. “My response was that I represent the largest school district and I have not ever heard that request.”
A House committee is set to pick up the bill on Monday. A reporter asked Rep. John Ray Clemmons (D-Nashville) what he thought about the bill’s chances to pass on the House side.
“All I can guarantee you in the House is we’re gonna fight like hell to protect the children of Tennessee,” Clemmons said. “People of every faith believe this is a bad idea. Everybody knows this is unconstitutional.
“We’re going to fight like hell to protect every child, to provide an education in compliance with the state Constitution, as well as the interpretation of the Constitution by the Supreme Court of the United States.”
