Representative Don Young (R-Alaska), the last remaining member of Congress who voted for the ESA has said, “The Endangered Species Act (ESA) has been weaponized and misused by environmental groups for too long.” The law passed overwhelmingly, but according to Young, “You have to understand when we had this act before us … we were told it was to save leopards and other species, it was never for grass … and flies, and snails, and turtles…”
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Education Savings Accounts Bill Appears Headed to Conference Committee
NASHVILLE, Tennessee – Gov. Bill Lee’s Education Savings Account legislation appears headed to a conference committee, as the Tennessee House and State Senate both refused on Monday to move from their respective versions of the bill. The House passed HB 0939 last Tuesday by one vote after a dramatic 40-minute…
Read MorePresident Trump Shows Support for Tennessee Education Savings Accounts
Tennessee’s efforts to provide school choice have captured President Donald Trump’s attention. The president on Wednesday tweeted, “The Great State of Tennessee is so close to passing School Choice. All of our Nation’s children, regardless of background, deserve a shot at achieving the American Dream! Time to get this…
Read MoreEducation Savings Account Bill Passes House After Rep. Jason Zachery Flips to ‘Yes’ to Break 49-49 Tie
In a dramatic and historic turn of events the Tennessee House has passed the Education Savings Account plan advocated by Governor Bill Lee by a 50-48 margin. Earlier today the Senate Finance Committee passed the bill towards the Senate floor by a 6-5 margin. The initial vote in the…
Read MoreSenator Dolores Gresham Champions Governor Lee’s Education Savings Accounts Bill Through Education Committee
NASHVILLE, Tennessee – Governor Bill Lee’s most significant education initiative, Education Savings Accounts, made it through another major hurdle as it passed the Senate Education Committee Wednesday by a vote of 6 to 3. Senator Dolores Gresham (R-Somerville), who is also the Chair of the Education Committee, carried the bill…
Read MoreTeachers Wearing Sunglasses to Ostensibly Protect Identities Join Small Protest Outside Tennessee Capitol Over Education Savings Account Plan
A group of about 50 people gathered outside the Tennessee Capitol Tuesday to protest Gov. Bill Lee’s Education Savings Account (ESA) plan. The 50 teachers, parents and other advocates voiced concerns about Lee’s support of education savings accounts, WBBJ said. Many of the teachers wore sunglasses “to show that they…
Read MoreThe Tennessee Star Report: Senior Reporter Laura Baigert on Why The Education Savings Account Bill Cleared a Big Hurdle in Committee This Week
On Thursday’s Tennessee Star Report with Steve Gill and Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville’s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 am to 8:00 am – guest host and Nashville Tea Party Activist Ben Cunningham spoke with The Tennessee Star’s own senior reporter Laura Baigert, co-guest host…
Read MoreHuge Victory For Governor Bill Lee as Education Savings Account Bill Passes 14 to 9 in House Education Committee
NASHVILLE, Tennessee – The much anticipated vote by the House Education Committee on Governor Bill Lee’s Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) proposal resulted in a huge victory on Wednesday with a 14 to 9 vote in favor of the bill. House Hearing Room I was once again standing room only, despite…
Read MoreShaka Mitchell, TN Director of The American Federation for Children, Talks with The Tennessee Star Report Shortly Before Testifying in Favor of ESA Bill
In a detailed discussion on Wednesday morning’s Tennessee Star Report with Steve Gill and Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville’s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 am to 8:00 am – host Michael Patrick Leahy talked exclusively with Tennessee’s director for The American Federation for Children’s,…
Read MoreFinal Details of Gov. Bill Lee’s Education Savings Account Plan Released
Tennessee students in urban cities could start escaping failing schools in fall 2021 as Gov. Bill Lee has pulled the curtain back on his education savings account (ESA) plan, with legislative action planned for Tuesday. Some say the math does not add up. Lee would spend up to $75 million…
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