From Tennessee House Democrats:
“Tonight the Republicans in the House laid bare their true values, voting to dramatically undermine salaried workers in a multiplicity of ways. Three bills stand out. First, Republicans voted to eliminate longevity pay for state workers – pay that for many years has been provided to longtime employees to reward them for devoting their careers to public service. Second, they voted to significantly reduce health insurance benefits for state and local employees. Third, as if that was not enough, Republicans voted to let charter schools throw their employees off the insurance provided by local school boards and force them to get insurance elsewhere. Under this bill, outside charter organizations, after taking over public schools through the Achievement School District, will now be in a position to cut costs by simply taking benefits out of their teachers’ pockets. One Republican sponsor was very candid in saying that cutting employee benefits was a good way of funding government on the cheap.
Individually, these bills are bad for employees and their families. Taken together, they are the latest chapter in Republican efforts to undermine the middle class and move toward a society of rich and poor and little in between. That’s not the sort of Tennessee most people want their children to grow up in. And it’s not the sort of Tennessee that House Democrats will ever accept without a fight.
You will be pleased to know that while the Republican super-majority managed to pass these bills, Democrats overwhelmingly opposed them. Rep. Bo Mitchell amended the longevity pay bill to delay cuts for a minimum of five years, but his amendment was voted down. Leader Craig Fitzhugh urged delay of the massive insurance cuts, given their significant impact on retirees and current employees, but Republicans pushed forward despite his objections. These are just two examples; multiple Democrats spoke out against all three of these bills.
Make no mistake, when it comes to protecting Tennesseans from completely unnecessary cuts to their pay and benefits – cuts that, for some, will be the difference between living the American Dream and living day-to-day – House Democrats will never stop fighting.”
