Unknowns loom over strategy for Tennessee school voucher expansion
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Gov. Bill Lee's push for a statewide expansion of school vouchers is sure to be a major political story next year, but the timeline for that effort is uncertain.
Why it matters: Vouchers, which allow families to use public taxpayer money to pay private school tuition, have become Lee's signature issue. But he has struggled to build consensus on the issue among state lawmakers.
- His plan imploded this year, but Lee and legislative leaders have vowed to try again in 2025.
State of play: The Tennessee Journal reported that Lee might call a special session in January focused solely on vouchers.
- That approach would enable lawmakers to pursue the measure on a sped-up timeline that might give opponents less time to organize against it, as they did this year.
- It would also give leaders the chance to build out special committees stacked with voucher supporters, although that wouldn't guarantee success in the final floor votes.
Yes, but: Lawmakers could take up the measure during the regular legislative session, which starts later in January and typically stretches into April. That would give Lee and his allies more time to build support among skeptics.
- Legislators in both chambers have already filed legislation for the expansion.
Between the lines: It remains unclear whether Lee has locked in enough yes votes to secure passage of the expansion bill. His team's confidence in their vote count will be a deciding factor in their ultimate approach.
The big picture: Lee waded into Republican primaries this year, hoping to oust anti-voucher lawmakers and build support for school choice. The results were mixed at best.
The latest: With time ticking down to squeeze in a special session, Lee and top lawmakers remain noncommittal on which option they will pursue.
What they're saying: "We continue to work in partnership with legislative leadership to deliver on this promise, and all options are on the table," Lee spokesperson Elizabeth Johnson told Axios this week.
- A spokesperson for Lt. Gov. Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge), the Senate speaker, said "conversations regarding the best path forward" for vouchers "remain ongoing and fluid."