Concerned, Frustrated, or Just Plain Mad About the Repeal of Professional Negotiations?

This year’s legislature repealed the education professional negotiations law which has worked very well for nearly 35 years. They replaced it with a “collaborative conferencing” law which – despite the name – was developed behind closed doors by a handful of legislators. Below is the roll call vote on the repeal of the negotiations law. Those who voted “yes” to repeal the law (against TEA’s position) were:

Senators Mae Beavers (R-Mt. Juliet), (R-Riceville), (R-Knoxville), (R- Johnson City), Mike Faulk (R-Kingsport), (R-Somerville), Jack Johnson (R-Franklin), (R-Collierville), Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro), Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge), Mark Norris (R-Collierville), (R-Springfield), Steve Southerland (R-Morristown), (R-Dickson), Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville), (R-Hixson), Jamie Woodson (R-Knoxville), (R-Harriman), and Speaker (R- Blountville).

Representatives David Alexander (R-Winchester), Harry Brooks (R-Knoxville), Kevin Brooks (R-Cleveland), Shelia Butt (R-Columbia), Joe Carr (R-Lascassas), (R-College Grove), Jim Cobb (R-Spring City), (R-East Ridge), Vance Dennis (R-Savannah), Linda Elam (R-Mt. Juliet), (R-Jackson), Josh Evans (R- Greenbrier), (R-Cosby), Richard Floyd (R-Chattanooga), (R-Athens), (R- Hermitage), (R-Dyer), (R-Knoxville), (R-Hohenwald), (R- Jonesborough), (R-Dresden), (R-Lenoir City), Curtis Johnson (R-Clarksville), Phillip Johnson (R-Pegram), (R-Byrdstown), (R-Bristol), Debra Maggart (R-Hendersonville), (R-Shelbyville), Judd Matheny (R-Tullahoma), (R-Lenoir City), Gerald McCormick (R-Chattanooga), Steve McDaniel (R-Parkers Crossroads), Steve McManus (R-Cordova), Don Miller (R-Morristown), Richard Montgomery (R-Sevierville), Frank Niceley (R-Strawberry Plains), (R-Lebanon), (R- Jacksboro), (R-Oak Ridge), Barrett Rich (R-Hickory Withe), Bill Sanderson (R-Kenton), Charles Sargent (R-Franklin), (R-Crossville), (R-Kingsport), (R-Smyrna), (R- Maryville), (R-Cleveland), (R-Lancaster), Mark White (R-Memphis), Ryan Williams (R-Cookeville), (R-Huntsville), (R-Rockvale) and, Speaker Harwell (R-Nashville).

Those who voted “no” to repeal the law (for TEA’s position) were:

Senators Tim Barnes (D-Clarksville), Andy Berke (D-Chattanooga), Charlotte Burks (D-Monterey), Lowe Finney (D- Jackson), (D-Memphis), Thelma Harper (D-Nashville), Roy Herron (D-Dresden), (D-Memphis), (D-Memphis), Doug Overbey (R-Maryville), Eric Stewart (D-Belvidere), and Reginald Tate (D- Memphis).

Representatives Joe Armstrong (D-Knoxville), Eddie Bass (D-Prospect), Tommie Brown (D-Chattanooga), (R-Mountain City), (D-Memphis), (R-Bartlett), Barbara Cooper (D-Memphis), Charles Curtiss (D-Sparta), John DeBerry (D-Memphis), Lois DeBerry (D-Memphis), Joanne Favors (D- Chattanooga), Craig Fitzhugh (D-Ripley), (D-Nashville), Bill Harmon (D-Dunlap), Mike Harrison (R- Rogersville), David Hawk (R-Greeneville), (R-Jonesborough), (D-Nashville), (D- Memphis), Mike McDonald (D-Portland), Larry Miller (D-Memphis), Gary Moore (D-Joelton), Jimmy Naifeh (D- Covington), Gary Odom (D-Nashville), (D-Memphis), Joe Pitts (D-Clarksville), (D- Nashville), (R-Maryville), Jeanne Richardson (D-Memphis), (R-Rutledge), (D-Bolivar), David Shepard (D-Dickson), Janis Sontany (D-Nashville), Mike Stewart (D-Nashville), John Tidwell (D- New Johnsonville), (R-Collierville), (D-Memphis), (D-Memphis), Mike Turner (D-Old Hickory), Kent Williams (R-Butler), and John Mark Windle (D-Livingston).

Representative present and not voting (same effect as a “No” vote): Ron Lollar (R-Bartlett)

Legislators demand teacher accountability – Demand legislator accountability too!