NASHVILLE — Tempers flared in the House on Thursday when Republicans tried to insert a provision that would let businesses require their employees to speak English into a bill dealing with septic tanks.
The effort failed on a 51-46 vote that largely was partisan. The septic-tank bill would have required local authorities to notify neighbors and other interested parties whenever someone applies for a septic tank license.
“I fail to see how English as a second language has anything to do with septic tanks,” said Rep. Brenda Gilmore, D-Nashville, sponsor of the septic tank bill.
Rep. Matthew Hill, R-Jonesborough, who offered the English-speaking amendment, said businesses “should be able to set their own policies and rules that will best benefit the interests of their business.” Speaking English is “important for safety” and communication at work, he said.
But Rep. Hill also argued that “it devalues our language and our culture — and damages this country — when you tell the owner of a mom-and-pop business here in the state of Tennessee that he cannot create a rule to require his employees to speak the English language.”
Rep. Gilmore said she was “really disappointed” Rep. Hill did not notify her in advance about the amendment.
House Majority Leader Gary Odom, D-Nashville, later complained the Hill amendment had “absolutely nothing to do with the legislation before us. And the sponsor of the amendment didn’t have the courtesy to go to the sponsors of the bill.”
He warned Republicans that if they want to “play games” over the next few weeks as the session winds down, “that’s going to make the days a lot longer and a lot harder.”
That prompted a debate with House Minority Leader Jason Mumpower, R-Bristol, who said that while he agreed legislative courtesy was important, “nothing that’s happened is out of line.”
House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh, D-Covington, later told reporters he agreed with Rep. Odom that “we shouldn’t be trying to do things like that.”
“That’s their (Republicans’) way of trying to get something on the floor they can’t get through committee,” Rep. Naifeh said.
Rep. Hill defended his action and said the amendment fit within the bill’s “caption,” which confirms the state code or codes affected by a proposed bill. In this case, the septic-tank bill dealt with codes covering state government and health, safety and environmental protection.
Rep. Hill said he did not intend to be “disrespectful” to Rep. Gilmore by adding the amendment without informing her.
After the amendment failed, Rep. Hill was congratulated by fellow Republicans.
Republican efforts to pass a bill allowing businesses to require employees to speak English previously failed in committee. The Senate has passed a similar bill.
Democrats have a 53-46 majority in the House and control committees and subcommittees. But Republicans sometimes seek to push measures killed in committees in the form of floor amendments.
Rep. Mike Turner, D-Nashville, who has sponsored several bills aimed at illegal immigration, said Rep. Hill’s amendment was nothing more than “make-you-feel-good” legislation. He contended Democrats have “been stronger on illegal immigration” issues than Republicans, and he accused Senate Republicans of sitting all year on a sweeping Democratic bill on immigration.
In other action Thursday:
n On a 96-1 vote, House members sent to Gov. Phil Bredesen a bill that states killing a probation or parole officer acting in the line of duty is an aggravating circumstance that juries can consider in handing down a death sentence. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Bill Harmon, D-Dunlap.
n The House approved legislation by Rep. Kevin Brooks, R-Cleveland, that cases involving groundwater contamination would require the Department of Environment and Conservation to state the source of the groundwater. The bill passed on a 90-0 vote. The Senate bill, which comes up in committee next week, is sponsored by Sen. Dewayne Bunch, R-Cleveland.
HOW THEY VOTED
Chattanooga-area lawmakers’ votes broke down along partisan lines. Reps. Tommie Brown, D-Chattanooga; JoAnne Favors, D-Chattanooga; and Bill Harmon, D-Dunlap, voted against the English-only amendment.
Voting for it were Reps. Vince Dean, R-East Ridge; Richard Floyd, R-Chattanooga; Rep. Gerald McCormick, R-Chattanooga; Rep. Kevin Brooks, R-Cleveland; Rep. Eric Watson, R-Cleveland; and Rep. Mike Bell, R-Riceville. Rep. Jim Cobb, R-Spring City, was listed as being absent.
Andy Sher is a Nashville-based staff writer covering Tennessee state government and politics for the Times Free Press. A Washington correspondent from 1999-2005 for the Times Free Press, Andy previously headed up state Capitol coverage for The Chattanooga Times, worked as a state Capitol reporter for The Nashville Banner and was a contributor to The Tennessee Journal, among other publications. Andy worked for 17 years at The Chattanooga Times covering police, health care, county government, ...
Shout out to the people of Tennessee what it is that you are really thinking Mr. Rep. Matthew Hill...Rep. Hill's freudian slip regarding his state house deception and malpractice of legislation toward illegal immigrants is very disturbing in this day and advanced age of free American society.
This so-called Tennessee "English Language Only" amendment by Rep. Matthew Hill that was slyed onto a sewage bill that was before the Tennessee General Assembly reads as being overtly racist to me...while in my mind, I do perceive illegal immigration into the USA as a growing problem, I would never, never equate these desparate border crossers as sewage.
Do you really want Tennessee workers fired for saying words and phrases such as "Los Angeles" - City of Angeles - at the workplace? I am thinking that Tennesseeean workers - whether if they are working for state government and schools, local government and schools, or private employers, deserve more consideration than what is being showm by Rep. Hill and his fascist bully-boys and moronic malcontents within the Tennessee General Assembly.
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