NASHVILLE -- Tempers flared this afternoon during a debate between Republicans and Democrats over a school voucher bill, but the measure was ultimately approved by the House Government Operations Committee.
It passed on a voice vote but it appeared to have the support of all seven committee Republicans. The three Democrats all said no, raising their hands later to be recorded as doing so.
The measure, which would allow taxpayer dollars to fund vouchers or "scholarships" for low-income students in, at least initially, failing public schools, now goes to the Finance Committee. The bill passed Monday night in the Senate where Sen. Todd Gardenhire, R-Chattanooga, was the sponsor.
When questions about possibly delaying the bill came up in the House panel, Majority Leader Gerald McCormick, R-Chattanooga, said, "I've been involved in the past in slowing this effort down. But this time I've signed onto it. The school districts have had adequate time to prepare for this and it's time has come."
McCormick and other Republican leaders became increasingly angry as Democrats continued to hit the bill's sponsor, Rep. Bill Dunn, R-Knoxville, with questions. Republicans, including McCormick, said they weren't pertinent to the committee's charge of dealing not with substance of bills but rules and regulations.
Finally, Rep. John Ray Clemmons, D-Nashville, asked what rules there were "to replace the dollars that will be stolen from our public schools."
McCormick and fellow irate backers objected and Republicans forced the previous question on a 7-3 vote and then passed the bill