NASHVILLE – Efforts by a Volkswagen lobbyist Tuesday to state the German auto manufacturer’s concerns about a bill requiring all Tennessee driver license exams be conducted in English had a Northeast Tennessee representative questioning if the company was trying to strong-arm lawmakers into dropping the issue.
“That speaks closely to blackmail,” snapped Rep. Tony Shipley, R-Kingsport, who went on to say he doesn’t see the logic in suggesting “we would be less than hospitable by supporting the language of this country. … This is a public safety issue.”
The lawmaker’s outburst came after VW lobbyist Mark Smith sought to rebut testimony by pro-English lobbyist Eddie Garcia. Mr. Smith said it had caused him to worry lawmakers might erroneously believe Volkswagen, which is building a $1 billion plant in Chattanooga, supported the bill.
Mr. Garcia told members of the House Public Safety Subcommittee that a VW executive in Herndon, Va., informed him that all of the company’s scientists, executives and researchers coming to Tennessee were bilingual and spoke English.
In response, Mr. Smith said “we don’t quibble that making sure that matters like signs, which are currently tested, are sufficiently covered in the exam. What we would submit to you is that a one-size-fits-all, English-only, no-exception legislation is perhaps not the gesture of Southern hospitality that we think that companies looking to Tennessee are looking for.”