The Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville.NASHVILLE – State lawmakers on Thursday gave final approval to a $32.4 billion spending plan for 2014-2015 after majority Republicans fended off Democrats’ attempts to partially restore pay raises for teachers and state employees.
Republican Gov. Bill Haslam largely got what he wanted in the amended bill, though he couldn’t keep his election-year pledge of 2 percent raises for teachers and 1 percent raises for other state workers because of a $267 million revenue shortfall. The vote was 68-27 in the House and 28-3 in the Senate.
Democrats and a group of House Republicans planned to challenge the reversal. But Rep. Matthew Hill, R-Jonesborough, dropped a move to restore some of the pay and provide a one-time bonus after hearing from colleagues at a Republican Caucus meeting and speaking with administration officials.
Democrats pushed ahead with their own plan.
Minority Leader Craig Fitzhugh, D-Ripley, charged the governor and fellow Republicans are “going to balance [the budget] on the workers of this state.”