FRANKLIN, Tenn. - Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee says he knows nothing about allegations then-Republican House Speaker Glen Casada suggested to a Democratic lawmaker he could be promoted to a top Tennessee National Guard post by switching his no vote to yes on the governor's controversial school voucher bill.
"I don't know anything about that," Lee, a Republican, told reporters Thursday. The governor said in response to another question that "I was not" a part of any such discussions.
WTVF reported last month that Rep. John Mark Windle, D-Livingston, already a National Guard colonel, confirmed to the Nashville station that Casada suggested to him he could get promoted to general if he voted for the bill. Windle did not change his no vote.
At the time, April 23, the bill was deadlocked 49-49 on the House floor, sending Casada and aides desperately scrambling for more than 40 minutes to find the 50th vote required to pass any bill on the floor.
State Rep. and Speaker of the Tennessee House Glen Casada speaks during the Hamilton County Republican Party's annual Lincoln Day Dinner at the Westin Hotel on Friday, April 26, 2019 in Chattanooga, Tenn.
The measure eventually passed 50-49 when a Knoxville Republican switched his vote.
Casada has vehemently denied he ever "promised" Windle a National Guard promotion, noting only a governor can make such a promotion.
Windle in late July issued a statement to WTVF in which he said, "I voted no on the bill as a matter of principle and that vote decision did not change." He went on to note the people he represents are "fiercely independent, and their vote is not for sale."
A former state prosecutor, Windle also noted he had "sought the guidance of Tennessee ethics authorities and followed their recommendations."
Lee also said Thursday in response to reporters' questions that he has asked his top aides whether they had been involved in any offers of a position to Windle. They have told him they had not been, he said.
The governor confirmed he spoke twice to Windle, among other lawmakers, by phone that day in an effort to break the deadlock. Asked what he was saying to Windle, Lee replied, it was "encouragement for him to consider passing that legislation. I encouraged a lot of legislators that day and the days before I met with dozens of them over the period of time and talked to them on that day."
Casada controversies
- Embattled Tennessee speaker Glen Casada resigns from leadership role
- Gov. Lee says he knows nothing of alleged Casada bribe to break school voucher vote deadlock
- Tennessee House Republican Caucus Chairman Cameron Sexton nominated by GOP lawmakers to be next speaker
- Casada denies offering National Guard promotion, pork barrel projects to win votes on Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee's school voucher bill
- Embattled House Speaker Glen Casada says he can't afford alimony
- Tennessee House GOP candidates for speaker vow not to follow Casada's style
- Democrats call on Tennessee Comptroller, Nashville DA to investigate Speaker Casada spending, hires
- Gov. Lee calls for August special legislative session to replace House Speaker Glen Casada
- Tennessee House GOP to meet July 24 to nominate replacement for Speaker Casada
- Gov. Lee to call Tennessee lawmakers into August special session to replace Speaker Casada
- House Democratic Caucus chairman says Speaker Casada's 'cronies' hope to retain power with special session
- Hamilton County lawmakers want House Speaker Casada to go sooner, not later
- Critics decry 'disgraced' House Speaker Casada's ability to name appointees to new sports gaming advisory, judicial discipline panels
- Rep. Curtis Johnson announces bid for Tennessee House speaker, pledges to 'restore credibility, trustworthiness'
- Vanderbilt poll: Voters across political spectrum say Glen Casada should step down from House speakership
- Casada, Carter trade barbs over Tennessee House speaker's resignation, replacement
- Embattled Tennessee House Speaker Casada announces Aug. 2 resignation, asks Gov. Lee to call special session on replacement
- Rep. Smith hopes to gain support from fellow freshmen in potential Tennessee House speaker bid
- Post-Casada job requirement: Ability to restore public trust
- Rep. Robin Smith on House speaker bid: 'I'm not saying I would never run, but at this time, I'm watching'
- Chattanooga area lawmakers share thoughts on GOP Caucus' no-confidence vote on Casada
- Timeline: The rise and fall of Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada
- Rep. Carter pledges 'clean break' as he announces bid to replace Casada as Tennessee House speaker
- Rep. Carter preparing petition to remove Casada as General Assembly member, not just as House speaker
- Tennessee Republican House Speaker Glen Casada announces his resignation
- Gov. Lee calls on House Speaker Glen Casada to resign or face special session
- Tennessee House GOP hits embattled Speaker Glen Casada with no-confidence vote
- Reps. Carter, Smith offer different takes on embattled Tennessee House Speaker Casada
- Embattled House Speaker Casada faces 'no confidence' vote today in GOP Caucus but supporters may offer censure motion
- Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada attacks Mike Carter over criticisms
- Former top aide for Tennessee's embattled House speaker to stay on payroll until July
- Rep. Carter: If ethics panel is not 'above rank political maneuvering and conniving then we as a body are lost'
- Ethics Committee member Mike Carter calls on Tennessee House Speaker Casada to resign amid text messaging scandal
- Tennessee House GOP Caucus members to meet to discuss political fate of embattled Speaker Glen Casada
- Glen Casada controversy opens old wounds from 2018 Hamilton County state House GOP primary
- Tennessee legislative Black Caucus calls on Speaker Glen Casada to resign over racial texts, other issues
- Yet another Tennessee Republican House member calls on Glen Casada to resign
- Embroiled in controversies, Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada battles on after Lt. Gov. McNally says it's time to go
- Reps. Hazlewood, Carter lose faith in Tennessee Speaker Glen Casada amid text messaging scandal, other issues
- Tennessee Firearms Association head calls on House to oust Glen Casada as speaker
- Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada apologizes for text message controversies, pledges changes after some Republicans call for his resignation
- Tennessee House Democrats demand federal investigation into claims that Casada eavesdropped on private meetings
- Bill Lee wants public confidence 'fully restored' after Casada text message scandal
- Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada 'sorry' over text scandal but won't resign
- After admitting drug use, Tennessee House speaker's top aide resigns amid allegations of racist and sexually explicit texts
Asked whether "encouragement" involved promises or help for lawmakers with specific home-district projects, the governor said "it means that this is important to me because the education of our children is important. And that I believe wholeheartedly this legislation would give kids, particularly low-income kids in failing school districts, an opportunity for a better education."
As passed into law, the much-amended legislation that originally included five counties, including Hamilton, now applies to just Metro Nashville and Shelby County. It would provide parents with taxpayer money to pay for a range of educational costs and services, including private school tuition and fees as well as private tutoring.
Lee is working to have the program ready to start in the 2020-2021 school year.
Casada, meanwhile, has officially resigned his speaker position, effective Friday. That came after a string of controversies for the first-term speaker that ignited when sexually explicit and racist texts exchanged with a then-top aide three years ago were leaked to Nashville news organizations.
Contact Andy Sher at asher@timesfreepress.com or 615-255-0550. Follow him on Twitter @AndySher1.