Image Credit: TN General Assembly
The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –
HB0923, which seeks to stop government offices or departments from hiring practices which “promote or require discriminatory preferences in an effort to increase diversity, equity, or inclusion,” passed the House State and Local Government Committee 17-5.
The amended Act, carried by freshman Representative Aron Maberry (R-Clarksville-District 68), further states that the legislation would apply to all county, municipal, and metropolitan governments, and public institutions of higher education.
In his introduction of the bill before the committee, Rep. Maberry reiterated, “The bill mandates that hiring decisions may be solely based on merit, focusing on qualifications, experience, and skills.”
Democrat Larry Miller objected to the bill, claiming the tenants of DEI are, “interconnected concepts that promote a fair and insclusive environment where everyone feels valued and has an equal opportunity to participate and succeed regardless of their background or identity.”
Maberry rebutted that he is, “for diversity, for fairness, I’m for including people, but that’s not what DEI really is. DEI is about lifting up one group over another. Another word for that is discrimination, and if discrimination in the past was wrong, then discrimination today is wrong. My goal here is to make sure that we don’t have hiring practices in the state of Tennessee in our public institutions, in our schools, in our colleges, that hire based on discriminatory practices.”
Jesse Chism continued in a similar line of protest, arguing that DEI was created so, “certain groups could be seen, not so they could get a leg up. It’s just so that people at your country club or at your church won’t be the only people that you see.”
The remaining committee Democrats spoke against the bill along various avenues, asking questions not pertinent to the legislation and claiming that DEI practices do not result in the hiring of unqualified candidates.
Rep. Vincent Dixie, another Democrat, demanded Maberry, “Take this bill off notice. This is ridiculous.” Dixie then moved the bill the sent to summer study, which would effectively kill it for this session. The request for summer study was handily voted down 17-5 with only committee Democrats voting in favor of the motion.
Further discussion on the bill was ended when Rep. Jake McCalmon called the question, moving the body to an immediate vote.
Passing along party lines, the committee voted 17-5 in favor of the bill. Representatives voting “Yes” were Bricken, Burkhart, Butler, Carringer, Crawford, Eldridge, Howell, Leatherwood, Littleton, Martin G, McCalmon, Moon, Powers, Rudd, Rudder, Warner, and Wright. Democrat Reps. Chism, Dixie, Miller, Powell, and Salinas all voted “No”.
The bill will be heard by the House Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee on April 14. To contact members of this subcommittee, use the information below:
SB1084, the Senate companion, is also scheduled for a full Senate floor vote on Monday, April 14.
Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
