GREAT THINGS HAPPEN TO SMALL PRICKS
NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV-AP) -
One of the most discussed bills of the current Tennessee legislative session died on the Senate floor Thursday morning but not before a big showdown between the lawmaker sponsoring the bill and an 8-year-old girl.
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Welfare penalty for parents dead this session
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A proposal that would dock the welfare payments of parents whose children fail school is dead.
After about a 40-minute debate on the Senate floor Thursday, Republican Sen. Sponsor Stacey Campfield decided to pull the bill so it can be studied over the summer.
It seemed onlookers didn't know whether to laugh, cry or run and hide as the girl tried to tell state Sen. Stacey Campfield, R-Knoxville, how she feels about his bill while the senator took a verbal jab in front of the child's mother instead.
Aamira Fetuga, 8, arrived at the state Capitol with an important message for Campfield and his proposal to dock the welfare payments of parents whose children struggle in school.
"We're going to like try and make him feel bad and stuff," Aamira said. "He will be thinking like, 'Wait, that's a child doing that stuff, not a grown-up.' Because it's easy grown-ups doing it, not children."
But things didn't exactly go as planned when Aamira handed over a stack of signatures opposing his bill.
"Thank you, I love it when people use children - I love it when people use children as props. It's so wonderful. Thank you for using a child as a prop. Have a nice day," Campfield said.
The senator continued his comments as he walked away.
"I appreciate her coming down, but I don't use children as props. I don't think it's appropriate," he said.
Ultimately, Aamira and her mother got what they and many other opponents across the state wanted. After about a 40-minute debate on the Senate floor, Campfield decided to pull the bill so it can be studied over the summer.
Campfield added he's open to suggestions on ways to make the proposal better.
"I want to make it good. I want to get it where everybody is comfortable with it," he said.
And he said his welfare legislation that led to a hallway showdown with a child will be back.
"I'm just trying to get parents involved in their kids' education," Campfield said.
Both Republicans and Democrats have previously expressed concern about the legislation, which sought to cut Temporary Assistance for Needy Families benefits by 30 percent if a child fails to advance to the next grade.
The money could be earned back if a parent attends two conferences with teachers, takes parenting classes or enrolls the child in tutoring programs or summer school.
Opponents of the legislation said it's constitutionally suspect and that it could lead to repercussions for a child in the home of an abusive parent.
This video demonstrates what a monumentally arrogant p.o.s. he is - even to little girls.WSMV Channel 4
Obviously struck a nerve with the guy. I hope this gets picked up and used in campaign ads by his opponent the next time he's up for re-election.
ReplyDeleteStrikes me he's a classic bully stealing littler kids' lunch money -- just being more underhanded about it.
This is the same guy who has introduced all the anti-gay legislation. He is the total slime-o-crat but I think he's received so much adverse publicity that his chances for re-election are slim - even for Tennessee.
DeleteGood taste, empathy and compassion are the enemies of republicans who run in primaries. The little girl is lucky he didn't call any number of things Campsfield's base calls black people.
ReplyDeleteHe's a nasty piece of work and has done enormous damage to our state. Sadly, however, he isn't the only bigoted ignorant member of the state legislature.
DeleteHe's an idiot!!!!
ReplyDeleteObviously, you won't get any argument from me on that point. ;)
DeleteSaying anything else would be redundant. :)
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