NASHVILLE Tenn. — The sponsor of a proposal to eliminate affirmative action initiatives from higher education institutions in Tennessee said fellow Republicans who contributed to the failure of his bill on Wednesday could face repercussions in next year’s election.
The measure sponsored by Republican Sen. Jim Summerville of Dickson was defeated in the Senate Education Committee. Four members of the Republican-majority committee voted for the measure, two voted against it and three abstained.
“Next year … a third of the Senate, including me, will be up for re-election and this is going to be an issue in the primaries,” Summerville said.
“Every Republican with a primary opponent will have to answer for the vote on this bill, and why they believe some Americans aren’t ready for equal treatment.”
As written, the legislation would prohibit colleges and universities from granting preference “based on race, gender or ethnicity … to any student or employee of the public institution of higher education or any person with whom the public institution of higher education contracts.”
For instance, the measure sought to prohibit institutions from setting aside 10 percent of their contracts for minority-owned businesses.
Committee member Rusty Crowe said he’s against giving preference to certain students, but said he decided to pass because of pending litigation involving similar legislation at another university.
