At the statehouse: Resignation, education and a controversial confirmation

Rachel IacovoneWPLN News

The ninth week of session held some unexpected twists and turns. 

First, Hixson Republican Rep. Robin Smith resigned Monday after being charged with wire fraud. Then lawmakers confirmed to the State Board of Education a Knoxville business owner whose online gun company sold ammunition to two mass shooters. 

Also, committees are wrapping up, a clear signal that the session is coming to an end. This means a lot of the focus going forward will be on the education funding formula that Gov. Bill Lee wants passed sooner than later. But are Nashville schools getting the short end of the stick in this new plan?  

Rep. Robin Smith resigns 

While it had been known that Smith’s office was raided by the FBI last January, it wasn’t clear at the time why. But after court documents were unsealed Monday, we have some answers. Smith is facing a federal wire fraud charge, which she plead guilty to on Tuesday.  

According to federal prosecutors, Smith received kickbacks as part of a scheme to funnel money to a company controlled by Cade Cothren, the one-time chief of staff to former House Speaker Glen Casada, who still serves in the legislature. 

More: Recapping State Rep. Robin Smith’s resignation in wake of wire fraud scandal

Cothern and Casada have so far evaded formal charges, but with Smith’s indictment, it is becoming clearer what prosecutors believe is their alleged part in the scheme. Current House Speaker Cameron Sexton, who has cooperated with the federal government in the case, says he is withholding judgment until legal matters play out.  

“Until he has due process, until you’re charged, and until the investigations done there has been nothing levied against him except allegations,” Sexton tells WPLN News. “So, we just simply have to wait for the investigation to continue and see how it works out.”

Casada, R-Franklin, previously announced that he will not run for re-election this year but will instead run for Williamson County Clerk. 

Education funding formula discussed  

The newly proposed funding formula known as the Tennessee Investment in School Achievement, or TISA, will allocate a base of $6,860 per student. Under the new plan, Metro Nashville Public Schools are expected to get close to $12.6 million from the state. But MNPS superintendent Dr. Adrienne Battle thinks they’re being underfunded compared to similar large, urban school systems in the state.  

“It appears that the second largest school district in Tennessee, accounting for more than 8% of public school students, will receive less than 2% of the $750 million investment next year,” said MNPS superintendent Dr. Adrienne Battle.

More: Unlike other big districts, Nashville schools won’t get much of a boost under the state’s proposed funding model. Here’s why.

Republican leaders say the discrepancy is no accident, because Nashville has higher property values and revenue from sales tax to contribute toward education costs.  

“It’s a way to even out the ability of counties and school systems to generate funds for their system, and so that’s why there is the difference,” said Senate Speaker Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge. “The fiscal capacity of each county is measured and, you know, Nashville has a greater fiscal capacity than Hickman County or Shelby County, for example.”

The funding formula has yet to get a vote in the House or Senate, but is expected to be discussed, and potentially voted on, next week.

State Board of Education appointee confirmed, despite his company’s ties to two mass shootings 

Gov. Bill Lee nominated Knoxville businessman Jordan Mollenhour last January to the State Board of Education. In the role, Mollenhour would be one of nine members responsible for creating policies for the state’s K-12 public schools.  

But Sen. Jeff Yarbro, D-Nashville, believes it was the wrong decision, citing an ongoing lawsuit against Mollenhour. The lawsuit alleges that his online ammunition store, Lucky Gunner, sold bullets to a 17-year-old who killed 10 people at a Santa Fe, Texas, high school in 2018. 

“We ought to be able to find [someone] who is not involved in ongoing litigation about plausible responsibility in a school shooting,” said Yarbro.  

More: Tennessee Senate confirms State Board of Education pick, whose online store sold ammunition used in a school shooting

The company’s ammunition is also linked to the 2012 mass shooting at an Aurora, Colo. movie theater that left 12 dead and 70 injured.  

Sen. Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, defended Mollenhour saying, “It is common for successful businesspeople to have ongoing litigation at any given time.” 

Mollenhour now awaits confirmation by the House.