Haslam Uses First Veto on Bill Targeting Vanderbilt Anti-Bias Policy

Tuesday night, Governor Haslam told reporters he was weighing his options on the all-comers legislation

Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam has slapped down a bill that takes aim at Vanderbilt University’s controversial anti-discrimination policy. This is the governor’s first veto since taking office.

Haslam’s written statement leads off with this: “I don’t agree with Vanderbilt’s ‘all-comers’ policy.” It requires that student organizations – though not fraternities and sororities – allow anyone to join and run for leadership positions.

Christian organizations have butted heads with the university. Some have chosen to leave campus over the issue.

Haslam’s own party pushed the bill targeting Vanderbilt. Perhaps directed at fellow Republicans, the governor says “as someone who strongly believes in limited government” it is “inappropriate…to mandate the policies of a private institution.”

The legislation would have also prevented such an all-comers policy at state colleges. The governor says he agrees with that part of the bill.

It’s not exactly a “thank you” note, but Vanderbilt Chancellor Nick Zeppos said in a statement he is “gratified” by the veto and what he calls a rejection of “government intrusion.”

Prior to the veto, Vanderbilt had been considering legal action.

Conservative organizations like the Family Action Council of Tennessee attempted to launch a campaign to stop a veto. But Governor Haslam signed the legislation before it gained momentum.

A spokesman for the administration says the office received about 30 phone calls urging Haslam to veto the legislation. The calls encouraging him to sign the bill into law didn’t come until after a decision was released.