Today, the state House passed one of Governor Bill Haslam’s signature initiatives on a bi-partisan vote. The TEAM act would relax restrictions on the pay, hiring, and firing of state workers.
When it was first introduced, the TEAM Act drew fire from the Tennessee State Employees Association, who said the measure would end protections for state workers and revive an era of political patronage. Democrats didn’t like the bill, either.
The TSEA was able to negotiate some changes—like keeping seniority as a factor in layoff decisions. That was enough for some Democrats to get on board. But the top Democrat in the House, Minority leader Mike Turner wasn’t convinced by arguments that government should run like a private business.
“Businesses are in business to make a profit. Government is not. Government is here to pave the roads, so that businesses could put their trucks on there. Government is there to make life better for the individual and for the businesses to operate. So, I think that’s a terrible comparison.”
Even Democrats who voted in favor voiced concerns that a future governor could take advantage of the weakened protections for state workers.
The bill passed the House on a vote of 74 to 19. The Senate is scheduled to take it up tomorrow.
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