West Tenn. legislators talk success at state capitol

JACKSON, Tenn. — Representatives Johnny Shaw and Jimmy Eldridge came to Jackson Friday morning to talk about what’s happened in the General Assembly this session. It comes on the heels of passing the Tennessee state budget.

As the 109th General Assembly prepares to end their session, lawmakers said it’s a good conclusion passing a budget in the black, coming in at $34.8 billion. The state maintains its claim to have the lowest debt per capita in the nation.

Gov. Bill Haslam vetoed a bill Thursday afternoon that would make the Bible the state’s official book.

“It is the highest book of all, and I really think it’d be an insult to bring its standards down to birds and flowers, and whatever else,” Rep. Johnny Shaw of Bolivar said.

“I can understand why he did that,” Rep. Jimmy Eldridge of Jackson said about the governor’s veto. “He had the attorney general’s opinion on that issue and has to do with the cost of naming a sacred book like that.”

Another proposal has also been flushed for now, saying students would be required to use restrooms and locker rooms that match their gender at birth.

“It opens up a lot of issues. How does it affect economic development for the state of Tennessee? There are some concerns there,” Eldridge said.

“I think we have to really say to ourselves, while we disagree with other people’s lifestyles, and at the same time, there are human beings we have to treat fairly,” Shaw said.

That bill has been delayed over concerns the state could lose federal funding if it was put into law.

Legislators say they expect the session to wrap up on Wed., April 20.