(The Center Square) – Georgia senators tacked a diversity, equity and inclusion bill into legislation initially addressing teacher leave while diversity bills are also moving through the Tennessee General Assembly.
In Georgia, the original version of House Bill 127 would have increased the number of sick leave days but didn’t make it to the Senate floor.
Sen. Max Burns, R-Sylvania, said decisions on “admissions, employment, promotion, work assignments, resource allocation and other fundamental decisions in whole or in part” are based on “race, color, sex, ethnicity, national origin, gender ideology or sexual orientation,” in a late Thursday night Senate session.
The comments drew the ire of Sen. David Lucas, D-Macon, who Burns called a friend.
“I used to be your friend,” Lucas said before questioning Burns and going to the well to oppose the bill.
“I am appalled that you have the mitigated gall to bring such a thing into this body,” Lucas said. “You’re drinking Trump Kool-Aid.”
Senate Democrats introduced multiple amendments. Sen. Nabilah Islam Parkes proposed the addition of a line that said, “Academic Freedom in the State of Georgia is under greater threat than ever. Please help.” The amendments were rejected and the bill passed 33-21.
It goes back to the House for reconsideration of its changes.
Tennessee Sen. Jack Johnson’s “Dismantle DEI Act” and “Dismantle DEI Departments Act” were given thumbs up by the Senate State and Local Government Committee and referred to the full Senate calendar.
Senate Bill 1083 prevents local governments and higher education institutions from making decisions based on diversity policies. State and local governments and higher education institutions would be prohibited from having diversity, equity and inclusion departments under Senate Bill 1084.
Sne. Jeff Yarbro, D-Nashville, said the bills are “taking out things that prohibit people from discriminating against people.
“I think we are creating a mess that serves very little purpose,” Yarbro said during discussion of the bills on Thursday.
Johnson said the Lee administration did not bring the bills. He did reference President Donald Trump’s “Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing” executive order issued on Jan. 20 as a reason for the bill.
“Diversity is a wonderful thing but diversity for diversity’s sake alone and making diversity the No. 1 priority over merit and over running an effective and efficient state government, I think that is wrong,” Johnson said.
The House version of Johnson’s bills, sponsored by Rep. Aron Maberry, R-Clarksville, were deferred to the Wednesday meeting of the House State and Local Government Committee.
