By ZOË HAGGARD - zhaggard@t-g.com
The upcoming mid-term election ballot also has several amendments to the Tennessee State Constitution on it.
The amendments were brought up before the legislature a couple years ago, according to State Rep. Pat Marsh. They then have to be voted on three times before being put on the ballot.
“It has to receive more yes votes than there are in the governor’s race. So, if there’s 2 million votes in the governor’s race, then this has got to receive at least 2 million and 1, as I understand it,” he explained.
Marsh summed up, “I think voters should vote yes on all of them. It’s been debated in the House and Senate for a couple years.”
Amendment 1
Amendment 1 has been the most debated amendment, according to Marsh.
This would add a new section to article XI of the Tennessee Constitution, making it illegal for any person or entity to deny employment to any person because of his or her affiliation with any labor union or employee organization.
This makes industry leaders like Rep. Marsh excited to bring more industry to the state.
Essentially, this would ensure Tennessee is a “right to work state,” that is, a right to work in a union atmosphere or not to work in a union.
Marsh explained that if a company came in, an employee would not be forced to join the union.
“We’re just trying to codify that in the Constitution that we will remain a right to work state from now on into the future,” said Marsh. “It helps workers, and I think it helps industries and businesses want to come to Tennessee.”
However, this is unfair, according to Bedford County Democratic Chair Van Ayers, who says people should vote “no to Amendment 1.”
“If you work for a business that is unionized, essentially, you do not have to pay union dues. However, you will receive all the benefits that belong to a union,” he said. “It’s really unfair to some extent that somebody is relying upon a union for their employment, or benefits, or negotiating, and yet are not required by state statute to pay union dues.”
Passing an amendment like this, according to Ayers, doesn’t really help to recruit industry since most industries are looking for an educated workforce when moving to another area.
“If it is in the Constitution, it is going to be difficult to ever change it,” said Ayers.
Amendment 2
Amendment 2 is a bit long, but it defines the process for who takes over should the governor become sick or unable to be in office.
“Right now, there is nothing in the law or the Constitution that states what happens if the governor gets sick. We do have rules and regulations if the governor should die. There is a succession plan,” said Marsh.
The amendment states, “This amendment would add to article III, section 12 of the Tennessee Constitution a process for the temporary exercise of the powers and duties of the governor by the Speaker of the Senate—or the Speaker of the House if there is no Speaker of the Senate in office—when the governor is unable to discharge the powers and duties of the office of governor.”
The amendment explains that while the Speaker is temporarily taking on the powers and duties of the governor, the Speaker would not be required to resign as Speaker or as a member of the legislature.
The Speaker would not be able to preside as Speaker or vote as a member of the legislature. Also, the Speaker would not get the governor’s salary but would retain the Speaker’s salary.
The amendment would also “exempt a Speaker who is temporarily discharging the powers and duties of the governor from provisions in the Constitution that would otherwise prohibit the Speaker from exercising the powers of the governor and from simultaneously holding more than one state office.”
