Topic: John Deberry

Legislators discuss changing school start date; could save state money

August 25, 2009 |

Bi-Partisan group of lawmakers pledge to examine data and research

Nashville – Letting school officials set the first day of the school year in early-August may be costing Tennessee $189 million in consumer spending, $9.72 million in total new state tax revenue, $5.5 million in total local tax revenue, $72.92 million in new worker income and the potential to create 2,619 new jobs, according to a recent economic analysis.

“We are not asking to have scheduling control over the school year, just one day out of 180,” said Rep. Bill Dunn, Knoxville. “School officials will set all holidays, vacation days, work days, semester end dates and the last day of school.”

Lawmakers are discussing the possibility of moving the school start date, and hope during the next few months they can reach agreements with school officials.

“As lawmakers, we are entrusted with both the financial success as well as academic success of our educational system. In these difficult times, we must use current data and adequate analysis to determine if we are giving our taxpayers the best on their investment; therefore, we must carefully examine the feasibility of beginning the school year in the middle of the summer when all current analysis concludes that this is neither good for the student or taxpayer,” said Rep. John DeBerry, Memphis. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Education | No Comments

Anti-gay adoption bill ignores existing applicant shortage

By David W. Shelton | February 21, 2009 |

Despite the budget shortfall and other major problems that the Tennessee state legislature must face, anti-gay and other “morality” bills have found their way into consideration by lawmakers. Despite a shortage of couples and singles willing to adopt, a new bill, HB 0605/*SB 0078, the companion bills from Senator Paul Stanley’s (R-Cordova) and Rep. John Deberry (R-Memphis), would deny adoption of a minor to anyone who’s in a sexual relationship other than being legally married.

This isn’t the first time they’ve attempted such legislation, either. Senator Stanley and Rep. John Deberry were the same people who filed a more strictly anti-gay adoption bill last year, which failed. They also had a similar bill which would prevent unmarried opposite-sex couples from adopting. It foundered as well. This new bill is a combination of both of the previous bills.

Apparently, not only do bad ideas come from the same legislators, but the same bad ideas come from the same legislators. If it doesn’t pass the first time, then try, try, again. One doesn’t have to stretch the imagination too far to observe the visceral and sensitive nature of same-sex relationships and homosexuality in general. Just what do they hope to accomplish? «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: News, Opinion, Politics, Spirituality | 2 Comments

Anti-gay adoption bill filed in Tennessee

By David W. Shelton | January 31, 2008 |

2/4/2009 — Editor’s note: This is not the bill filed January 29, 2009. For details about that bill, please click here. This article was written in response to a similar bill filed in January of 2008.

Discriminatory legislation should be rejected

Yesterday, Rep. John Deberry (D-Memphis) and Senator Paul Stanley (R-Memphis) filed companion bills that would prohibit “any individual who is cohabitating in a sexual relationship outside of a marriage that is valid under the constitution and laws of this state from adopting a minor.”

The companion bills are SB3910 and HB3713. It is more than a little disturbing to realize that people believe–even in today’s world– that gay and lesbian people can not be (or already are) great parents. I think it goes deeper than that. Gay and lesbian people have consistently been the great whipping boys (and girls) of conservative neocons who appeal to a deep hatred for the gay community to help boost their own popularity. Sadly, this kind of contempt goes far beyond mere religious views.

Clarksville’s own representative, Rep. Joe Pitts, stands in stark contrast to Deberry and Stanley. Pitts has sponsored or co-sponsored several bills that directly affect a real threat to our children– child sexual offenders– which I applaud. These predators should be identified, deterred, and imprisoned at all cost. These vile predators are the real threats to our children, not loving, committed gay and lesbian people who want to provide safe homes for children. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Opinion | 5 Comments

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