House approves governor’s preschool plan

NASHVILLE (AP) — The House voted Wednesday to pass the governor’s preschool initiative, despite concern from some lawmakers about using lottery money to fund it and unexpected costs down the road.

The “Voluntary Pre-K for Tennessee Act of 2005” passed 75-21, and is scheduled to be considered by the Senate Finance Committee next week.

“We have a great pre-K pilot program across this state, and this just makes it better,” said Rep. Leslie Winningham, D-Huntsville, and a sponsor of the bill.

The preschool proposal for at-risk 4-year-olds is one of the centerpieces of Gov. Phil Bredesen’s agenda for the year. He has proposed adding $25 million in lottery money to the $10 million currently allotted for pilot programs, with the hope of eventually making it universally available. The cost is expected to eventually be between $200 million to $300 million a year.

Lawmakers opposing the legislation say that’s a lot of money to dedicate down the road, considering the uncertainty of the state’s budget situation each year.

“It’s just going to come back to haunt us like other big government programs,” said Rep. Glen Casada, R-College Grove, who voted against the bill.

The legislation would allow the existing preschool programs to be expanded on a voluntary basis, and authorize school districts to contract with nonprofit and for-profit child care providers to operate preschool programs.

Critics contend the state shouldn’t be starting a new program while budget issues, such as TennCare, still remain unresolved. Others think it’s too early to start siphoning lottery money away from a fund they want to remain dedicated to college scholarships.

Rep. Chris Newton, R-Cleveland, said he supports the concept of the legislation but worries the amount of lottery scholarships may be jeopardized because of the pre-K appropriation.

“My concern is that by having an annual appropriation of $25 million, at some point in time in the future those scholarships that our young people in this state qualify for may be reduced,” Newton said.

Several attempts were made to amend the bill, but only one from Winningham succeeded. It enters language in the legislation that “appropriation from excess education lottery proceeds shall not exceed $25 million in any fiscal year.”

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On the Net:

Read HB2333/SB2317 at http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/