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State and Local Politics Blog

Mark White Needs to Go: Help Us Flip District 83

Future901 Friends,

In 2018, Rep. Mark White (Dist. 83) promised the voters that he would oppose vouchers.  Shelby County residents were understandably concerned that the tax dollars being paid to support SCS would be looted for private schools or worse to go to out-of-state, for-profit online groups.  Mark White claimed that he would not support the ETA law while running for re-election to the House, because it would take away the much-needed funds of Shelby County Public Schools. Unfortunately, Mark White said one thing to his constituents and then did something completely different in Nashville.  The voucher vote is the most consequential betrayal from White, but it is consistent with someone who has, unfortunately, morphed into a Casada- Republican.  He cannot be trusted to represent Shelby County and it is time for him to go.

Importantly, Mark White’s betrayal on vouchers is particularly jarring given how much power he had to stop that bill and other bad bill’s from seeing the light of day.  Originally, the Chairmanship of the Education Committee in the House was held by David Byrd (R).  When credible allegations emerged that Byrd had sexually assaulted three of his former students, GOP leadership removed him from the post and installed Mark White instead.  As Chair, White admits that he received legislative “kill lists” from (now disgraced, former) Speaker Casada which would penalize the legislation of Casada’s rivals or promote the legislation favored by the Speaker.  For what it’s worth, when the kill list became public White denies that he ever acted upon them.  To put it mildly, it is unlikely that Casada would appoint a Chair that wasn’t on board with his political machine.

As Education Committee Chair, White allowed a bill to advance that would allow for school staff to bring guns to school.  Consistent with his pattern, White made this a voice vote so that voters couldn’t see who voted for the bill.  He then went to the press and spoke about how much he “opposed” the bill he just passed out of his committee. 

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On issue after issue, Mark White has been out of step with Shelby County.  After his voucher betrayal, the scariest position that he has taken is to support the “block granting” of TennCare.  We would be the first state in the country to do this and no details have been provided how the children, disabled and elderly on TennCare would be affected by this.  What is known is that the proposal will affect $7.5 billion in state funds and the Governor has argued that giving him control will let him “save” $1 billion.  “Save” in this context means either benefit cuts to recipients or payment cuts to providers.  Mark White signing off on such a sweeping plan that has absolutely no details and such clear risk to his constituents constitutes legislative malpractice.

Similarly, White has taken contradictory positions on TennCare expansion.  As hospitals close around the state and Shelby County hospitals struggle with how to deal with the high level of uninsured patients, Mark White has opposed Medicaid (TennCare) expansion.  Turning down $1.4 billion annually has cost Shelby County jobs, resources and, most importantly, lives.  More recently White has argued that he would have supported Gov. Haslam’s efforts to expand TennCare.  In classic Mark White fashion, he was not a voice advocating for the bill when it would have matter, only now that he faces a tough reelection fight.

When Shelby County sought to control how to handle marijuana convictions, Mark White supported state efforts to limit local law enforcement’s discretion.  More gallingly, he opposes allowing for physician prescribed cannabis for medicinal purposes, despite 80% public support and a clear benefit in tackling the opiate crisis.

Finally, Future901 seeks to engage voters and encourage voter participation.  We feel this is critical as Tennessee is consistently at the bottom of state for voter participation.  For us, it was deeply offensive for the Legislature (including Mark White) to impose potential criminal penalties for clerical errors made by groups that engaged in voter registration drives.  Though it may not have the life and death effect of his TennCare positions, White’s support of this bill is an abdication of his oath to support everyone’s Constitutional right to the vote.   

It is time for White’s day in the House of Representatives to come to an end. You can help Future901 flip White’s seat, District 83, by supporting our 2020 project. Now is the time to act.

Robert Donati