Tennessee

"Advancing through the state Legislature is a bill (SB 0132 and HB 0261) that would cut one-third of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families benefits to families whose kids make poor grades or skip school too much. It smacks of a crush-the-weak fascism, a spit-on-you disdain for the poor, and reveals an obliviousness to the complexities of 21st century poverty."

"Putting food on the table could soon depend on your child's report card in Tennessee, where the state legislature is considering a bill that would make state assistance to needy families contingent upon children's school performance."

"The Wilson County Children's Music Association will pattern itself after similar programs in bigger cities that provide musical opportunities for underprivileged youth."

"Despite being told that Gov. Bill Haslam is now flatly opposed to a bill that would cut welfare benefits to parents of children failing in school, Republican legislators unanimously backed the measure in a House committee on Tuesday."

"The head of the state Democratic Party on Monday attacked a Republican lawmaker's bill that seeks to cut cash benefits for parents on welfare whose children don't attend or do poorly in school. Chairman Roy Herron said the bill, sponsored by Sen. Stacey Campfield, R-Knoxville, would be named Starve the Children' and denounced the measure as perhaps the worst bill yet from the radical Republicans.'"

"The measure would cut monthly benefits under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program if a child fails to maintain satisfactory academic progress.' Supporters noted that those cuts could be avoided if parents attend conferences with teachers, take parenting classes or enroll their children in tutoring programs or summer school."