ClarksvilleNow.com Reporting
news@clarksvillenow.com
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A bill designed to help veterans and their spouses find employment was defeated in the Consumer and Human Resources subcommittee of the Tennessee House of Representatives this week.
The bill, sponsored by Representative Joe Pitts (D-Clarksville), would have enabled private employers to create written policies giving preference in hiring honorably discharged veterans, their spouses, widows, and widowers.
The bill failed by a quick voice vote with no questions or discussion by the committee, according to Pitts. “It is always greatly disappointing when we miss an opportunity to help our veterans and their families, and yesterday it was clear some members of the committee were not in the mood to help,” Pitts said. “Private employers would be authorized but not required to enact preferences and it could have helped thousands of veterans across the state. Small business groups lobbied against this legislation even though it would have protected employers from running afoul of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.”
While the legislation is dead for the 2015 session of the Tennessee General Assembly, those who support the issue will continue to push for passage will continue. “I remain committed to seeing this bill passed, if not this year then next year,” said Pitts. “Stating we ‘support our veterans’ is lip service and is not enough.”