Gov. Bill Haslam’s plan to restructure higher education in Tennessee — called the FOCUS Act — is moving quickly through the many layers of the legislature. But after a half-dozen hearings, some lawmakers seem to be getting FOCUS fatigue.
It’s become a familiar scene: At most hearings, the committee or sub-committee voting on the bill asks lawmakers if they have any questions for Mike Krause with the governor’s office, who has been the main spokesman for the FOCUS act.
At the most recent discussion, during a Senate education committee hearing, Sen. Rusty Crowe, R-Johnson City, responded first.
“I think I’ve had plenty of discussion on this, and I’m about FOCUSed out,” he said. “I think most of us are fairly ready to do this.”
Krause did end up testifying for a short amount of time, answering questions from other lawmakers.
But even the plan’s critics were less energized. At a previous hearing, officials and students from Tennessee State University testified against the bill for a full half hour, and the committee room was packed with students.
Now, TSU president Glenda Glover told the Senate education committee, most of her concerns have been addressed.
“We’re down to just one issue. We pretty much have the assurances and the belief that the others can be worked out,” she said.
Her remaining concern is this: Once the six universities in the Tennessee Board of Regents have their own governing boards, they’ll each be competing individually with the entire UT system. She wants the state to have more of a role in keeping UT’s power in check.
The FOCUS Act still
has two more committees to go through before it makes it to the House and Senate floors.
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