An administration pledge to inform legislators in the future about any substantial state employee layoffs Tuesday defused a push to require legislative approval of any major dismissals.
Human Resources Commissioner Rebecca Hunter announced the official policy change in a memo distributed to lawmakers prior to a scheduled House State Government Committee hearing on HB1748. As approved earlier in a subcommittee, the bill would require specific legislative approval for any layoff of 50 or more state workers.
Haslam had adamantly denounced the bill as an example of legislators “taking tools out of our hands” that are needed by an executive trying to manage state government while holding down costs.
After extended discussion and Hunter’s appearance before the committee, Rep. Matthew Hill, R-Jonesborough, announced he would drop his push for passage of the legislation.
“When someone offers you an olive branch, you don’t set it on fire,” Hill said afterward.
Hill characterized adoption of the newly-announced administration policy as a “100 percent victory,” saying the goal all along has been to keep legislators informed and provide transparency.
Last year, many lawmakers were surprised when Gov. Bill Haslam’s administration dismissed 70 Department of Labor and Workforce Development workers shortly after the legislative session was adjourned for the year.
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