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"Tennessee is so close:" President Trump pushes Tenn. lawmakers on voucher bill

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(WVLT/AP) -- The President of the United States took to social media on Wednesday night to encourage Tennessee lawmakers to pass a measure on school vouchers.

Governor Bill Lee's education savings account proposal is a voucher-style program that would let families use up to $7,300 in public funds to pay for private school tuition and other expenses.

On Tuesday, the Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada refused to accept a 49-49 vote tally that would have spiked the voucher bill. Instead, the vote was not declared official for nearly 40 minutes until Casada had successfully lobbied a fellow Republican, Rep. Jason Zachary, of Knoxville, to change his vote on the electronic tally board, passing the measure 50-48.

The last-minute switch was secured behind closed doors on a House patio, where reporters could not go, with Casada, Zachary and other aides and lawmakers.

On Wednesday night, President Trump tweeted,

"The Great State of Tennessee is so close to passing School Choice."

"All of our Nation's children, regardless of background, deserve a shot at achieving the American Dream! Time to get this done, so important!"
he continued.

In Tennessee, the existing program is fairly small. Parents of students with certain disabilities can withdraw their children from public school and then receive up to $6,000 to pay for private educational services.