TN’s Stacey Campfield Wants to Let Struggling Children Go Hungry

If you follow my posts you’ll know how much I detest the idiocy that is Stacey Campfield, a Republican member of the Tennessee Senate. I owe a significant “tip of the hat” to Mamapundit.com for making me aware of this story. Be sure to visit her blog!

Well, Campfield is at it again. Now he is proposing, and mentions on his own blog, Senate Bill 0132 which would create a system to reduce the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families payments for recipients whose children fail to maintain satisfactory progress in school… so, if your child had trouble in school, your family doesn’t get to eat. The TNReport website features a video in which Campfield expresses his idea in his own words.

One reader commented on Campfield’s blog post, asking, “Is it true that you are pushing to end food assistance to those families who have children who are failing school? That’s what’s being reported. Just trying to get the facts. – Tom Cogburn” Campfield replied, “No, the bill will not remove benefits from anyone as long as their kids don’t quit school, skip a ton or just start failing most of their classes.” As Mamapundit.com points out, Mr. Campfield’s poor writing skills might put him at risk for losing funding as well. And a follow-up comment by another reader points out that Campfield’s “No” means “Yes”: “I’m pretty sure that’s what Tom Cogburn was asking you. – Deron Fetz”

Campfield mistakenly thinks that punishing people by taking away their financial assistance is the answer to Tennessee’s education and poverty problems. Not to diminish Tennessee’s poverty concerns, but according to the US Census, “persons below poverty level, 2007-2011” was 16.9%. That is just 2.6% higher than the U.S. average. The median household income is $43,989 with home owners accounting for 69% of all residents (3% better than the national average) and 83.2% of the state is a high school graduate or higher (percent of persons age 25+, 2007-2011). Not too shabby.

So why is Campfield attacking impoverished families and, in particular, those whose children are suffering in school? That’s a very good question that Mr. Campfield should answer immediately before anyone in power considers backing his shenanigans any further.

Ask him via email at rep.stacey.campfield@legislature.state.tn.us which is the address posted on his blog’s profile page. Or catch up with him on his Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/stacey.campfield.5.

Or try the following contact information, pulled from the official Tennessee General Assembly website:

Senator Stacey Campfield, R-Knoxville
District address
2011 Flagler
Knoxville, TN 37912

Nashville address
301 6th Avenue North
Suite 317 War Memorial Bldg.
Nashville, TN 37243
Phone (615) 741-1766
sen.stacey.campfield@capitol.tn.gov

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About the author

I’m Tommy, a writer and storyteller who works in marketing for the arts and cultural communities. I’m the author of Mabel Stanley and the Town That Was Built All Wrong, a fun and heartfelt book, and I’m currently working on a novel about self-discovery and the complexities of memory. Writing is a big part of my life, but I also enjoy creating experiences that bring people together, which is why my husband, Matt, and I co-run the online store Have Fun Spread Joy. It’s all about embracing the playful side of life and giving back along the way. I’m married to Matt, and we share our home with our two pets, Zoey (the cat) and Dixie (the dog). When I’m not writing, working on our store, or doing marketing for the arts, I like to dive into theater, something I want to get more involved with over time. I was diagnosed with ADHD, and while it comes with its own set of challenges, it also gives me a unique perspective that I try to channel into everything I do. Whether it’s writing, working on creative projects, or finding ways to spread joy, I’m all about making a lasting impact in whatever I do.

Tommy Karr