NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Governor Bill Haslam is weighing both an increase in funding for the state's public pre-kindergarten program and creating a school voucher system in Tennessee, though the Republican said he does not consider the two proposals to be linked.
The governor told The Associated Press after a recent groundbreaking event outside Nashville that while both measures face heavy opposition among factions of lawmakers, he doesn't see one as providing political cover for the other.
Haslam said his administration was delving into various studies detailing the pros and cons of both pre-K and vouchers.
"Our job is to wade into the middle of that and see if it works for Tennessee," said Haslam.
Republicans in the Legislature have traditionally been more supportive of voucher programs, while voicing more skepticism about pre-K.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
