Two national groups, Americans for Prosperity and the American Federation for Children, spent a significant amount on lobbying in Tennessee during the legislative session this year. Both groups were pushing for a statewide private school voucher plan, with a combined total of around $1.125 million spent on lobbying expenses. On the other side of the issue, the Tennessee Education Association, which opposed vouchers, spent $250,000 on lobbying efforts.
Americans for Prosperity and the American Federation for Children are both backed by wealthy individuals, including Charles Koch and the Walton family. These groups also spent over $4.5 million in the 2024 primaries supporting pro-voucher Republican candidates through independent expenditures. The use of dark money political organizations and loopholes in campaign finance rules allowed these groups to keep some donation details hidden from the public.
In addition to the private school voucher debate, other top spenders on lobbying included hospital and healthcare groups. The Center for Individual Freedom, HCA Healthcare, and the Tennessee Hospital Association were among the top spenders in the debate about state board approval of new hospitals. HCA, the largest for-profit hospital chain in the U.S., stands to benefit from potential changes to the certificate of need law, which has been a point of contention in Tennessee for years.
Overall, lobbying expenditures in Tennessee have seen an increase in 2024 compared to previous years, with various groups advocating for their interests in the state’s legislative process.
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Photo credit tennesseelookout.com
