Tennessee lawmaker Kerry Roberts calls for removal of higher education

NASHVILLE — A Republican Tennessee lawmaker says he supports getting rid of higher education because he argues it would cut off the “liberal breeding ground.”

Sen. Kerry Roberts of Springfield called for eliminating higher education while speaking about attending a recent abortion legislative hearing on his conservative radio talk show on Sept. 2.

Kerry Roberts proposes getting ride of higher ed because it would “save America”. He also questions fed. aid to colleges/universities. Guess he wasn’t talking about his alma mater, Lipscomb Univ, which was awarded $52 million in federal awards last year. https://t.co/wRxXz9qSIt

— Josh Colfer (@jrcolfer) September 10, 2019

Roberts specifically called out one activist who testified in favor of protecting abortion rights. He asserted without evidence that the woman’s beliefs were a “product of higher education” and claimed that getting rid of higher education would “save America.”

The senator did not immediately respond to a request for further elaboration.

NEW: TN GOP State Senator @kerryeroberts calls for us to "GET RID OF HIGHER EDUCATION" to "SAVE AMERICA" after the #TNAbortionBan hearings, because he says that's where Cherisse Scott of @SisterReach and others learn to support policies he doesn't like.pic.twitter.com/JGitapqrnV

— The Tennessee Holler (@TheTNHoller) September 9, 2019

Roberts also questioned funding higher education with tax dollars. He voted in favor of the state’s $38.5 billion budget earlier this year, which included money for colleges and universities.