Bill Haslam

NASHVILLE - Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris, R-Collierville, said today he has pulled Republican Gov. Bill Haslam's school voucher bill from consideration today because GOP members of the Senate Education Committee were determined to expand it.

"I have just by letter hand-delivered to the [Education Committee] chair advised the committee that the bill will not advance this year," Norris told reporters late this afternoon.

Norris, who was carrying the governor's bill, said he met with Haslam earlier after receiving "word that there would be more amendments all of which attempted to broaden the governor's initiative beyond what he feels is appropriate."

It was unclear whether Education Committee Chairman Dolores Gresham, R-Somerville, and Sen. Brian Kelsey, R-Germantown, would seek to push their own voucher bill. Norris noted today was scheduled to be the committee's last day of meetings.