Nearly everyone in America has benefited from the philanthropic efforts of Dolly Parton.

Back in 2020, the “Jolene” singer donated $1 million to fund research that led to the development of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. She has also provided much-needed funds for families affected by disasters and supported pediatric healthcare efforts in Tennessee.

But perhaps the program that has had the biggest impact is Parton’s Imagination Library. Founded in 1995, children under 5 are sent free, age-appropriate books every month with the goal of helping kids develop a love of reading and preparing them for school. It has since blossomed into a worldwide effort.

But in Kentucky, one state senator wanted to change how this program is funded. It would have affected its future in the state.

A Resolution Was Filed to Increase Participation in Dolly Parton’s Program

Back in January, Democratic Senator Cassie Chambers Armstrong filed a joint resolution in the Senate to help fund ways to increase the state’s participation in Parton’s program.

Then, on Wednesday, as reported by WKYT, Republican Senator Michael Nemes filed an amendment to prevent the state’s general fund from being used to finance the Imagination Library.

This caused an uproar among lawmakers. Kentucky’s governor, Andy Beshear, said the amendment would cause the program “to collapse.”

“It’s a pretty simple question. Do you want all kids in the commonwealth to have books regularly sent to them to read, or not? I think it’s a pretty simple question,” Beshear said.

The state’s Democratic Party Chairman, Colmon Eldredge, also released a statement on the amendment.

“This is approaching comic book levels of cartoon villainy,” it read. “Why on earth would Senate Republicans defund an Imagination Library program started by Dolly Parton that helps inspire a love of reading for Kentucky kids?”

Nemes Revoked the Amendment

Several days after filing the amendment, Nemes then revoked it. As reported by Fox 56, the state senator said he planned to vote in favor of the resolution. But he raised concerns about the books being sent to kids through Parton’s program.

“I want to make a point that they gave me five books as examples. Fine books. I looked at them. They’re all made in China,” Nemes said.

He added that he is a supporter of the American workforce. He wanted lawmakers to push for the books that Parton’s program sends to children to be made in America. Nemes was also concerned that books made outside the United States could be written in other languages in the future.

He said, “I hope…that these books will then become made in America and also not start to be written in Chinese also.”