Tennessee Republicans - OWNED
Thread started by
JB at 01.15.09 - 8:40 am
This has nothing to do with bikes, but it'll probably make some of you laugh.
http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/stories/2009/01/12/daily19.html?t=printable
Tennessee Legislature opens session with surprise vote
Nashville Business Journal - by Jeannie Naujeck Staff Writer
Media
A Republican took over as Speaker of the House of Representatives today, but not the one anybody expected.
On opening day of the 106th General Assembly, Democrats outmaneuvered Republicans to seat Kent Williams, a Republican who is apparently sympathetic to Democrats and was immediately branded by the GOP as a liar who betrayed his party and his constituents.
Williams, R-Carter County, voted for himself in the surprise speaker election and got all 49 Democratic votes, edging him over Jason Mumpower, R-Bristol.
He is the first Republican speaker in 40 years, but it was a stunning upset for the GOP, who booed loudly.
Mumpower was widely expected to garner all 50 Republican votes and take over the Republican Speaker post from Jimmy Naifeh, D-Covington, who has held the post since 1991. He had gotten pledges from all 50 Republicans shortly after the Nov. 4 election that they would vote for a Republican speaker.
But the pledge did not specify who that Republican should be. According to a text of the pledge, the House Republican Caucus members committed only to “vote for a Republican for Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives” as well as a Republican Speaker Pro Tempore.
Williams apparently sided with Democrats who knew that Naifeh could not pull in the one Republican vote he needed to keep his post.
During the proceedings, Republicans nominated Mumpower and called for an end to the nominations. Gary Odom, D-Nashville, challenged the motions and made the surprise nomination of Williams. Then, all 49 Democrats voted for Williams — and so did he, to the dismay of the rest of the GOP. Naifeh called the vote official, and Williams took his oath.
“Kent Williams has betrayed his constituents and the people of Carter County in breaking his pledge — his signed oath — to vote for the nominee of the Republican caucus for Speaker of the House,” says Tennessee Republican Party Chairwoman Robin Smith.
“He lied, in a quest for personal power, in league with Democrat Speaker Jimmy Naifeh and House Minority Leader Gary Odom, in their desire to retain power despite the results of the 2008 elections.”
Both the House and Senate were sworn in today in a session called “historic.” It is the first time since the post-Civil War Reconstruction era that both chambers of the Tennessee Legislature have been controlled by Republicans.
Senate Speaker and Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, R-Blountville, retained his post in the 19-14 GOP-controlled Senate.
And in the end, Republicans did control the House. But it’s clear their majority is far from lockstep agreement.
jnaujeck@bizjournals.com | 846-4251
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