Last week we had some unexpected fireworks in the Texas State House of Representatives, where the Republicans have a narrow numeric edge but a coalition of Democrats and non-insane Republicans joined together to kick out long-time, thuggish Speaker Tom Craddick in favor of a more moderate Republican. Today, a very similar scenario played out on in the Tennessee House of Representatives.
The Democrats have long held the Tennessee House, and the GOP’s pickup of the chamber (by a 50-49 margin) was one of the few surprises on the state legislative front in the 2008 election. Tennesseans seemed resigned to at least two years of wingnuts-gone-wild, under the leadership of House Republican leader Jason Mumpower (not to be confused with one of SSP’s favorite punching bags, eccentric failed NC-11 candidate Carl Mumpower).
However, outgoing Democratic Speaker Jimmy Naifeh came up with a bright idea: promote Kent Williams, probably the most moderate member of the GOP caucus, as Speaker. The result: Williams beat Mumpower by a vote of 50-49 (all the Democrats, plus Williams himself). While Williams will continue to be a Republican, he promises that a number of committee chairs will be Democrats.
Tennessee Republicans, in the aftermath, conducted themselves with their usual level of decorum and graciousness:
Speaker Williams said he heard expletives being used by fellow Republicans. He said he still considers himself a Republican and emphasized that he would be fair to Republicans and Democrats. He predicted that history will show that this will be a “great thing” for the state.
When state Rep. Gerald McCormick, R-Chattanooga, approached the new Speaker, Rep. Williams warned him that if he used “the f-word,” he would be thrown out.
Rep. McCormick responded by telling the new Speaker that he is a “disgrace to the state. You are a disgrace to the state.”
http://tnga.granicus.com/Media…
It’s taking forever to load and I’m a decent way in, I may just go to Dinner, pause it, and watch it when I come back.
Two deep red states now under less-insane Republican rule. Plus, Williams will know who is responsible for his power.
or at least the threat of it happens a lot. In New York for instance a few “Democrats” are threatening to ally with Republicans in order to install one of themselves as majority leader.
This is good for Tennessee though, as Republicans stand a good chance of picking up the governor seat in 2010. However, we may very well lose more seats by then and Jason Mumpower may get the last laugh.
it sucks that we lost the Tennessee House in the first place, I’m glad to see that the state parties are pretty good at parliamentary maneuvers like this
http://www.ourcampaigns.com/Ca…
The outgoing Democratic state house speaker Jimmy Naifeh had held that job for 18 years, since 1991. Prior to that he was house majority leader for 12 years, since 1979. Thirty consecutive years in the Tennessee House leadership is friggin amazing.
Of course, that’s politics for you.
I would say that this means Republican control of the chamber is precarious and subject to change next term..
that was so graciously posted in the first comment on this thread.
If you go to the link, the new speaker starts speaking (after the swearing-in)1:45:40 into the video, which is 3:36:10 long. This will save you some time in finding the juicy stuff.
And the first thing that Speaker Williams said (upon being booed before even the first word was out of his mouth) was: “that’s ok, that’s ok” and then “I would appreciate if…all the members would just hear me out” … “I’m a republican, probably not for much longer, because you guys are probably goin to kick me out, but…I love this state, I love the people of this state, and today is a historical day in Tennessee”
1:47:30
“And today I realize the hurt and disappointment of a lot of members of my party, especially out leader Jason Mumpower. But today is not about Kent Williams, it’s not about speaker Naifee and it’s not about Jason Mumpower. It’s not about democrats and republicans. Today is about change, a change that we need not only here in the state of TN, but a change we need throughout our country. We need to utilize the talents of all the members of this general assembly, not just the democratic party and not just the republican party. For too many years, we’ve had talented representatives sit on the sidelines, without any input into legislation, a lot of legislation we want to vote on, (it) don’t get the chance. That’s gonna change. By utlizing the talents of both parties.We’re gonna make sure that we work for the people of TN” (light applause)
More on the video..