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.”