Yesterday August 28 and Today August 29, 2023 the Tennessee State House of Representatives was a Circus of 24 with (in my humble opinion) one puppet master. NO, it was NOT TN Speaker Cameron Sexton and the 74 Republicans! As the Session began on August 21, 2023 the TN House passed Rules of Decorum for the Extraordinary Special Session, it does not matter if the Democrats voted against the rules, even objecting to the rules. They knew the Rules as they were provided with when the Rules were passed. One of the Rules, if you are called out of order twice in one day, you will become silenced for the remainder of that day. The lesson here is do not be out of order twice in one day and your voice for 52,000 Tennessee citizens will not be silenced for one day of session.
Lo and behold, Rep. Justin Jones, District 52 was ruled out of order twice on Monday and it was taken to the body if he should be silenced for the day. So what did the other 23 Democrats do? They walked out, they walked out in NOT representing the citizens they pledged to represent. So, the Democrats let the actions of one member silence everyone of them.
Karen Camper, District 87; John Ray Clemmons, District 55; Bob Freeman, District 56; Anthony Davis for the former Bill Beck, District 51; Gloria Johnson, District 90; Vincent Dixie, District 54; Jesse Chism, District 85; Justin Pearson, District 86; Yusuf Hukeem, District 28; G.A. Hardaway, District 93; Torrey Harris, District 91; Ronnie Glenn, District 67; Darren Jernigan, District 60; Jason Powell, District 53; Harold Love, Jr., District 58, Sam McKenzie, District 15; Larry Miller, District 88; Bo Mitchell, District 50; Antonio Parkinson, District 98; Caleb Hemmer, District 59; Johnny Shaw, District 80; Dwayne Thompson, District 96 and Joe Towns, Jr., District 84 all silent for the remainder of the day.
In fact, freshman Hemmer had a bill on the house calendar yesterday, in walking out, Hemmer was not there to present his bill, when it was called. Republican Leader William Lamberth rightfully moved to move Hemmer’s bill to the table. So, Hemmer walked out on legislation that legislative staff and committee members worked on just because he answers to Jones and not his constituents or the greater good of citizens of Tennessee, it was wasted time and effort.
When the Democrats decided to show up today Tuesday August 29, 2023, the Senate had concurred with appropriations and bills that the House had modified. So, the House finished the business. The Democrats musta wanted to talk, but the work was done. Once the session adjourned, Pearson and Jones headed toward the front of the House where the Speaker had to come walk out. Pearson and the Pearson friendly media say that the Speaker slammed Pearson. The view from News Channel 5 photog that I screen recorded from News Channel 5’s tweet, shows that Pearson was the aggressor. Speaker Sexton is a former Oak Ridge High basketball player, I am sure he has taken a harder charge than what Pearson was attempting to pull off today. Also, Pearson might wanna make sure next time that he isn’t about to walk into the wall of Scott Cepicky, (Cepicky is rather tall and broad). It does appear Rep. Jason Zachary backs into Pearson, but not the Speaker or anyone else. I am believing from other video that I saw Lamberth schooled Pearson on proper decorum. Both of these young men (Pearson and Jones), need decorum classes, in my humble opinion. If decorum classes are a thing. Maturity normally does that in East Tennessee.
Watch my screen recording of News Channel 5 video here (it repeats more than a couple times)
As for TN Governor Bill Lee, who called the Extraordinary Special Session. He said this afternoon, progress has been made. Four of the Administrations bills passed, improvement to background checks, money to mental health and human trafficking.
As for TN Democrat Leader Karen Camper, she said nothing was done. Well, Rep. Camper when you walk out and do nothing, your perspective is what your efforts produced.
Opinion and Editorial Comment are mine, feel free to make it your own.
