Tennessee: Greatest show in the state

NASHVILLE — As charges openly fly in the state House over deception, sexual harassment, extortion and more, the outwardly prim-and-proper chamber in recent weeks has started to take on qualities more akin to a circus sideshow, observers say.

The 99-member House has been in tumult since Democrats, who lost their majority in November elections, successfully plotted behind the scenes with maverick Republican Kent Williams. The 49 Democrats joined with the Elizabethton lawmaker to elect him speaker Jan. 13 in a 50-49 victory over Majority Leader Jason Mumpower, R-Bristol.

“It’s certainly, from an entertainment point of view, pretty high on the scale,” said John Geer, Vanderbilt University political science professor. “There’s certainly some fallout from the consequences of Williams being chosen as speaker. I think people are (miffed) and a few of the gloves are being dropped.”

Quipped House Democratic Caucus Chairman Mike Turner, D-Nashville: “We’re talking to ABC about a reality show up here.”

After the election, Rep. Mumpower and other Republicans accused the new speaker of lying to them.

“What a mess!” said Middle Tennessee State University Honors College Dean John Vile, a political science professor.

“It’s an example of getting a short-term political advantage that results in just poisoning the well for the rest of the session,” Dr. Vile said. “There are 49 people in that body (Republicans) who are absolutely convinced that he (Williams) lied to them and sold them out. Why would he expect that things are going to go smoothly?”

Here’s a partial recap of what has transpired since Rep. Williams’ election:

Rep. Mumpower released, at the request of a blogger and reporters, a secret memo he wrote detailing his informal handling of an alleged 2007 sexual harassment charge made by Rep. Susan Lynn, R-Mount Juliet, against Rep. Williams.

Rep. Williams said he never harassed anyone. That triggered an ethics complaint by longtime Williams antagonist Rep. Brian Kelsey, R-Germantown, who sought to oust the speaker for lying.

Last week, the 12-member Ethics Committee, comprised of six Democrats and six Republicans, including Rep. Mumpower, refused to move on the complaint. Even as he began complaining that the decision was a “mockery of ethics,” Rep. Kelsey was put on the defensive by the release of a text message he sent to a Williams aide.

In it, Rep. Kelsey offered to reconcile differences with the speaker “if” Rep. Williams would discuss a committee chairmanship appointment. House Minority Leader Gary Odom, D-Nashville, accused Rep. Kelsey of “extortion.” Speaker Williams’ office forwarded the text message to the Davidson County district attorney’s office for a review.

Rep. Kelsey charged that extortion “is trying to punish the one member of the House who is trying to enforce ethics complaints. That’s an all-new low from the Democratic leader, who’s being paid by the Tennessee Optometric Association while he votes on bills that affect the group.”

Rep. Odom countered that Mr. Kelsey “wants to divert attention from the idiocy he has been engaged in, (and) what I consider the unethical and possibly illegal activities.”

Pointing out that Mr. Kelsey is an attorney, Mr. Odom said, “I challenge him today to release the names of the clients represented by his law firm in Memphis. And we’ll compare how many (of Kelsey’s clients) legislative issues are considered by the General Assembly compared with the ones that impact my employer.”

Tennessee Common Cause’s Dick Williams, no relation to the speaker, said that the House “unfortunately” has taken on a circuslike atmosphere. He worries how the fighting will affect Speaker Williams’ stated intentions to push the House into operating in a more bipartisan fashion.

The speaker recently named seven Republicans and six Democrats to chair the 13 standing committees. All but two committees have been evenly split between Democrats and Republicans.

Mr. Williams said he fears the “waters have been poisoned” by what has transpired.

“I hope for the sake of the state that most everybody, if not everybody, can move forward,” he said.

Some area Republicans are ready to move on.

“I’m ready to get down to business for the state of Tennessee,” Rep. Vince Dean, R-East Ridge, said last week during a panel discussion with Chattanooga Times Free Press reporters and editors.

Rep. Kevin Brooks, R-Cleveland, agreed, saying voters “elected us not to wallow. They elected us to govern.”

Rep. Mike Bell, R-Riceville, said Republicans have “trust issues” with Speaker Williams.

“I believe what happened was so traumatic, so much of a betrayal that it will take time to rebuild those trust issues,” he said.

Vanderbilt’s Dr. Geer said the state’s projected shortfall of as much as $900 million this year will force legislators to “settle down.”

“But they’re going to start realizing they’ve got to get back to governing or otherwise they’re all going to face re-election battles they all hadn’t planned on because the public won’t be patient with this for very long,” he said.