NASHVILLE - The House voted 88-4 this morning to boost the minimum time armed robbers serve in prison from about 2.5 years to nearly six years.
The bill, sponsored by House Minority Leader Gary Odom, D-Nashville, requires people convicted of aggravated robbery with a weapon to serve at least 85 percent of their sentences. The current minimum is 30 percent.
In a time of depressed state revenues, Rep. Odom's House Bill 2813 pays for the stiffer punishments by reducing jail time for 19 non-violent crimes, including passing worthless checks and shoplifting.
But the bill stalled Monday when Rep. Matthew Hill, R-Jonesborough, objected to changing the sentences for the non-violent crimes and tried to remove several from the bill.
Rep. Odom accused Rep. Hill of political grandstanding and charged that his amendment would kill the legislation because of its additional cost.
Rep. Hill withdrew the amendment today. The bill remains in the Senate.