NASHVILLE _ Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey on Saturday accused House leaders of going back on an agreement that called for completing their annual legislative session over the weekend.
"I thought we had an agreement we were going to come back at 9 a.m. today and work until we finish, but obviously that didn't happen," Speaker Ramsey said. "They adjourned until next Tuesday. I think that surprised all of us. But that's not the first agreement we had with the House that they backed up on this year."
Five weeks after their planned adjournment date of April 30, lawmakers still are struggling to finish their work. They passed a budget Friday after a weeks-long impasse.
Late Friday night, House members cast five different votes dealing with whether to come back to work on Saturday or Tuesday. House Republican leaders pushed for Saturday while Democrats pushed for Tuesday.
"Aren't you guys proud that people can see us on TV now?" House Speaker Kent Williams, the independent from Elizabethton, told colleagues.
Said Rep. David Hawk, R-Greeneville: "Every day we're here it costs more and more taxpayers' money."
The House eventually voted 49-41 to return Tuesday at 2 p.m.