NASHVILLE - House Speaker Kent Williams said today the General Assembly likely would have already passed the state budget but for the personal political ambitions of Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey and several other senators running for higher office.
"I think in the House we're trying to do what's responsible for the people of the state of Tennessee, and I think in the Senate it's more politics," Rep. Williams told members of the Shelby County legislative delegation today. "I hate to say that it's politics."
But he went on to say, "I guarantee that if we didn't have members running for governor, (and) Congress, we probably would have already passed this budget."
The speaker's comments to Shelby County lawmakers were recorded by the Commercial Appeal newspaper in Memphis.
Lt. Gov. Ramsey, who is the also the Senate speaker, is seeking the GOP gubernatorial nomination and is in a three-man contest. Senate Republican Caucus Chairman Diane Black, R-Gallatin, and Sen. Jim Tracy, R-Shelbyville, are running against each other in the 6th Congressional District GOP primary. Sen. Roy Herron, D-Dresden, is running in the 8th Congressional District's Democratic primary.
Lt. Gov. Ramsey said politics are not driving the Senate's position.
"I think we're doing exactly what the citizens of the state want us to," he said. "We're living within our means. We're balancing our budget through cuts and not through tax increases."
Senate Republicans on Tuesday presented a budget alternative that avoids the tax-increase proposals Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen has included in his budget plan. Mr. Bredesen is in his second and final term.
House Democrats, meanwhile, earlier today offered their alternative to both Senate Republicans and the governor, calling for dipping into state reserves for about $140 million or so.