Action on Tennessee's $37.1 billion budget left in limbo until Friday following House rebellion

The Tennessee flag remains a reflection of government that works.
The Tennessee flag remains a reflection of government that works.

NASHVILLE - Tennessee's $37.1 billion annual spending plan had been left in limbo after the House recessed until Friday following a rebellion by disaffected hard-right Republicans who joined with Democrats to successfully amend a now-unbalanced budget.

Top House leaders were unable to put the budget back together again by mid-afternoon. Plans are for warring sides to continue talking today and resume discussion on Friday.

Earlier, the House passed one $300 million amendment offered up by Rep. Judd Matheny, R-Tullahoma. It would take $300 million in funds and distribute them to local school systems across the state to help them pay down debt on school construction.

That as well as eight other successful amendments spurred Finance Chairman Charles Sargent, R-Franklin, to tell the chamber that "this budget is so far out of balance that I'm not voting for it."

Senators, including Senate Finance Committee Chairman Bo Watson, R-Hixson, came to the House floor, marveling at the legislative train wreck.

It's been a rebellion brewing for some time among a group of some arch-conservative lawmakers, who've been angry all session over the state's massive budget surplus, Republican Gov. Bill Haslam's IMPROVE Act, which raised fuel taxes while cutting some taxes, and other issues.

They've been complaining for days that Haslam and GOP legislative leaders had agreed to a "deal" among some Democratic lawmakers' issues, including a $150 million to $250 million reserve fund which would be invested with income to go as block grants for school districts to address very needs.

House Minority Caucus Chairman Craig Fitzhugh, D-Ripley, was dismayed on Wednesday when the budget moved out of Sargent's committee that the proposal wasn't in it. And then, Democrats and hard-right Republicans began to talk.

The end result? Their own deal, which put House Speaker Beth Harwell, R-Nashville, Majority Leader Glen Casada, R-Franklin, and GOP Caucus Chairman Ryan Williams, R-Cookeville, back on their heels.

It was reminiscent of the successful 2015 oddball coalition among conservatives and Democrats that scuttled Haslam's plan to use Common Core education standards.

And it worked, at least for now.

Fitzhugh got his amendment to set aside $150 million he's located in a special Rainy Day Fund reserve and use earnings as block grants. Rep. Matthew Hill, R-Jonesborough, got his amendment to use $30 million for the state's areonautics fund to pay for major work at three airports, including one in Cleveland.

Earlier, Hill and Finance Subcommittee Chairman Gerald McCormick, R-Chattanooga, clashed over another Hill amendment, an $8 million or so grant to help hospitals dealing with drug-addicted newborns who became dependent while in their mothers' womb.

Hill spoke of his concerns for the babies, spurring McCormick, the former majority leader, to ask, "Did you present this is in any of the committees, in finance committee?"

After Hill acknowledged he had not, McCormick retorted sarcastically, "these poor little babies, you just thought of them this morning?"

"No sir," Hill said, "and I do not appreciate the insulting tone.

Replied McCormick: "I don't appreciate being used like this in a budget process, either."

Hill, meanwhile, said "I don't appreciate the babies not being taken care of."

Upcoming Events