Bob CorkerNASHVILLE - Worried about a bill that would have let state lawmakers choose party nominees for U.S. Senate, Tennessee's junior senator, Republican Bob Corker of Chattanooga, made his first call to the powerful speaker of the state House, Republican Beth Harwell, according to WATE-TV in Knoxville.
The station quotes Harwell saying that as a result, she approached the bill's sponsor, Rep. Harry Brooks, R-Knoxville, about removing the bill from an upcoming House State Government Agenda.
That's exactly what happened on Tuesday.
WATE reported Harwell saying Corker, whose office last week did not respond to questions about the bill, told her he did not support the bill but agreed improvements could be made.
Harwell said the two, "had a pleasant conversation and discussed ways to improve the dialogue" between the state and federal governments.
The speaker was also quoted saying Sen. Corker had never contacted her before about a state bill but was glad the U.S. Senate nominee selection bill led to what she hopes to be improved dialogue in the future.
Corker was in Nashville on Tuesday where he was quoted as saying, "This is up to the General Assembly to decide, but my sense is that Tennesseans are a very involved citizenry who like their ability to vote and make those kinds of decisions."