We'd like to believe two men who had the honor of being elected to the Tennessee legislature by their fellow citizens would reflect that honor by resigning their seats before risking being expelled during the General Assembly's three-day special session next week.
State Rep. Jeremy Durham, R-Franklin, who lost his primary bid for a third term last month after his alleged inappropriate behavior or sexual harassment with 22 women, and Rep. Joe Armstrong, D-Knoxville, who won his uncontested primary for a 15th term but was convicted of tax fraud days later for failing to report profits from selling official state cigarette stamps, both could be ousted on procedural votes.
The session, called by Gov. Bill Haslam, is being held because a new Tennessee law conflicts with federal law requiring the blood alcohol content for drivers under 21 to be .02 or less. The new state law raised the blood alcohol limit for drivers ages 18 to 20 to .08 but stiffened the penalties for those same drivers if caught.
If Tennessee is not in compliance with federal law by Oct. 1, the state will lose $60 million in highway funding. The state had asked the federal government for a waiver since the penalties on underage drinkers had been increased but did not find a sympathetic ear.
Expulsion before his term is up will prevent Durham from receiving lifetime employee pension benefits. Armstrong earned his pension years ago, and a fraud conviction cannot take them away.
Both Durham and Armstrong have tried to deflect criticism and failed to accept responsibility for their actions, with the former denying many of the allegations and the latter blaming his problems on his tax attorney, so it's doubtful whether they'll do the right thing.
But House Majority Leader Gerald McCormick, R-Chattanooga, said the votes are likely to occur since the legislature already will be in session. Neither, obviously, can take their seats in January. Durham lost, and Armstrong cannot appear on the November ballot because of his fraud conviction. That makes it incumbent on both to save what's left of their good names by stepping down instead of being forced out. Otherwise, they should be voted out.