It isn't often that the Tennessee General Assembly has an opportunity to right two wrongs.
Perhaps this time - when our lawmakers do have such a chance - they will take it.
Next week's special session of the Tennessee General Assembly has been called by Gov. Bill Haslam to fix a state DUI law foul-up that threatens to cost Tennessee $60 million in federal highway funds.
But the three-day session should also include an effort to expel Rep. Jeremy Durham, R-Franklin, who faces the allegations of 22 women on inappropriate behavior and sexual harassment claims, and Rep. Joe Armstrong, D-Knoxville, convicted in federal court last month of filing a false tax return in a case in which Armstrong personally profited from sales of official state cigarette stamps but didn't report the money to the IRS.
House Republican leaders failed last month in efforts to get enough representatives to sign a petition calling for a special session to oust Durham and Armstrong. Now, with Tennessee facing an Oct. 1 deadline to change a faulty DUI law, lawmakers may have an opening.
They face a similar deadline to save our money for years to come - with a possible Durham ouster.
If the 32-year-old Durham isn't expelled before his second two-year term is up on Nov. 8, he will be eligible for lifetime state employee pension benefits when he comes of age. That's $340 a month. Armstrong qualified for his pension years ago, and court rulings prevent lawmakers from stripping him of a property right.
Surely lawmakers will understand that we're watching.
Surely, lawmakers, you will choose to clean your House.