NASHVILLE -- Beleaguered state House Democrats got a major financial boost this morning as Nashville businessman Bill Freeman contributed $100,000 to their caucus' campaign warchest for 2016 elections.
"It's never good when one party controls everything. It's time for Democrats to step up and have a real two-party system in our state," said Freeman who noted Tennessee Republicans control the state House, state Senate, occupy the governor's mansion, hold seven of nine congressional seats and both U.S. Senate seats.
"I'm pitching in because we just can't afford to let our state get off in the ditch while Republicans do little but pander to their extreme fringe," Freeman charged.
Tuesday morning's announcement and fundraiser come with the Tennessee General Assembly scheduled to reconvene at noon (CST) for their annual legislative session.
The hours leading up to session are often accompanied by a last-minute frenzy of political fundraising because state ethics laws enacted in the mid-1990s prohibit their raising money during the actual session.
Gerald McCormickAmong those holding fundraisers on Monday were Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, the Republican Senate speaker, and House Majority Leader Gerald McCormick, R-Chattanooga.
McCormick said his Monday night event was both for his campaign and his leadership political action committee.
"In the last day or so I've raised about $40,000," McCormick said.
When representatives and senators go into their respective chambers at noon today, there'll be little actual business conducted.
But after today's session, the 73-member House Republican Caucus will meet to decide whether they want to oust Rep. Jeremy Durham, R-Franklin, as the GOP's majority whip following revelations about Durham.
They include disclosures that prosecutors once recommended charges against Durham regarding alleged prescription drug abuse. A grand jury chose not to indict him. But the lawmaker has also come under fire for writing a character reference on behalf of a youth minister who pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in CHattanooga to child pornography possession and later to statutory rape by an authority figure.
Meanwhile, House Speaker Beth Harwell, R-Nashville, has acknowledged asking the legislature's human resources chief to speak with Durham about unspecified behaviorial issues.