NASHVILLE – Some Tennessee House members who voted yes last year on a bill making the Holy Bible Tennessee government’s official book are hesitating about joining efforts to override Republican Gov. Bill Haslam’s veto of the measure.
Haslam’s veto message was read Monday night to the House and, as expected, Rep. Jerry Sexton, R-Bean Station, the bill’s sponsor, filed a notice he planned to attempt an override on Wednesday.
If successful there and in the Senate, it would be the first time the GOP-controlled General Assembly would have overridden Haslam, whose previous three vetoes came after lawmakers had adjourned their annual session and left town.
Overriding a Tennessee governor’s veto is relatively easy. All it takes is the same number of votes constitutionally required to pass a bill – 50 of the 99-member chamber. The Bible bill passed the House last year with 55 votes.
In this April 13, 2016 photo, Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam talks with reporters in Nashville, Tenn. Haslam vetoed a bill that would make the Holy Bible the official book of Tennessee on Thursday, April 14, 2016. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) But while overriding a veto is easy in theory, it’s not often done.