In this Monday, Feb. 7, 2011 file photo, State Rep. Julia Hurley gathers her papers on the House floor in Nashville, Tenn. A freshman lawmaker who admits carving her initials into her desk in the state House chamber is going to have to pay to fix it. Hurley, a freshman lawmaker who admits carving her initials into her desk in the state House chamber is going to have to pay to fix it. (AP Photo/Erik Schelzig, File)NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A freshman Tennessee lawmaker who admits carving her initials into her desk in the state House chamber is going to have to pay to fix it.
House Speaker Beth Harwell said Tuesday that Rep. Julia Hurley’s initials will be removed at the fellow Republican lawmaker’s expense.
“In the excitement of being a freshman at the end of session, Representative Hurley etched her initials into her desk,” said Harwell, a Nashville Republican.
“As with any state property, we will take action to have the desk restored and I’m sure Representative Hurley will be more than happy to compensate the state to make the repairs.”
The desk carving was first reported by WSMV-TV. Hurley on Monday confirmed to the Knoxville News Sentinel that she made the etching into the desk during a late-night floor session in May.