This is a fascinating story from the Tennessee state House in regards to the election of the Speaker. From the Chattanooga Times Free Press:Tennessee: Williams elected speaker in upset; Mumpower loses
In a surprising twist, House Democrats threw their support behind a Republican lawmaker for speaker and defeated attempts by House Republican Majority Leader Jason Mumpower, R-Bristol, to become speaker.The 49 Democrats joined with GOP Rep. Kent Williams, R-Butler, in the vote for speaker, providing the razor-thin 50-49 margin to make Rep. Williams the state House’s first Republican speaker since 1971.
Frustrated by their inability to gain enough support for longtime House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh, D-Covington, Democrats employed what they referred to as the “nuclear option” in throwing support behind another Republican candidate.
If anything, the vote sounds like it was rather dramatic, if not movie-worthy:
Representative Jason Mumpower of Bristol received the first nomination. Republicans hoped to end the nomination process there, but after more political wrangling, allowed Democrats to submit a candidate.What happened next some may describe as the political play of the decade as all 49 Democrats backed Kent Williams, a Sophomore Republican from Carter County, a district just miles from Mumpower’s hometown.
During the voice vote on the Speaker’s position, the House clerk called every Democrat first, then every Republican, except Williams. The 49 to 49 split was then decided by Williams.
Williams accepted the position amid cheers and boos, prompting state troopers to enter the House chambers ready to respond to an outburst.
If anything, it sounds like the GOP caucus was a bit too cocky about its ability to control its thin majority.
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January 13th, 2009 at 10:17 pm
I had to look twice at the headline on that link. For a split-second, I wondered if the mighty playwright had risen from the grave…
January 14th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
Yeah, I caught that too Leonard. This may be one of the greatest stories ever. Would history have been radically changed if the Federalists had done the same in 1800?