Image Credit: Jody Barrett State Representative / Facebook & Antony-22 / CC
The Tennessee Conservative [By Adelia Kirchner] –
On Thursday morning, the Tennessee House of Representatives adopted new rules for the 114th General Assembly by a mostly partisan 75-19 vote.
Rep. Antonio Parkinson (D-Memphis-District 98) was the only Democrat lawmaker to vote in favor of the rules and Rep. Jody Barrett (R-Dickson-District 69) was the only Republican lawmaker to vote against the rules.
In communication with The Tennessee Conservative, Rep. Barrett explained that he is in major support of Rule 83 regarding electronic voting and applauds House leadership for making that step towards transparency.
This rule is concerned with a new microphone system for use in House committee rooms. Any piece of legislation receiving a final vote must be voted on electronically according to this rule.
Member votes will now be recorded electronically and appear similar to how they do for House floor sessions which means better tracking of votes and more transparency for constituents.
“Speaker Sexton and House Leadership should be recognized for their willingness to respond to the will of the people by making this significant investment in transparency,” Rep. Barrett stated in a January 16th press release titled “Standing Up for the 69th District: My Vote on the New House Rules.”
The conservative lawmaker noted that there was only one thing in the rules package that he has a “fundamental issue” with, a rule change that knocks the bill filing limit per representative down from 15 to 12 bills this year.
“While I approve of the vast majority of the changes proposed by the committee’s report, I could not vote in favor of the rules package in its entirety,” he continued. “Specifically, I could not support the proposed change to Rule 44, which reduces the limit on the number of bills that each member may file from 15 down to 12 in this first half of the legislative session, and further reduces that limit down to 10 bills next year.”
Rep. Barrett shared with The Tennessee Conservative that he feels he was not elected by the people, to limit the voice of the people.
“This reduction limits my ability to serve you,” Rep. Barrett noted in his press release. “Many of the bills I sponsor come directly from conversations with constituents, local officials, and community leaders in our district. These legislative initiatives address critical needs and reflect the priorities of our community, and this rule diminishes your voice in the legislative process.”
“The voters of the 69th District did not elect me to come to Nashville to voluntarily forfeit 33% of the opportunities I have to fight for the issues and causes that are important to them,” he continued. “They elected me to fight for their interests, and I will continue to do so with every opportunity I am given.”
“I appreciate the stated goal of improving efficiency in the House, but it cannot come at the expense of my ability to advocate for you fully,” the press release concludes. “Unfortunately, the rules package did not allow us to vote on Rule 44 separately, which forced me to choose between supporting other valuable reforms and standing against this measure.”
A couple of the more controversial rule changes adopted by the 114th Tennessee General Assembly include a change to Rule 4, regarding order in the gallery or the lobby.
This rule now states that “When any person in the gallery attempts to attract attention of anyone on the floor by word, deed, or otherwise, or when any person in the gallery engages in conduct or commits any action deemed by the speaker to be detrimental to the orderly business of the House, such person shall be removed from the gallery pursuant to instruction of the speaker. Any person so removed shall not be permitted to return to the gallery for the remainder of that legislative day and the next legislative day. Provided that any person exhibiting especially egregious conduct or repeatedly removed from the gallery, may be prohibited from returning to the gallery for any period up to the remainder of the General Assembly.”
At the prompting of House Minority Leader Karen Camper (D-Memphis-District 87), House Majority Leader William Lamberth (R-Portland-District 44) read the rule change aloud on the House floor for citizens in the gallery to hear.
“It is important for those in the observation gallery to understand that it is just that, an observation gallery,” said Leader Lamberth. “It is not a participatory event. When folks come to this chamber, they are welcome here on any day, to observe their government in action. If you wish to participate, then you run for public office just as all of us did and then you participate in the debate.”
Another noteworthy rule change applies to Rule 19, regarding transgressions of House rules by lawmakers.
Language has been changed to get rid of a loophole allowing disruptive behavior to continue if a representative simply “sits” down.
The rule has also been changed to add that if a representative repeatedly violates the rules multiple times in one day, they will not be allowed on the House floor for the next three legislative days.
During the time in which they are not allowed on the House floor, that legislator would have the option to vote remotely from a secure room in the Cordell Hull building.
According to Rep. Johnny Garrett (R-Goodlettsville-District 45), the room would be set up similar to the House floor as far as security, limited press, and rules of order.
“What you can’t do here, you can’t do there,” said Rep. Garrett. “It’s just like we’re here. It’s a simple extension of the House floor to allow that member that can’t control themselves under Rule 19, their ability to vote is still available to them should they choose.”
About the Author: Adelia Kirchner is a Tennessee resident and reporter for the Tennessee Conservative. Currently the host of Subtle Rampage Podcast, she has also worked for the South Dakota State Legislature and interned for Senator Bill Hagerty’s Office in Nashville, Tennessee. Adelia is The Tennessee Conservative’s on-site reporter for the Tennessee General Assembly. You can reach Adelia at adelia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
