Special Session Triggered Increased Scrutiny Of Legislators, Roll Call Votes In House Committees Would Improve Credibility And Transparency
Image Credit: Ron Cogswell / CC
By David Seal [Special to The Tennessee Conservative] –
Like it or not, the recent special legislative session of 2023 changed the dynamics of how the public views the Tennessee General Assembly.
Tennessee voters and republican party leaders across Tennessee were shocked to see a special session called by a republican governor that included proposed “red flag” gun control bills. Those proposed bills were never titled as “red flag” laws; but they contained all the troublesome indicators and components of red flag laws.
The public was not fooled and a firestorm of county and party resolutions condemning the red flag session descended on Nashville. Republican lawmakers knew they would likely be primary fodder in the next election cycle if they even hinted at supporting a red flag law. Many Tennessee citizens joined the “Gavel Out” movement to stop the red flag special session before it started.
Legislators in both chambers attempted early adjournment to no avail.
Certain legislators deserve praise for resisting the administration’s gun control proposals because no sign of a red flag law was ever seriously considered. Every eye in Tennessee was focused on the house and senate committees as legislation was placed on notice. As the special session dragged on with over 200 bills and resolution filings, constituents prayed that their own legislators would hold the line against all red flag bills.
Liberty has been preserved…for now; but there is a perception that more of the same will surface in the 2024 regular session. Tennesseans are seeking transparency and watching more closely, and all state legislators should be keenly aware of this. Committees are now under the microscope.
Rewind to previous sessions in which several controversial house committee votes were taken by voice vote, adding to the distrust of the committee process.
Additionally, there is too much room for misinterpretation of committee votes if the ayes and nays are not clear enough for onlookers, or even committee chairs. Even a runaway voice vote, one direction or the other, leaves doubt as to how certain members voted. This is a transparency problem with an easy fix, and the house committee chairs have the remedy.
The obvious remedy is roll-call voting, commonly used by senate committees, but rarely used in house committees. Some legislators prefer voice votes because they do not wish for their committee vote to be known.
In other cases, certain legislators ask for their committee vote to be recorded for transparency. In the absence of a recorded roll-call vote, citizens must poll committee members one-by-one to determine exactly how each member voted. This should not be the case. Each vote should be recorded for the world to see.
About the Author: David Seal is a retired Jefferson County educator, recognized artist, local businessman, 917 Society Volunteer, and current Chairman of the Jefferson County Republican Party. He has also served Jefferson County as a County Commissioner and is a citizen lobbyist for the people on issues such as eminent domain, property rights, education, and broadband accessibility on the state level.
