106th General Assembly Ended on a Positive Note
The 106th General Assembly organizational session started with disappointment and then ended on a positive note. We elected a new Republican speaker of the House, with the previous speaker, Jimmy Nafieh, choosing not to run due to lack of support.
This was the first Republican Speaker of the House since 1970. The organizational session ended Thursday, January 14th, and will reconvene on Monday, February 9th, to hear the Governor’s State of the State address.
Disappointment
The disappointment occurred on Tuesday, the first day of the organizational session. Jason Mumpower, the Republican caucus nominee, was defeated for Speaker of the House by another Republican, Kent Williams. Kent was elected by a count of 50 votes to Jason’s 49.
The most disappointing event was not that Kent Williams was elected by the Democratic minority, but that Kent deceived his Republican peers by repeatedly telling us he would support Jason Mumpower and was concurrently working to attain all 49 Democrats to vote for him. The Democrats’ and his vote made him speaker.
This election was painful, but it must be put behind us so as to tackle Tennessee’s pressing budget shortfall, which now stands at 1.1 billion dollars. We must also address the ever increasing unemployment problem and the need to increase job creation for our State.
I look forward to hearing the Governor’s State of the State. Traditionally this is where the Governor not only proposes his budget, but his agenda as well. I will work with the Governor and hope he will work with the agenda that the Republican House Caucus will be pushing. A few of the issues Republicans are promoting: a general Tort reform bill to help attract business to our State, a reform package for education, and legislation strengthening our 1st and 2nd amendment rights.
The session ended on a positive note with the election of the constitutional officers. The vote went along party lines with Republicans supporting those elected. Justin Wilson was elected as comptroller, David Lillard was elected as Treasurer and Tre Hargett was elected as Secretary of State.
This week Leadership from both parties of the House met and put together the committees. Republicans will control 7 committees. Calendar and Rules and Commerce are the two committees of high importance Republicans will chair. Democrats will chair 6 committees, with Finance- Ways and Means and Health being their most prominent committees.
I will be writing to you every month of the happenings on capitol. If I can be of service please contact me at my legislative office or on my cell.
Glen Casada
63rd district State Representative
e-mail : rep.glen.casada@legislature.state.tn.us
PS – Please Visit My Updated Website
