The controversial new speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives appointed committees today, and split power almost down the middle between Democrats and Republicans. The power split gives Representative Kent Williams the most leverage of any House speaker in state history.
Williams, a Republican, promised to work in a bipartisan manner when Democrats helped him become Speaker. Under his assignments, Republicans now chair seven of the standing committees, Democrats head six.
In every committee but two, membership is split exactly 50-50 between the parties. Always before, House committees were dominated by one party so that it had voting control. Now nearly every issue faces a potential tie in committee. Williams, as an ex-officio member of all committees, now holds the deciding vote.
Reporters asked the new speaker if he would cast such a vote to force a constitutional amendment on abortion out of the Public Health Subcommittee.
“Absolutely, I would vote to break the tie. And there could be. I would, I would vote to break that tie.”
The amendment has always been killed in the subcommittee, which had one extra Democratic vote. As named today, it has four Democrats and four Republicans.
WEB EXTRA
The committee assignments are important because the bulk of the work on legislation is done in committee, not on the floor of the House. Committees:
• discuss the bills,
• figure out how much they will cost to implement,
• amend bills to make them easier to understand or sometimes more palatable, and
• hammer out points of disagreement between political parties or citizens or businesses affected.
If one party controls several key committees, that party can fairly well set the agenda for the House. Standing Committees in the Tennessee House can literally kill a bill to keep it from coming to a floor vote.
The appointments were worked out Tuesday and Wednesday by Speaker Williams in consultation with Representative Mumpower. The Republican Majority Leader Mumpower, had earlier said of the process, “It’s good but it’s not great; it’s bad but it’s not terrible.”
Nashville Republican Beth Harwell will head the powerful House Commerce Committee, which rules on most issues important to business. A Democrat, Charles Curtiss, will head Commerce’s Industrial Impact Subcommittee, which looks at employee health insurance coverage.
House Finance Committee will continue to be headed by Ripley Democrat Craig Fitzhugh, but Franklin Republican Charles Sargent will be vice chair.
The influential House Judiciary Committee continues under Murfreesboro Democrat Kent Coleman, with Republican Jon Lundberg as vice chair. Williams named Memphis Republican Brian Kelsey, who has filed an ethics complaint against the new speaker, to chair the Civil Practice Subcommittee.
Mount Juliet Republican Susan Lynn – whose run-in with Williams two years ago led to allegations that Williams sexually harassed Lynn – was named chair of the House Government Operations Committee.
Knoxville’s Harry Brooks is the new Republican chair of House Education. Former Chairman Les Winningham will now head the K-12 subcommittee.
House Consumer and Employee Affairs, traditionally a labor ally, will now be headed by Republican Judd Matheny of Manchester.
The House Conservation Committee will be headed by Republican Joe McCord of Maryville.
House Calendar & Rules will have one extra Republican, Knoxville chairman Bill Dunn. And House Government Operations, a relatively weak committee, will have one extra Democrat. Other committees are split 50-50, and typically if one party holds the chairmanship, the other party gets the vice-chair seat.
Williams, a back-bench Republican with one term behind him, was elected last week with 49 Democratic votes and his own, upsetting Republican plans to use a 50-vote majority to put Majority Leader Jason Mumpower in the speaker’s seat.
Williams had promised to distribute the committee positions based on merit, not political party. When Democrats held the speakership, all committee officers were Democrats.
Full Committees:
Consumer Employee Affairs 6-R 6-D
Matheny Chair
Hackworth Vice-chair
Bell Secretary
McDonald
Moore
S. Jones
Richardson
Hardaway
Eldridge
Campfield
Swafford
Kelsey
Employee R-3, D-3
McDonald-Chairman
Campfield-VC
Moore
S. Jones
Kelsey
Bell
Consumer R-3, D-3
Eldridge-Chairman
Hackworth-VC
Richardson
Hardaway
Matheny
Swafford
Education 11-R 11-D
H. Brooks Chair
Winningham Vice-chair
Coley Secretary
Brown
Cooper
U. Jones
Maddox
Pitts
Towns
L. Turner
Windle
Barker
J. DeBerry
Hawk
Dunn
Harwell
Haynes
Lollar
Hill
Weaver
Hensley
K. Brooks
K-12 Sub: R-6, D-6
Winningham-Chair
Lollar-VC
U. Jones
Maddox
Brown
Barker
L. Turner
Hensley
Harwell
Hawk
Dunn
Weaver
Higher Ed Sub R-6, D-6
Hawk-Chair
Brown-VC
Cooper
Towns
Windle
J. DeBerry
Pitts
Coley
Haynes
Hill
K. Brooks
H. Brooks
Government Operations R-6 D-7
Lynn Chair
Kernell Vice-chair
J. Cobb Secretary
L. DeBerry
Odom
M. Turner
Camper
Cooper
Hardaway
Mumpower
Casada
Campfield
Bell
Health & Human Resources R-13 D-13
Armstrong Chair
Hensley Vice-chair
Favors Secretary
Pruitt
C. Cobb
Curtiss
L. Deberry
Ferguson
S. Jones
Odom
Richardson
Shepard
M. Turner
J. DeBerry
J. Cobb
Dean
Ford
Maggart
Ramsey
Shipley
Mumpower
Harrison
Halford
Dennis
Rich
Evans
Professional Occupations R-7, D-7
Harrison Chairman
Favors Vice Chairman
M. Turner
Armstrong
Ferguson
S. Jones
Odom
Shepard
Rich
Mumpower
Hensley
Maggart
Ramsey
Shipley
Public Health R-4, D-4
Hensley-Chairman
Richardson-VC
Maggart
J. Cobb
Dennis
S. Jones
Curtiss
C. Cobb
Health Care Facilities R-5, D-5
Pruitt-Chair
Ford-VC
L. DeBerry
J. DeBerry
Shepard
M. Turner
Evans
Dean
Halford
Ric
Judiciary R-6 D-6
Coleman Chair
Lundberg Vice-chair
Sontany Secretary
Bass
Camper
Fincher
Stewart
Kelsey
Watson
Dennis
Matheny
Faulkner
Civil Practice R-3, D-3
Kelsey-Chair
Fincher-VC
Lundberg
Dennis
Stewart
Coleman
Criminal R-3, D-3
Watson-Chairman
Sontany-VC
Faulkner
Matheny
Bass
Camper
Agriculture R-6 D-6
Bone Chair
Ford Vice-chair
Borchert Secretary
Bass
Litz
Shaw
Windle
Niceley
Faulkner
Weaver
Halford
McDaniel
General Sub of Agriculture
Nicely, Chair
Litz, Vice-Chair
Bone
Ford
Borchert
McDaniel
Children & Family R-6 D-6
J. DeBerry Chair
K. Brooks Vice-chair
Brown Secretary
S. Jones
Hardaway
Richardson
Shaw
Rowland
Campfield
Bell
Rich
Weaver
Domestic Relations R-3, D-3
S. Jones-Chair
K. Brooks-VC
Brown
Shaw
Campfield
Weaver
Family Justice R-3, D-3
Rowland-Chair
Richardson-VC
Bell
Rich
John DeBerry
Hardaway
Commerce R-15 D-15
Harwell Chair
Shepard Vice-chair
McManus Secretary
Curtiss
Ferguson
Towns
Naifeh
Favors
Fitzhugh
Pitts
Stewart
Hackworth
Harmon
C. Cobb
L. Turner
Yokley
Gilmore
C. Johnson
Roach
McCord
Matlock
Lynn
Lundberg
P. Johnson
Montgomery
Todd
Sargent
Carr
Casada
McCormick
Industrial Impact R-6, D-6
Curtiss-Chairman
Roach-VC
Ferguson
Favors
Naifeh
Shepard
Towns
McCord
Sargent
Todd
McCormick
Lundberg
Utilities & Banking Sub R-5, D-5
Montgomery-Chairman
Pitts-VC
McManus
Casada
Phillip Johnson
Curtiss Johnson
Fitzhugh
Stewart
Hackworth
Harmon
Small Business Sub R-4, D-4
C. Cobb-Chairman
Matlock-VC
L. Turner
Yokley
Gilmore
Lynn
Carr
Harwell
Conservation & Environment R-6 D-6
McCord Chair
Tidwell Vice-chair
Floyd Secretary
Gilmore
Borchert
Kernell
McDonald
Fraley
Lollar
Hawk
Niceley
Rowland
Wildlife Sub R-4, D-4
Lollar-Chair
Borchert-VC
Floyd
Kernell
Niceley
McDonald
McCord
Tidwell
Environment Sub: R-5, D-5
Tidwell-Chair
Rowland-VC
Hawk
Borchert
Lollar
Fraley
McCord
Gilmore
Niceley
McDonald
Parks Subcommittee R-3, D-3
Gilmore-Chair
Floyd-VC
Hawk
Fraley
Rowland
Kernell
Calendar & Rules R-12 D-11
Dunn Chair
L. Turner Vice-chair
Hill Secretary
Odom
M. Turner
Moore
Towns
Bone
J. DeBerry
Armstrong
Coleman
Fitzhugh
Harmon
Harwell
Mumpower
McCord
Casada
Matheny
H. Brooks
Lynn
Todd
McManus
McCormick
State & Local R-9 D-9
Todd Chair
U. Jones Vice-chair
Swafford Secretary
Miller
Yokley
Ty Cobb
Pruitt
Litz
Tindell
West
Moore
McCormick
Ramsey
Evans
Haynes
Carr
Coley
Watson
Elections R-3, D-3
Yokley-Chairman
Watson- VC
Moore
Tindell
Coley
Evans
State Sub R-3, D-3
McCormick-Chairman
Pruitt-VC
Haynes
Carr
Litz
West
Local Govt Sub R-3, D-3
Miller-Chairman
Swafford-VC
U. Jones
Ty Cobb
Todd
Ramsey
Finance, Ways & Means R-15 D-15
Fitzhugh Chair
Sargent Vice-chair
Shaw Secretary
Tindell
Armstrong
Bone
Brown
Coleman
Winningham
L. DeBerry
Maddox
Miller
Odom
Sontany
Naifeh
M. Turner
Dunn
H. Brooks
Harrison
K. Brooks
McDaniel
Mumpower
Roach
Casada
Montgomery
McManus
Maggart
C. Johnson
Eldridge
Rowland
Budget R-7, D-7
Tindell-Chairman
Sargent-VC
Armstrong
L. DeBerry
Fitzhugh
Odom
Naifeh
Shaw
McDaniel
Harrison
Roach
Montgomery
Mumpower
Rowland
Transportation R-7 D-7
Harmon Chair
Dean Vice-chair
Fraley Secretary
West
Ty Cobb
Fincher
Tidwell
Barker
P. Johnson
Matlock
Floyd
Shipley
Hill
Rich
Public Safety R-3, D-3
West-Chairman
Dean-VC
Fincher
Ty Cobb
Rich
Shipley
Rural Roads R-4, D-4
Phillip Johnson-Chairman
Fraley-VC
Harmon
Tidwell
Barker
Matlock
Hill
Floyd
House Rules Committee
Rep. Steve McDaniel, Chair
Jason Mumpower
Mike Turner
Charlie Sargent
Lois DeBerry
Richard Montgomery
Craig Fitzhugh
Harry Brooks
Henry Fincher
Dennis Roach
John Litz
Glen Casada
Mark Maddox
Kevin Brooks
Jimmy Naifeh
Speaker Kent Williams
Gary Odom
House Ethics Committee
Rep. Ulysses Jones, Chair
Rep. Jason Mumpower
Rep. Gary Odom
Rep. Lois Deberry
Rep. Henry Fincher
Rep. Mark Maddox
Rep. Glen Casada
Rep. Beth Harwell
Rep. Joe McCord
Rep. Steve McDaniel
Rep. Mike Turner
Rep. Charles Sargent
Joint Legislative Services Committee
Speaker Williams
Rep. Mumpower
Rep.Casada
Rep. Odom
Rep. Mike Turner
Corrections Oversight
Rep. Mike Turner
Rep. Craig Fitzhugh
Rep. Charlie Curtis
Rep. Bill Harmon
Rep. Joe McCord
Rep. Dale Ford
Rep. Judd Matheny
Education Oversight
Rep. Mark Maddox
Rep. Tommie Brown
Rep. U. Jones
Rep. Les Winningham
Rep. David Hawk
Rep. Ron Lollar
Rep. Harry Brooks
Rep. Dennis Roach
Rep. Donna Rowland
Children & Youth
Rep. Chad Faulkner
Rep. Debra Maggart
Rep. Montgomery
Rep. Harwell
Rep. Sontany
Rep. J. Deberry
Rep. L. Deberry
Rep. Tommie Brown
Rep. Sherry Jones
Health Equity Commission
Rep. Armstrong
Rep. Miller
Rep. Hensley
Council on Pensions and Insurance
Recommended by Chairman Fitzhugh
Approved by the Speaker
Rep. Bone
Rep. Dunn
Rep. McDaniel
Reps. Fitzhugh, Sargent and Shaw are members by virtue of their
Finance Committee Officer Positions
Long Term Care Oversight Committee
Rep. Ferguson
Rep. L. Deberry
Rep. Tindell
Rep. McDaniel
Rep. Maggart
Veterans’ Affairs
Rep. Borchert
Rep. Curtis
Rep. Litz
Rep. Windle
Rep. Lundberg
Rep. McDaniel
Rep. Ford
Rep. Curtis Johnson
Charitable Gaming
Rep. Harry Tindell
Rep. Gary Moore
Rep. Steve McManus
TennCare Oversight
Rep. Armstrong
Rep. Shepard
Rep. Odom
Rep. Hensley
Rep. McDaniel
Rep. Harrison
Rep. Mumpower
Workers’ Compensation
Rep. Curtis
Rep. Fitzhugh
Rep. McDonald
Rep. Pitts
Rep. McCord
Rep. Matlock
Rep. Sargent
Rep. McDaniel
Business Tax
Rep. Tindell
Rep. Eldridge
Rep. Sargent
Rep. Curt Cobb
Rep. Hackworth
Rep. Lundberg
Rep. Mike Stewart
Lottery
Rep. Harry Brooks
Rep. Winningham
Rep. Todd
Rep. McCormick
Rep. U. Jones
Rep. Mumpower
Rep. Tindell
Rep. Miller
Rep. McManus
Joint Committee on Diabetes Prevention
Speaker Williams
Rep. Shipley
Rep. Favors
Rep. Brown
Rep. Gary Moore
TACIR
Rep. Naifeh
Rep. Odom
Rep. Mumpower
Rep. Todd
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