NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Republican lawmakers voted Wednesday to silence a member of the Tennessee Three while they discussed a set of new proposed rules governing how they can debate bills. The new rules passed Wednesday.
Under the new rules, lawmakers called to order twice on the same day will be limited to two minutes of debate for the remainder of the day, and for the following legislative day. If a member is called to order while limited to two minutes, they would not be recognized for the remainder of the day or the next legislative day.
They were proposed by the House Select Committee on Rules, made up mostly of Republican lawmakers. The Tennessee House has 75 Republicans and 24 Democrats this year. Out of the committee's ten present members when they discussed the rules, two were Democrats.
"I do enjoy the Democratic process, we've been at it for quite some time now," said Rep. William Lamberth (R - Portland), who formally brought the rules to the House floor. "I think that's the goal of us, to get to those good decisions that possibly affect the seven million folks in this state."
On the House floor, Rep. Justin Jones (D - Nashville) was speaking on the proposed rules when Rep. John Ragan (R - Oak Ridge) interrupted him and said he was out of order.
"Yesterday, I witnessed something that really appalled me that are related to these rules. Myself, and the Republican majority leader, William Lamberth, were trying to get on the elevator. And, the Speaker security put his hand up to Lamberth and said, 'You can't get on with the Speaker.' He pushed a majority-Republican leader, and said, 'You can't get on with the Speaker.' So, I want to make clear that these rules are not about Democrats or Republicans, but it's about each of us as members and a Speaker who is drunk with power. In these rules," Jones said before he was cut off.
Ragan said Jones was called to order on a rule found in the "Mason's Manual" — a kind of guide for how state legislative bodies should conduct their business. He cited a section of the manual covering disparaging comments on other members of the legislature.
"When disorderly words are used in debate, notice should be immediately taken of them by the member objecting and if desiring the words to be taken down, the objecting member should repeat them exactly as that member believes them to be spoken," the Clerk said, reading off the section of the manual.
Rep. Cameron Sexton (R - Crossville) then told Jones that he was recognized to speak, and urged him to avoid speaking before mics were cut off in the House. The House then voted to prevent Jones from speaking on the rules in a 20-68 vote.
"First and foremost, the rules are there to protect the minority. That's what they're designed to do, I just want to know if you don't believe that, then I hope you believe the rules are for the entire body and not designed at the minority," said Rep. Bo Mitchell (D - Nashville). "Are we here under these rules to address issues, or are we going to let things like that distract us from the issues? I'm here to solve big problems for this state ... and I'm sick of the show. I'm ready to do some work."
The new rules later passed the House in a 70-19 vote.
"What happens on this floor is not what a Democracy looks like, it's what a Republic looks like and I can assure you that we are going to keep it, and we are going to do it through decorum and through rules," said Rep. Mark Cochran (R - Englewood) while discussing the new rules.