Unintended Consequences of Absolute Power

NASHVILLE — Decisions have consequences, sometimes unintended. Such was the case for the Republican-led vote to oust two young, Black Democrat legislators from the Tennessee House of Representatives last Thursday.

Expelled were Representative Justin Pearson of Memphis and Representative Justin Jones of Nashville. Gloria Johnson of Knoxville survived the vote to expel her by a single vote.

I emailed State Representative Tandy Darby (R-Greenfield) and freshman State Representative Brock Martin (R-Huntingdon) early Thursday, before the vote, and advised them there were other methods to discipline the three. One method I suggested was the censure of the wayward legislators.

Their behavior was never addressed in the Ethics Committee. Instead, Speaker Sexton decided to take it straight to the House floor for a vote. The vote was along party lines.

The three Democrats, now known nationwide as the “Tennessee Three” have gotten national exposure. They have exposed the lack of democracy in Tennessee government. They have also ripped off the scab of true partisanship in the Tennessee House of Representatives. It all started with a student protest over school shootings. As the Tennessee legislature advances legislation to achieve “Constitutional carry”, that comes amidst proposals to place more armed guards in schools and possibly arm teachers. Fewer restrictions on guns are led, in part, by State Senator John Stevens.

Tennessee’s governing body has been the butt of comedians, Sunday morning talk shows, Saturday Night Live, and investigations, such as Phil Williams on News Channel 5, Nashville. There is even a movement to boycott Tennessee-based corporations, though I think that will be short-lived.

And when Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett was charged with DUI in 2022, he was not sanctioned nor expelled from his job. Hargett did serve his jail time and did not ask for any favors from the court.

Recently, the Nashville Metro Council voted not to be placed in consideration to host the 2024 Republican Convention. The Tennessee Legislature responded by requiring the Metro Council to be reduced to 20 members from its now 40. Incidentally, the Carroll County Commission has 21 members - one greater than the limit placed on Metro.

I miss the days of moderate Republicans, such as Lamar Alexander, Bob Corker, Bill Haslam, and Howard Baker. Baker, a U.S. Senator, asked “What did the president know, and when did he know it?” during the Watergate hearing concerning President Nixon. Fred Thompson, a Tennessee attorney, served as the chief minority counsel of the Senate Watergate Committee. Both worked to investigate Nixon, a president of their own party. Today, in Tennessee, I don’t think that would happen.