Tensions in Tennessee have reached an all-time high after Republican House Speaker Cameron Sexton stripped Democratic lawmakers of all standing House committee assignments this week. The controversial punishment comes in the wake of the fallout from unprecedented redistricting efforts across the country. But in the southern state, growing tensions between parties could cause further disruption as we near the November midterms.
We spoke to Michael Kang, a professor at Northwestern University and political law expert, who explained that when you punish lawmakers, you are also punishing their constituents, who no longer have representation.
“State legislators do a lot of their work in committees and subcommittees. That’s where they can display a lot of leadership and initiative and shape things before they even hit the floor,” Kang told The Root. “So to strip legislators of those assignments and responsibilities and powers is a really severe sanction.”
Things came to a head last week in Nashville when the Republican-controlled House voted to redraw district lines in accordance with the Supreme Court’s latest ruling weakening the Voting Rights Act of 1965. In response, Democrats locked arms in protest in the House chamber as Republican representatives voted on the measure, we previously told you.
Despite the demonstration, Republican lawmakers passed the map and sent it to Gov. Bill Lee to be signed into law. Five days after the bill’s passing, however, every single state Democrat received a letter relieving them from their House duties.
“You have been removed from all House standing committees and subcommittees. For any questions or more information, please contact Leader Camper,” the letter addressed to State Rep. Jason Powell read.
Another note sent to State Rep. Karen Camper outlined the Democrats’ alleged transgressions. The Republican House Speaker accused Democrats of “disrupting the democratic and legislative processes and creating disorder on the House Floor.”
Camper blasted GOP leadership for punishing her colleagues. “When Democrats stand up, speak out, and expose what is happening in this chamber, the response from this supermajority is retaliation,” she wrote in a statement obtained by the Tennessee Lookout. “We are hurt. We are disappointed. But we are not intimidated.”
Of the 99 seats in the state House, Republicans hold 75 while Democrats only control 24. Professor Kang told us the degree to which legislatures are using their censure powers is “concerning.” He continued explaining the realistic avenues state Democrats can take to fight their suspension.
“They could try to sue,” he said, but “My sense would be that the courts would be reluctant to intervene.” With that, Kang added that the best course of action is to garner public attention to the cause.
“Voters generally don’t love these moves of hyperpartisanship, and we don’t like to see the political process devolve into raw partisanship,” he added. This is why many state Democrats have been more than outspoken over their censorship.
Democrats were accused of reprehensible actions, including “blocking aisles on the House Floor, using prohibited props and noisemakers and instigating and encouraging disruptions of the legislative process in coordination with paid protestors,” according to the letter sent to Rep. Camper.
In response to the letters, Rep. Jones accused Republicans of perpetuating “the same pattern of racial discrimination and authoritarian abuse we have come to expect.”
State Rep. Justin Jones burned print-outs of Confederate flags during the House vote while other Democrats like State Sen. Charlane Oliver stood on her desk, holding a banner calling the gerrymander a “Jim Crow” effort. Viral videos taken from the chaotic scene even showed State Rep. Justin Pearson confronting Highway Patrol officers following his older brother’s detention.
This was all a last-ditch effort to disrupt the House vote on a new voting map. The Root reported on the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark decision breaking down Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Civil rights leaders argued that the court opened the floodgates for the larger disenfranchisement of Black and poor voters in the South.
Tennessee Republicans became the first state to pass a new map following the SCOTUS ruling. Since then, other GOP-led states have moved forward with their own gerrymandered maps.
