Speaker Kent Williams promises bill for Anti-Choice constitutional amendment vote

[doeriver]

Speaker vote aftermath leaves House in disarray
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20090115/NEWS0201/901150335/-1/NLETTER01?source=nletter-news
By Theo Emery • THE TENNESSEAN • January 15, 2009

This week's political whirlwind that left a House Republican holding the speaker's gavel — but not the Republican anticipated — swiftly upended expectations for how the session would unfold and dashed GOP hopes for pressing forward with the party's agenda.

The confusion in the wake of Speaker Kent Williams' election was clearly evident almost from the moment the House went into session on Wednesday morning, as stunned lawmakers, staff and onlookers milled through the Statehouse, attempting to decipher how the General Assembly's work would proceed, and when.

...

Williams, who as speaker will be assigning committee chairmanships, said that he will be fair in his decisions, and that Democrats and Republicans will be appointed based on ability and seniority. He also said bills that previously had died in committee would be allowed to come to a vote. Specifically, he promised passage of a resolution that would amend the state constitution with language about abortion.

"That legislation will come to a vote, and it will pass," Williams said Wednesday.

[SharonAnn]

1. AS the nation goes forward, we in Tennessee are going backwards.

Sigh!

The consequences of this new Republican control of our legislature is going to be horrendous. Absolutely horrendous.

It's like watching a train wreck that's going to happen and not being able to do anything about it.