Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) has removed members of the Tennessee House Democratic Caucus from their committees for “disrupting” House deliberations floor last week.
Lawmakers returned to Nashville for Gov. Bill Lee’s special session to redraw congressional lines. That move reconfigured the historically Democratic District 9 seat long held by U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Memphis), and split the city of Memphis into three gerrymandered districts.
House Minority Leader Karen Camper (D-Memphis) got Sexton’s letter with the news late Tuesday. Sexton’s letter was not clear about which members would be removed.
Sexton claimed his decision was in response to ”actions taken by members of the Democratic Caucus … aimed at disrupting the democratic and legislative processes and creating disorder on the House Floor.”
Sexton said those actions were:
• Interlocking arms in the well of the House
• Blocking aisles on the House floor
• Instigating and encouraging disruptions of the legislative process in coordination with paid protestors and attendees in the gallery, including the distribution of earplugs to a member of your caucus
• The use of prohibited props and noisemakers on the House floor
• Demonstrating a lack of respect toward fellow members seeking recognition to speak on legislation
• Flagrant disregard for the Permanent Rules of Order of the House
Sexton promised similar letters would go out to members of the Democratic caucus, except where their membership is required by state law.