Repesentative Naifeh meet Speaker Mumpower

Last legislative session: Lt. Gov. Ramsey, Representative Wilder
2009: Speaker Mumpower, Representative Naifeh
Man that looks good. That's some serious progress.

I'm glad to read from WPLN:

State Republican Party by-laws were recently revised to require caucus members to vote along party lines on certain issues. State party chairwoman Robin Smith says the rule will be in effect when the General Assembly votes for Secretary of State, Treasury and Comptroller.

“Not asking for every member to stand in line and cast a straight party ballot every single time, but if you’re going to run on the Republican ticket, enjoy the benefits of the Republican Party, there’s a few votes procedurally and leadership-wise, that are expected to benefit the caucus.” (emphasis added)

I certainly hope those Republican by-laws extend to the Speakership of the House. It's been tremendously frustrating to see Republican's make accommodations for their Democrat colleagues and essentially give away the power necessary to accomplish what mere voters sent them to the legislature to accomplish. We don't need to 'reach across the aisle' and give away the farm. Sorry. What we need, especially now, is Republicans that will vote like real conservatives and not RINOS. We have a perfect opportunity to demonstrate why we don't need the Democrats to return to power. That means being fiscally conservative as well as socially. That means being willing to be accountable and honest. We can finger point at how Wilder and Naifeh enabled the Fords, Crutchfields, and Briley's of their party but Tennessee cannot afford to have a Republican version of the same misuse of power. Don't enable anyone's bad behavior.

According to the Tennessean's Gail Kerr this morning long time House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh isn't ready to leave his comfortable position: "Naifeh is already working to try to pull together a bipartisan collection of votes to stay put."

If any Republican makes a deal with Naifeh he should be given former Senator Mike Williams old office in the parking garage and his bills should get the "Campfield" treatment.