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October 31, 2008
Reading the Odom-eter
The really meaningful change that could come to the Tennessee House of Representatives next session might be an intra-party shift in power at the very top, which would likely then cascade down to how committee chairs are chosen. It all depends on whether the rumors, that House Majority Leader Gary Odom will try to become Speaker, are true -- and, of course, it only matters if he were to be successful.
A.C. Kleinheider pointed to a Tennessean article this week that suggests there's evidence of an impending challenge, although Odom and his colleague Rep. Mike Turner deny it.
Blogger Newscoma puts it right out there: "Odom IS looking to make a move. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out. All politicians look up. It is what it is." And: "People just don't set up war chests for no reason. Remember that."
Whatever Rep. Odom's specific plans are, I struggle to understand why good Democrats (and a dwindling number of Republicans) continue to prop up Jimmy Naifeh as the Speaker. I know why my Republican friends want to see him go: they want one of their own in the chair. But since I'm an independent, it's not about party for me. I'd be just as comfortable with a Democrat. I'd want either to bring new principles to presiding over the chamber, and to avoid the seeming conflicts of interest (such as being married to one of the top lobbyists in the state).
I would enjoy an opportunity to meet Speaker Naifeh and talk to him face-to-face. I realize that from this distance, he comes across a bit caricatured, and that he might not seem such a "bogeyman" in person. But without such firsthand knowledge, I can only state that I feel his time with the gavel should end, so that our citizen legislature has the "breathing room" it needs to operate as intended. Therefore I support neither Rep. Odom nor Rep. Jason Mumpower specifically (should the Republicans gain a majority of seats); but I do support the process of reforming the General Assembly -- one member at a time, but also in how and why its leaders are chosen.
What do you think? Will Gary Odom go for it? And if he does, will he win it?
(Psst. The title is for alice. And I'm afraid that's all the mileage I'll get out of it.)
Government | By joe lance | 3:14 PM
Comments
While I am a Republican and would love to see Naifeh replaced as Speaker with a Republican, I would also be very happy with a different Democrat if that were the only other choice. Naifeh has broken House rules to stifle voices that did not agree with him.
Posted by: Josh Arrowood at November 1, 2008 5:40 PM
You earned an eye-roll with that one! ;-D
Posted by: alice at November 2, 2008 2:36 PM