No WhiteWash!

A story that is not getting out to the public is the situation that the Tennessee House of Representatives Republicans are faced with in the Kent Williams issue.  East TN Conservative blog mentioned some of the problems, but I would like to add some more information below.

The Democrats and Kent Williams kept the Republicans essentially in the halls of the War Memorial Building…unable to sit at a desk, no staff, unable to produce bills, unable to smoothly support the constituents.

It is possible that Kent Williams is in over his head in dealing with the below issues or he is more Democrat than he claims to be.

- The Democrats own all the Committee research staff.

- Democrats have 1 on 1 admin support. Most Republicans share an admin person – thus constituent service for voters is reduced.

- Work load capability is reduced by one half.

- Because of Williams, the Democrats have been seated in their offices for 3 weeks, and that is with their individual admin staff.

- The Republican admin people are also paid less than democrat admin people.

NASHVILLE — Tennessee GOP Chairman Robin Smith today declared that House Speaker Kent Williams will no longer be considered a Republican.

Party bylaws give Smith, as state chair, the final decision on whether an individual can be considered a Republican.  Read more on Kent Williams

Members of the State Executive Committee:

As you know, I have announced that I will be making the results of my deliberations on the Williams matter public today.

It is my first duty as Chairman to keep you informed of the activities of the TRP and wanted you to know the result I will announce before it is made public.

I have reviewed documentation presented by members of the Legislature, members of this Committee and Mr. Williams’ comments, both public and private, in the course of coming to this decision. It has been my intention to move deliberately to gain an idea of the course Mr. Williams intends to take. With you, I have watched his actions.

We have watched during the last 28 days to see if Kent Williams would assign the 13 Committee Chairmanships to the Republican Majority. He did not.

We watched to see how Rep. Williams would assign office space and staff to the Republican Majority. He has crammed 49 of his colleagues in 46 offices.

We have watched Rep. Williams maintain the same wage practices with Democrat staff earning more than the Republican staff, even as democrat staffers are assigned to fewer representatives.

We have learned that Mr. Williams has met with Governor Bredesen as the “Republican Representative” on the critical issue of the budget. Mr. Williams has withheld all of this information from the Republican Caucus encumbering their policy statements and decisions.

We have been repeatedly informed that Rep. Williams refuses to caucus with the Republicans.

We requested that members of the Caucus provide the TRP with specific examples of assistance that Rep. Williams has given to our candidates, caucus or party. None could.

So it is with regret that I inform you of my decision to remove Kent Williams’ status as a bona fide Republican. In the end, I must do what I believe to be right in this matter and not just what might be the politically or strategically expedient response. The principles we value must be placed above mere political calculation.

With this decision, we send a message that Tennessee Republicans expect better. Our party is not the tool to achieve personal power. The grassroots members who work so hard will not have their dedication sold to the highest bidder. Ours will be the Party of principle standing on integrity and honor.

It is now time to move forward. My staff and I are already out recruiting candidates, raising money and preparing for 2010. Next year we will elect a Republican governor and strengthen our majority in the legislature. I am honored to have you along on our journey.

Sincerely,

Robin T. Smith
Chairman
Tennessee Republican Party

My analysis is that the Tennessee Republican Party will take action on removing Rep. Kent Williams from the GOP.

With Williams acting as the head of the House GOP, the House Republican Caucus are cut out of the information loop.  Ejecting Williams, puts the GOP elected leadership back in the management loop and it should put Mumpower as the senior Republican in the House to represent all Republicans in House matters.

I feel the decision of the GOP will be revealed Monday before they go back in session Monday evening. They want him ejected so as to more accurately reflect the facts as they are in the Legislature. At this point, the GOP is a majority in name only.

They may also want to avoid any more embarrassment or any other future behavior problems that Kent Williams might get himself in

The Republicans are the majority in name only….a dangerous circumstance, as the Democrats can say,"well, you are the majority and responsible for …..for whatever. The Republicans need to be masters of their own destiny. Getting rid of Kent does that.

I predict Kent Williams will be booted out of the GOP.