Tennessee Republicans in 'rush to adjourn' after 'feeling the heat' for expelling Black Democrats
April 13, 2023
Republicans in Tennessee are reportedly running for the exits on their current legislative session that has seen them draw national condemnation for expelling two Black Democratic lawmakers for leading an on-floor protest against gun violence.
Phil Williams, an investigative reporter at News Center 5, reports on Twitter that the Tennessee GOP is in a "rush to adjourn" and is speeding up its legislative calendar by roughly two weeks.
"Feeling the intensifying public heat, multiple sources telling me that Tennessee House Republicans are telling members to pack for a long week when they come back Monday," he writes. "They hope to adjourn by Friday or Saturday."
The independent progressive outlet The Tennessee Holler echoed Williams' report.
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"We are hearing the same," the publication writes on Twitter. "Tennessee Republicans want to end the scrutiny and are scrambling to end this session sooner than expected."
The decision to oust Democratic State Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson for disrupting business on the floor of the Tennessee House of Representatives sparked major protests at the state Capitol and drew national attention to the actions by Tennessee Republicans.