The Tennessee House of Representatives has passed a $29 billion budget for Tennessee that includes funding for needed flood relief in Nashville and Middle and West Tennessee and a study program on infant mortality, but which scraps the $16.1 million for a fish hatchery in Carter County that was originally a project of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), but that has been pushed for late in the session by House Speaker Kent Williams (R-Elizabethton). The Senate already approved of the measure last night before the House voted today.
After such a contentious fight over the budget, the final bill passed the House 94-0 in what can only be viewed as a show of unity. In the end, it is probably likely that House Speaker Kent Williams was coming to understand that in holding up the passage of the budget he was weakening his position in the House, where he had made it clear in last year's session that he wants to try and run for Speaker of the House again (increased Republican numbers in the House would make Williams' re-election as Speaker far less likely, but history has shown those who follow the Tennessee Legislature that not only is it not impossible, but that much stranger things have happened during opening week of a Tennessee General Assembly).
For Lieutenant Governor Ron Ramsey, it is in his interest for the General Assembly to adjourn quickly because Ramsey, who is running for Governor, is losing valuable time on the campaign trail.
Meanwhile, the House and Senate must now take dozens of bills through the message and conference process and consider bills which are "behind the budget," or were dependent on the passage of the budget in order to be considered. Most Hill sources believe the General Assembly could adjourn sine die by tomorrow.
Note: After a great deal of haggling on the floor over the recess time and the time for reconvening, the Tennessee House of Representatives stands in recess until this coming Tuesday, June 8, 2010 at 1:00pm Central time
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