Rep. Bruce Griffey
House Speaker Cameron Sexton on Monday reinstated fellow Republican Rep. Bruce Griffey to his committee assignments, less than two weeks after initially stripping them.
The dispute between the Henry County Republican and House leadership seemingly stemmed from Griffey’s unsuccessful effort to call a vote on an immigration bill that had previously failed in a subcommittee.
“They’ve met, they had conversations, there was a caucus meeting, and they are moving forward,” said Doug Kufner, a spokesperson for Sexton.
Griffey has not always had an easy time pushing his legislation during his two terms in the overwhelmingly Republican state legislature, despite an intense focus on bills that restrict or punish refugees and immigrants — especially undocumented ones — that frequently jives with beliefs held by many in the supermajority Republican caucus.
“I’ve got a little bit of a temper, a passion for my legislation,” Griffey said, referring to an argument with Sexton on the House floor that preceded his punishment. “If I got upset and said something to any members out of frustration or unhappiness, I told everybody I’m sorry if I offended anybody. I didn’t mean to offend anybody.”
According to Griffey, Sexton suggested that the two work on a bill together as the legislative session nears its close. Though he would not disclose the goal of the unfinished legislation, Griffey called it “good election law.” In addition to his typical anti-immigration legislation, Griffey has also turned his attention this year to anti-LGBTQ efforts, including one bill that would ban the use in schools of any instructional materials that “address lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, or transgender issues or lifestyles.”
Griffey’s punishment raised the hackles of his home county Republican Party, which approved a resolution chastising Sexton and calling on him to resign. Griffey said he was “grateful” for the support but did not coordinate with the group.
“Speaker Sexton and I sat down and met and talked and had a really good discussion,” Griffey said. “I think we both realized we both probably should have communicated with each other more, and more effectively. We both need each other. … We’ve got a lot more in common than things we differ on.”
