Republican House Speaker Cameron Sexton on Thursday stripped Rep. Bruce Griffey (R-Paris) of his committee assignments.
The decision was announced with no debate or explanation shortly before members left the Capitol for the week.
“There are certain expectations that must be met by members of the Tennessee House of Representatives,” Sexton tells the Scene through a spokesperson. “These include maintaining decorum and professionalism, as well as respect for others, and perhaps most importantly, respect for our longstanding committee process. If any or all of these expectations become an issue, appropriate actions will be taken — including removing a member from his or her committee assignments.”
The dispute appears to stem from a Monday argument between Griffey and House leaders. Griffey sought to revive a bill defeated in a subcommittee on the House floor, and according to the Tennessee Journal, “engaged in a testy exchange with Sexton and House parliamentarian Daniel Hicks.”
Griffey said he was not told about the reason for the punishment.
“I thought I left the fifth-grade school ground way back in fifth grade,” he tells the Scene.
The Republican Party in Griffey's home Henry County passed a resolution earlier this week censuring Sexton over the parliamentary dispute and calling on the speaker to resign his position.
During his two terms in the House, Griffey has frequently clashed with his fellow Republicans as he has pushed a legislative agenda largely focused on restricting or punishing illegal immigration. And he is eyeing the exits: Griffey said he is interested in some open judgeships back in Henry County.
“I like the law a lot better than I like politics,” he says.
