Nashville News Blog

Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey said today he told House Speaker Kent Williams he ought to quit the Republican Party and become an independent. "I sat down and talked with Kent Williams about this in my office, and to be honest, I think it'd be better for him if he was independent," Ramsey said. "I think it would be better if he made that choice instead of being kicked out of the party. I think the whole atmosphere, the whole situation would work better if he was an independent."

Ramsey made the comments at the Tennessee Press Association winter meeting, which is being held downtown. On Monday, GOP chair Robin Smith is supposed to announce whether the party is giving Williams the boot.

Also at the TPA meeting, House Democratic Leader Gary Odom said Williams could join his party. "If the Republican Party wants to remove him, I would welcome him on my side of the aisle. I'd like the title of majority leader instead of just Democratic leader."


As part of a panel discussion, former Sen. Bob Rochelle predicted the GOP will kick out Williams. "Never underestimate the ability of the Republican Party to screw things up," he said. Rochelle, a Democrat, said that by punishing Williams, the party is trying to assert control of the legislature's decisions, which he said would rob voters of independent thinkers.

Rochelle predicted lawmakers soon will forget all the ill feelings over Williams' election as speaker. "The dynamic is, whether you're a Democrat or a Republican, you're looking for votes. You're looking to get things done. The legislature will be in its usual stance, which you won't like either," he told the press association.

Lobbyist Mark Greene said, "It's really uncharted waters up there now. The level of animosity and really sheer hatred right now is off the scale."