Budget battles ongoing

Legislators say they are close, but things almost come to blows

Email | Print By Ken Whitehouse

Legislators in both the State House and State Senate tell NashvillePost.com that they think they are close to working out their differences over the state budget, saying that they believe that will be able to avoid a conference committee.

If a conference committee were to occur, the state legislature could remain in session for a few more weeks as most every aspect of the budget would be negotiated in detail.

Over the course of the past few weeks, tension has been rising among elected officials as they jockey for position to assure that funding or cuts to specific programs remain in place. That tension apparently boiled over yesterday in a House Republican Caucus meeting.

According to multiple sources, Rep. Charles Sargent was addressing the caucus about bonding issues related to state bridges. Speaker of the House Kent Williams was present and apparently took issue with some of Sargent's facts and kept stating that the caucus was getting bad information.

Sources say that Williams was speaking out of turn and was told to wait his turn by GOP Leader Jason Mumpower. When Williams did not acquiesce to Mumpower, Rep. Gerald McCormick of Chattanooga told him to "sit down and wait his turn."

McCormick tells NashvillePost.com that Williams "took umbrage" with his request so he "moved a little closer to hear him." Sources say the tension led some Republican members to rise to make sure the two remained separated. They say that McCormick demanded Williams leave, with Williams responding to the "request" with the reply, "make me."

When McCormick kept moving towards Williams, ostensibly to "hear him better," sources say that Williams used the term "fat boy" towards the gentleman from Hamilton County.

Both Williams and McCormick tell NashvillePost.com that they have since met and "are friends." Williams says that McCormick is a "great legislator" and declined to comment further other than acknowledging that sometimes politics can get a little heated.