Crumbling decorum: Is it the new normal in the Tennessee State Capitol?

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Over the past 18 months, tension has risen in the State Capitol – so much so, that just in the last two weeks, we’ve seen two instances where lawmakers almost came to blows.

Last week, Rep. Scott Cepicky (R-Culleoka) and House Democratic Caucus Chair John Ray Clemmons (D-Nashville) came face-to-face over an alleged comment by Cepicky about Metro Nashville Public Schools.

This week, Rep. Vincent Dixie (D-Nashville) and Rep. Jason Zachary (R-Knoxville) nearly came to blows after Dixie interrupted Zachary in a Public Service Subcommittee Hearing. Zachary then demanded that Dixie not interrupt him, and each man threatened each other physically before cooler heads prevailed.

“We’re at the time of session where, gloves off,” Senate Democratic Caucus Chair London Lamar (D-Memphis) said.

With it almost feeling commonplace, particularly in the House, it begs the question: Is this the new normal?

Republicans invoked an incident involving Andrew Jackson in the 1800s to answer the question.

“He beat the man with his cane. When asked by many of the press corps of that time, supposedly, of that incident, all his response was, ‘At least I didn’t shoot him,’” House Majority Leader William Lamberth (R-Portland) said. “Now look, that’s difficult political times.”

Democrats pointed out that when Jackson beat Richard Lawrence with his cane, it came after Lawrence unsuccessfully attempted to assassinate Jackson.

They also say Republicans force them to lash out by ignoring them during discussions on bills and instead looking to quickly pass without their input.

“They feel like they have a right to disrespect all of us,” Lamar said. “Then they expect you not to respond or get angry.”

But House Republicans maintained things are, more or less, normal, and that every session has its kinks that need to be worked out.

“When things get heated around here, and you have disagreements, people are passionate about the things they care about,” Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) said. “Sometimes, that leads to some conversations, and in the end, sometimes cooler heads do prevail. But we’re not uncommon like anybody else out there.”

Thursday was a microcosm of the atmosphere that has existed throughout session. It took nearly an hour before the House even finished discussing its first bill, marred with several controversial comments and pauses to sort them out.

Even then, House Republicans cut debate off early while Democrats’ hands were still up (to speak on the bill).

“Anytime we utter the slightest thing that’s quote-unquote off-topic, we’re silenced or censured or Rule 19’d,” Rep. Justin Jones (D-Nashville) said. “But when they do it, time and time again, as we saw today on the House floor, they’re allowed to continue.”

Even the Senate has seen its flare-ups this year. Just last week on a criminal justice reform bill, Sen. Brent Taylor, the bill’s sponsor, insinuated that anyone against the bill was ‘soft on crime.’ One Republican, Sen. Todd Gardenhire (R-Chattanooga) had previously come out against the bill.

“I demand an apology from Senator Taylor!” Gardenhire said, animatedly, on the Senate floor.

Ultimately, Taylor apologized.

“It wasn’t really, you know, a bad type situation,” Lt. Gov. Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge) said. “But we’re going to try and make sure that that doesn’t happen.”

It’s not to say it’s always 100% divided.

In fact, Thursday saw both parties come together to unanimously pass a bill to designate June 6th, which is D-Day, as a day of special observance.

But lately, the flare-ups have captured more attention than the agreements.