BREAKING: Shelby County Commission Reappoints Justin Pearson to TN House of Representatives
By Jennifer Van Laar | 3:30 PM on April 12, 2023
As everyone watching knew would happen, Justin Pearson, one of the “Tennessee Three” expelled from the state legislature after helping lead an insurrection, has been reappointed to the Tennessee House of Representatives by the Shelby County Commission.
Rep. Justin Jones, the other Democrat lawmaker expelled last week, was reappointed Monday afternoon.
Although Jones and Pearson were reappointed, the GOP Speaker doesn’t have to seat them – given their conduct and that they’re completely unrepentant, that would be justified – but he’s going to.
As Bonchie wrote:
You have to wonder what the point of expulsion is in Tennessee if the expelled members can simply be reinstated almost immediately. I would assume the plain letter of the law intended for there to be a real successor, not a reappointment, otherwise, there would be no point in having the ability to expel in the first place. Given that, the GOP shouldn’t just shrug their shoulders at this. They should refuse to seat Jones and take legal action if necessary. As of now, the Speaker is indicating that won’t happen, though.
With that said, if there is truly nothing else the GOP can do here legally and this ended up being another type of censure, I’m still fine with that. One of the things Republican voters have complained about for years is the unwillingness of their elected representatives to even try to do what is right. Sometimes you engage in battle and you end up in a stalemate, which may happen here, but I’d rather see Republicans engage than make excuses about why they must sit on their hands and do nothing. In sports, you miss every shot you refuse to take. It’s no different in politics.
more
https://redstate.com/jenvanlaar/2023/04/12/breaking-shelby-county-commission-reappoints-justin-pearson-to-tn-house-of-representatives-n730338
