January 29, 2007

We Won, Remember?

Democrats in the Tennessee state Senate are whining that they didn't get more committee chairmanships and comittee seats, reports Knoxville News Sentinel reporter Tom Humphrey. But new Republican Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey's response to complaints that Republicans, who hold a 17-16 majority, numerically control all of the committees and chair all of the important ones, is perfect: "Control is not just fair. It's a given. We won, remember?"

Much is made by Democrats of former Lt. Gov. John Wilder's alleged bipartisanship and fairness in doling out committee assignments, but the truth is Wilder always kept Democrats in charge of the committees that matter most - committees like Judiciary, and Finance, where Republican legislation was routinely stopped even after Republicans won a majority in the Senate two years ago.