Opinion by Van Jones, CNN
Updated 9:30 PM EST, Sun March 3, 2024
Many were shocked last year when the Tennessee legislature dramatically expelled state representatives Justin Jones and Justin Pearson. Their offense? Breaching decorum by speaking out in favor of common-sense gun reform alongside Rep. Gloria Johnson — something it seems many of their constituents wanted them to do.
But nobody was more stunned by their expulsion than I was. I started my political career as a legislative intern in that majestic building in Nashville. The procedure unfolding on TV last year made the place seem like a circus. (After their expulsion, Pearson and Jones were both reappointed to their seats; the GOP-controlled Tennessee House recently passed a bill seeking to ban such reappointments.)
The Tennessee Capitol has always been a colorful place, with interesting characters and drama. But in my time, it was still an orderly body with a general sense of bipartisan fairness. The actions taken against what came to be known as the “Tennessee Three” seemed to be the opposite of any of that. So I went home to see with my own eyes if things were indeed as bad as they seemed.
And honestly, they’re worse than I imagined. The GOP is imposing one-party rule in a way that barely gives elected Democrats the right to speak — let alone have substantive input on any legislation.
R&I~Smit
Truth and Reality
Article URL : https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/02/opinions/tennessee-three-the-whole-story-justin-pearson-justin-jones-van-jones/index.html