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House Speaker Williams vows to run for re-election in 2010

Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, left, and House Speaker Kent Williams chat at the Elizabethton/Carter County Chamber of Commerce Legislative Breakfast Friday. Ron Campbell photo.

 

ELIZABETHTON — Tennessee House Speaker Kent Williams didn’t mince words about his political future Friday in front of a business-friendly crowd on his home turf.

“The good Lord willing ... if he keeps me healthy physically and mentally — and the mental part I really stress — I will seek re-election in 2010 to the House of Representatives in the 4th District,” Williams, a second term Carter County Republican lawmaker and Elizabethton restaurant operator, told about 175 people at an Elizabethton/Carter County Chamber of Commerce Legislative Breakfast.

The man Williams beat out to be House speaker, House GOP Leader Jason Mumpower of Bristol, was scheduled to speak at the event but didn’t attend.

Williams had committed to vote for Mumpower before voting for himself along with 49 House Democrats in January’s surprise House speaker election.

Williams, who afterward was stripped of his party affiliation by Tennessee Republican Party Chairwoman Robin Smith, did not mention Mumpower, whose seat at the front table remained vacant.

“I know I’m going to have some challenges,” Williams said. “I’ve had a couple of problems with my own party, but we’re getting those ironed out. We just have a small minority, I think, here in Carter County that would rather see someone out of Nashville tell us what to do in Carter County than to have our own down there. But like I said, that’s a small minority, and I think in 2010 in November we’ll show what a small minority that is.”

Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey of Blountville, who supported Mumpower, told the crowd he is working well with Williams.

“The speaker of the House and the speaker of the Senate have to work together — period,” Ramsey said after getting a partial standing ovation.

Both Williams and Ramsey indicated they are turning their attention to dealing with Gov. Phil Bredesen’s proposed $29.3 billion budget, chock-full of federal stimulus money to be spread out over two years.

“Where we have to be extremely careful is not to use any (stimulus) dollars of any kind for recurring (expenses),” Williams said. “Sticking points will be the FONCE (a proposal to end the tax exemption for family-owned non-corporate entities) and probably the increase in tax on HMOs (health maintenance organizations).”

Ramsey suggested there will be a compromise on the FONCE provision — something the Bredesen administration maintains has been abused by out-of-state investors.

“We’re looking at a compromise where we get the people who are taking advantage of the system, yet we don’t get the small family-owned businesses,” said Ramsey, a 2010 gubernatorial candidate.

State Sen. Rusty Crowe, R-Johnson City, insisted Tennessee is better positioned to weather the bad economy as opposed to California, which is facing a $42 billion deficit.

“Republicans control flow of legislation in the Senate,” Crowe said of the state Senate, where Republicans enjoy a 19-14 majority. “We’re going to see innovative changes that change the face of our state.”

Also speaking at the event was U.S. Rep. Phil Roe, who railed against the federal stimulus package he voted against but was passed by Congress.

“No congressman had a chance to read it, and guess what — less than six weeks later you find these AIG bonuses in there because nobody took the time to read the legislation,” the Johnson City Republican said of the stimulus legislation. “That’s $800 billion. ... Thirty years from now our grandchildren will be paying for it. The money will go away in two years, but the bill to pay for it will not.”

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Exactly right! We the people are responsible for this. Since they won't vote for term limits, we must do it for them.

indie48 Cee | 3/28/2009 - 3:21 PM - (Suggest Removal )

Amen! You hit the nail on the head. They don't serve the people. They serve their interests and the interests of the select few.

Brother Early | 3/28/2009 - 2:20 PM - (Suggest Removal )

Well said Jay! Ramsey and Mumpower are prime examples of politicians taking a free ride , have effectively started running their own agendas and stopped listening to the very people that worked so hard to put them in office.
Two terms is about all they can represent the people, after that they represent their own narrow interests.
As far as the US Congress goes, there should also be an end to lifetime compensation. Just one term and they can continue to be paid their salary and benefits for the rest of their lives. This is terribly unfair!!

Kim Shaffer | 3/28/2009 - 8:41 AM - (Suggest Removal )

2nd term this should be it for him, No one in government should be allowed to serve more than 2 terms it is a service to the country not so much a job and anything more than 2 years makes it to easy for the corruption to become common place which is the problem with congress anyway. Now if there was just a way to get them to vote it. Yeah Right.

Jay Johansen | 3/28/2009 - 8:06 AM - (Suggest Removal )

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