Tennessee House hopes to get budget back on track

NASHVILLE — Tennessee’s $37.1 billion annual spending plan was left in limbo Thursday after rebellious House Republicans and Democrats joined together to amend a budget that’s now about $500 million out of balance.

Unable to put the budget back together by mid-afternoon, top House leaders threw up their hands and adjourned until today.

Senators, who wanted the House to go first, adjourned until Monday.

Some Republicans in the fractured House GOP Caucus were hopeful a solution could be found by this morning.

“We got some people in our caucus that are unhappy, and pretty much stay unhappy, so they cut a deal with the Democrats to hijack the budget process, and they were successful today,” said House Finance Subcommittee Chairman Gerald McCormick, R-Chattanooga. “But again, hopefully, we’ll get it straightened out sooner rather than later.”

The House has been brewing all session among some hard-right Republicans angry over the state’s massive budget surplus, Republican Gov. Bill Haslam’s IMPROVE Act, which raised fuel taxes

while cutting some taxes, and other issues.

At the same time, the 23-member House Democratic Caucus, 23 of whose members supported the IMPROVE Act, charged that Haslam and the GOP went back on at least an understanding that an education block-grant program for local school districts would get funded.

The gas tax legislation, passed last week, was supported by 37 Republicans and opposed by 35.

Hard-right lawmakers accused Haslam and GOP leaders of cutting a deal with Democrats for their support on the gas tax. But the same faction began meeting Wednesday evening with Democrats and soon cooked up a coalition similar to one that torpedoed Tennessee’s Common Core education standards several years ago.

The results this time? They passed one amendment offered up by Rep. Judd Matheny, R-Tullahoma to hand out $300 million to help school systems across the state pay down debt on school construction.

Minority Leader Craig Fitzhugh, D-Ripley, got his $150 million amendment approved to create a pool of funds with interest or investment income going to local school districts.

Those and seven other successful amendments spurred Finance Chairman Charles Sargent, R-Franklin, to say the budget was so out of balance he wouldn’t vote for it.

Senators, including Finance Committee Chairman Bo Watson, R-Hixson, came to the House floor, marveling at the legislative train wreck.

Earlier, Rep. Matthew Hill, R-Jonesborough, clashed with McCormick over Hill’s $8 million amendment to help hospitals deal with drug-addicted newborns.

Hill spoke of his concern for the babies, spurring McCormick, the former majority leader, to ask, “Did you present this in any of the committees, in finance committee?”

After Hill acknowledged he had not, McCormick retorted sarcastically, “These poor little babies, you just thought of them this morning?”

“No, sir,” Hill said, “And I do not appreciate the insulting tone.”

Replied McCormick: “I don’t appreciate being used like this in a budget process, either.”

Hill rapped back: “I don’t appreciate the babies not being taken care of.”

Earlier, the tone in a hastily called GOP Caucus meeting was sometimes even harsher. Majority Leader Glen Casada, R-Franklin, and Caucus Chairman Ryan Williams of Cookeville complained of being blindsided by their members conspiring with Democrats.

Disaffected Republicans fired back, mostly led by a few Republicans whose leadership aspirations had been thwarted in past caucus elections.

After the House adjournment, Rep. Matheny and several colleagues spoke to Watson.

“They’re receptive to talking,” Matheny said Thursday evening, quickly adding, “Of course, the speaker [Sen. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge] is not here, so they can’t make a decision yet.”

Matheny said his and other Republicans’ goal is to send more money back to Tennessee taxpayers.

“The last thing we want to do is tank everything,” said Matheny, a former speaker pro tem.

The Associated Press quoted McNally, however, saying, senators are unlikely to adopt any of the changes.

“I would be for stripping off the amendment and sending them back a clean bill,” McNally said.