Exposed: Rep. Jason Mumpower Twirls Baton While On The Tennessee House Floor

An online news article recently appearing within Tennessean.com exposed Rep. Jason Mumpower for practing the manly Sullivan County performance art of baton twirling while on the floor of the Tennessee House of Representatives:

Tennesseean.com: Partisan snipes, procedural stunts on rise at statehouse
By Theo Emery
Staff Writer
April 28, 2008

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Former Rep. W.C. "Bubba" Pleasant, a Republican who represented the West Tennessee city of Arlington said that lawmakers are usually "on edge" as the legislative year comes to an end. He used to watch the drama unfold, then rise occasionally to give what he called "love speeches" to lighten the mood.

"If people could just somehow realize how important it is to put the silly stuff aside and really and truly try to do things to benefit every citizen," he said.

While there have been a few dustups in recent months, House sessions have largely been congenial and free of open hostility. Between ceremonies for victorious sports teams, beauty queens and musicians, lawmakers voted on some bills while deferring others for later consideration.

A sign of a mood shift came April 17, shortly after Rep. Brenda Gilmore, a Nashville Democrat, rose to support her bill on sewage systems. Moments later, Rep. Matthew Hill, a Jonesborough Republican, spoke in support of an amendment.

The amendment had nothing to do with sewage; rather, it sought to attach a provision to allow business owners to require workers to speak English while on the job.

The law had passed the Senate, but died in the House. Hill urged fellow lawmakers to adopt it, saying he meant no disrespect to Gilmore but felt it was needed.

The amendment caused an uproar. Gilmore said she had not been told of the amendment and was "really disappointed" in Hill. Rep. Mike Turner requested that the amendment be quashed.

Both sides shouted support or opposition to tabling the amendment. With House Minority Leader Jason Mumpower stalking among the GOP ranks hefting a metal baton he uses to vote with, the amendment died on a near straight party-line vote.

Tempers Cool, Reignite

The furor died down and the original bill was approved. The issue resurfaced when Majority Leader Gary Odom got up to scold Republicans.

"We can play these games for the next few weeks that we're going to be in session. That's going to make the days a lot longer and a lot harder," he said.

Mumpower jumped to his feet, saying "nothing that's happened is out of line with what has been the common practice of this House.

"I do hope that everyone conducts themselves in as courteous a manner as possible, at the same time recognizing that issues important to the people we represent may come up at the last minute," he said.

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