Formerly expelled Representatives Justin Jones, D-Nashville, and Justin J. Pearson, D-Memphis, will serve on multiple House committees during the special session on public safety this week.
Tuesday morning House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, reappointed both to the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee and Subcommittee. Jones will additionally serve on the Education Administration and Transportation Committees and Pearson will serve on the Education Instruction and Local Government Committees and the Elections and Campaign Subcommittee.
Jones himself questioned whether he’d serve on any committees before the appointment and that led to a heated discussion when Sexton ruled the Nashville lawmaker out of order, without answering the question.
“So members can ask about the heat in the building, but I can’t ask about committees that my constituents sent me here to represent them on? Is that what you’re telling me?” asked Jones.
Representative Pearson also provided criticism for Speaker Sexton and Republican leadership in the morning session. Pearson objected to strict House rules that punish members for repeated disruptions and prohibit spectators from holding signs in the gallery.
“I want to welcome the folks from Memphis, District 86, and people around Tennessee who are here advocating for the end of the gun violence epidemic in our communities, who are still showing up and who are still speaking up and ordered that the voices of people who are no longer here due to this epidemic might have a voice. And your presence here today despite the rules that have been made shows that this movement cannot die and that the movement that lifts up the voices of marginalized and oppressed people will be heard and will be seen,” said Pearson.
It’s the latest in a series of conflicts between the Democratic Representatives and Republican leadership in the House.
In April, House Republicans expelled Jones and Pearson for protesting gun laws in the well of House chambers with a bullhorn. Leaders in Memphis and Nashville reappointed both less than a week later.
Jones and Pearson won reelection to their seats this month.
Both Representatives have been strong advocates for gun reforms.
Over the summer months, Jones met with Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley and Black Lives Matter co-founder Alicia Garza. Pearson has been active in Memphis, joining rallies for gun reform and has made an appearance on the Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell.
Representative Jones and Pearson will face limits to how much they can discuss gun reforms in the special session.
Lawmakers will be limited to only discussing the 18 topics Governor Bill Lee laid out in his proclamation and gun reform is not among them.
