Tennessee Republicans are hoping to turn the “blue bastion of Nashville” red by splitting it up between two more Republican-strangled districts. Since every move the Republican Party makes seems to spit in the face of the law (at least for now, since so many right-wing activist judges have lifetime positions), the constitutionality of their gerrymandering moves is always in question.
On Tuesday, the Tennessee Senate’s Judiciary Committee held hearings on a new map that Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, and his GOP have offered up. After hearing from people who have called the move a clear attack on Tennessee’s Black voters, state senator Katrina Robinson (D-Memphis), addressed senator Johnson: “You’ve mentioned a few times that the Senate has sought legal counsel. Did the Senate retain outside counsel?”
State Sen. Johnson replied, “We did,” to which Sen. Robinson asked, “What counsel?”
The fact that Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson seems stunned by the question was only trumped by Johnson’s answer to this very easy, over-the-plate question.
Johnson responded, “I don’t know if I’m prepared to divulge that. I don’t know if I need to make that—that’s private legal counsel of the caucus.”
Those in attendance can be heard wondering aloud what kind of ridiculous answer is this. Sen. Robinson, more legitimately stunned by Johnson’s response, replies, “Okay. I know we represent the public,” and tries again: “Did they provide you legal advice?” Johnson responds, “Yes, they did.”
At which point Johnson asks Robinson whether or not the Democratic caucus “sought legal counsel,” which is the intellectual equivalent of Jack Johnson saying, “I know you are but what am I?”
Robinson responds: “We’re voting on your map. We’re voting on your map, and so I’m asking a question. Did they give you legal advice regarding this map?” State Sen. Johnson says “they” did.
Erik Schelzig, editor of the Tennessee Journal tweeted out, “Sen. Johnson is asked who advised the Senate on redistricting map. Weirdly, Johnson declines to say. Spoiler alert: It was John Ryder.” John Ryder is a “contributor” to The Federalist Society.
The Tennessee state senator is no stranger to being a corrupt piece of shit. Back in 2014, Johnson joined a fellow Tennessee Republican named Johnson (Curtis), in the grand hypocrisy of saying while they believe in a no regulations, free market, would champion an insurance company-sought bill that would add regulations that stripped away consumer protections by ridding the marketplace of legal funding companies that can help consumers challenge them in court.
Cagey much?
On Tuesday, the Tennessee Senate’s Judiciary Committee held hearings on a new map that Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, and his GOP have offered up. After hearing from people who have called the move a clear attack on Tennessee’s Black voters, state senator Katrina Robinson (D-Memphis), addressed senator Johnson: “You’ve mentioned a few times that the Senate has sought legal counsel. Did the Senate retain outside counsel?”
State Sen. Johnson replied, “We did,” to which Sen. Robinson asked, “What counsel?”
The fact that Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson seems stunned by the question was only trumped by Johnson’s answer to this very easy, over-the-plate question.
Johnson responded, “I don’t know if I’m prepared to divulge that. I don’t know if I need to make that—that’s private legal counsel of the caucus.”
Those in attendance can be heard wondering aloud what kind of ridiculous answer is this. Sen. Robinson, more legitimately stunned by Johnson’s response, replies, “Okay. I know we represent the public,” and tries again: “Did they provide you legal advice?” Johnson responds, “Yes, they did.”
At which point Johnson asks Robinson whether or not the Democratic caucus “sought legal counsel,” which is the intellectual equivalent of Jack Johnson saying, “I know you are but what am I?”
Robinson responds: “We’re voting on your map. We’re voting on your map, and so I’m asking a question. Did they give you legal advice regarding this map?” State Sen. Johnson says “they” did.
Erik Schelzig, editor of the Tennessee Journal tweeted out, “Sen. Johnson is asked who advised the Senate on redistricting map. Weirdly, Johnson declines to say. Spoiler alert: It was John Ryder.” John Ryder is a “contributor” to The Federalist Society.
The Tennessee state senator is no stranger to being a corrupt piece of shit. Back in 2014, Johnson joined a fellow Tennessee Republican named Johnson (Curtis), in the grand hypocrisy of saying while they believe in a no regulations, free market, would champion an insurance company-sought bill that would add regulations that stripped away consumer protections by ridding the marketplace of legal funding companies that can help consumers challenge them in court.
Cagey much?