UPDATE: Sen. Tommy Kilby has blocked a vote on the bill in the Senate committee. Kilby is bullying committee members, and they don't like it. Notes taking during live video stream after the jump...
UPDATE: Tom Humphrey files this report on the House subcommittee vote. Voting against the bill were William Baird, R-Jacksboro; George Fraley, D-Winchester; Joe McCord, R-Maryville; Frank Niceley, R-Strawberry Plains; and John Tidwell, D-New Johnsonville.
UPDATE: Just came up in Senate committee. Sen. Finney requested postponement until next week. Chair Sen. Tommy Kilby advises that any bill killed by the House would not come to a vote in his Senate committee. Finney argues that committee chair does not have the authority to kill a bill.
Sen. Doug Jackson argues that three member of the House should not be able to dictate the Senate committee's hearings. Members have the right to have their bills scheduled and heard. Kilby will confer with the clerk of the Senate on rules. Says he has been very fair, heard several presentations, heard more than any bill on their calendar. Jackson says there is nothing in Senate rule book preventing debate and vote on bills killed in House subcommittees. Has never heard of a member's request to have his bill heard being rejected.
Sen. Bunch says rules allow for two ways the House can have the bill heard, one if Committee pulls it up for rehearing, or second if House members request vote on the floor. Does not expect the House to do either, but the bill will be back next year regardless, and it needs an accurate fiscal impact note, and does not think the committee has adequate information to vote now. Doesn't trust information being provided by proponents. A major bill that we need to move slowly on. Needs more study, perhaps a summer study.
Sen. Steve Roller wants to move forward with the bill, either next week, or with a study committee, because this is an important issue.
Sen. Kilby says if it continues, he will be making comments about how this bill affects his community, and Sen. Finney's district where development is being done on mountains that he doesn't like either, but he hasn't followed up on it because it's not his district.
They are now hearing from the AG's office on recent rulings about legality of the legislation. It does not appear there will be a vote today in the Senate committee, at best it will be next week.
