Analysis: Special session displays growing rift among legislators
House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R- Crossville, puts on a mask as he leaves the House chamber after the first day of a special session Monday, Aug. 10, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. The special session was called by Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee to pass liability reforms to protect businesses from lawsuits prompted by reopening after the coronavirus quarantine. (Mark Humphrey/AP)
While some Republicans shied away from the notion they were targeting protesters with legislation toughening penalties for rowdiness, Democrats said the GOP-controlled Legislature put a "knee on their neck" during the 111th General Assembly second extraordinary special session.
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Bill Lee Randy McNally John DeBerry Jeff Yarbro William Lamberth Raumesh Akbari Bo Mitchell Subscriber OnlyThank you for supporting local journalism.
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Sam Stockard
Sam Stockard is a Nashville-based reporter with more than 30 years of journalism experience as a writer, editor and columnist covering the state Legislature and Tennessee politics for The Daily Memphian.
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