Congressman Cohen Urges General Assembly to Consider Alternatives to Members’ Expulsion

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) has been following the controversy over three Tennessee state House members’ breach of decorum and chamber rules following last week’s Covenant School shootings, and made the following statement:

“As a former state Senator and current Member of Congress, I understand the need for compliance with rules in a legislative body. But I would hope that the Tennessee House leadership would consider a lesser consequence for Members whose passion on the issue of gun violence in the wake of the Covenant School shootings may have briefly clouded their concern for decorum. Expelling Members Justin Pearson, Gloria Johnson and Justin Jones will result in the disenfranchisement of their constituents in Memphis, Knoxville and Nashville who voted for them, and result in the unnecessary expense of primary and general elections. While I appreciate that order must be maintained in a legislative chamber, the heightened emotions prompted by the horrific Covenant School shootings should be a mitigating factor in any disciplinary response.”

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