GOP's hold on House is in danger, and Tim Burchett is big part of why | Ashe

U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett continues to embarrass many of his constituents.

Last month, he chased former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy down the hall like a third grader on the playground after claiming McCarthy elbowed him.

But now McCarthy has resigned, effective in a week. This reduces the GOP margin in the House from four seats to two seats.

Burchett can rightfully take some credit (or blame) for such a slim margin. McCarthy would never have resigned had he not been removed as speaker, and Burchett was among the eight Republicans (the Crazy Eights, as McCarthy calls them) who joined with Democrats to remove the speaker.

Many longtime Republicans are questioning Burchett’s loyalty to the Republican party when his votes are increasingly harmful to the House GOP. The Democrats could easily become the new majority just through resignations or even deaths of Republican members.

New House Speaker Mike Johnson has a three-seat margin out of 433, formerly 435. With that slim of a margin, Democrats could win a motion to vacate the speaker’s seat if four Republicans were absent.

And it's likely to get worse. Right now, Democrats are very likely to capture the New York seat of ousted Rep. George Santos, narrowing the GOP margin in the house to just two votes.

Former longtime municipal judge John Rosson was reprimanded by the Tennessee Board of Judicial Conduct on Nov. 15 in an order signed by board chair G. Andrew Brigham.

Brigham wrote, “As an experienced judge with 36 years on the bench, you should have known that it was improper to hold a campaign event in your courtroom. In doing so, you leveraged judicial office for your own purposes, something ethics rules prohibit. As a result, the investigative panel decided to impose a public reprimand, which you have accepted.

“In imposing this sanction, the panel considered in mitigation that you have taken full responsibility, have offered no excuses for your actions and have no disciplinary history as a judge. The board trusts the reprimand imposed today will result in an elevated consciousness regarding your ethical obligations as a judge and the standards to which all judges and judicial candidates must adhere when campaigning for office.”

Rosson’s term ended Dec. 16, and Tyler Caviness is now the municipal judge. It is unfortunate for Rosson that he ends 36 years with this reprimand, but he can take pride in overseeing a smooth transition to Caviness. This is Caviness’ first full week as judge. At 32, he is the youngest judge in city history.

Steve King, 68, deputy engineering director, retires Dec. 29 after 45 years and 10 months with the city. It makes him one of the longest serving city employees in history. Kincannon presented him a proclamation at a retirement event.

Former Gov. Bill Haslam appointed King engineering director and twice appointed him to the Tennessee State Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners, which he served on for 10 years.

King was elected several times by his fellow employees to serve on the city pension board. He survived an attempt to abolish his position with a favorable decision by the civil service board hearing officer.

Birthdays 

Dec. 21: East Tennessee Realtors government officer Hancen Sale is 26. Former County Commissioner Brad Anders is 51. Jim Cortese is 70. Attorney Heidi A. Barcus is 58. John L. Billings is 44. Jane Fonda is 86.

Dec. 22: Karen Robinson is 63. Avice Evans Reid is 71. Jack Whetsel is 39. Victor Jernigan is 73. Timothy J. Robinson is 64.

Dec. 23: Knoxville artist Mike Galyon is 73. Knox Planning Commissioner Jacquelene Dent is 30. Timothy M. Blair is 66. Kelly Absher is 50. Jeannie Johnson is 74.

Dec. 24: Townsend Collins is 83. Former city law director Michael Kelley is 63. Kimberly Peterson is 53. James R. Bailes is 74. Dr. Anthony Fauci is 83. Martha McGaha Hays is 67.

Dec. 25: Former Mayor Daniel Brown is 78. Dr. Kristen Ploetze is 36. Tommy Doles is 28. Andrea Schneibel is 38. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is 52. Glenn Matlock is 81. Linda Schmid is 67.

Dec. 26: Election Commission Administrator Chris Davis is 54. Melissa Peters is 67. Mike Steely is 77. Attorney W. Dale Amburn is 69. Businessman Bryan Davis is 61. Gayle Bustin is 68. Alexander Lee is 25.

Dec. 27: Brenda Cox is 72. Donald Bowdle is 64.

Hope all have a great Christmas.

Victor Ashe can be reached at vhashe@aol.com.

Victor Ashe is a former Knoxville mayor and former ambassador to Poland. He is a columnist for Shopper News. 

Knox News and Shopper News promptly correct all errors. If you think we have published incorrect information, please email accuracy@knoxnews.com. Describe the error, where you saw it, the date, page number or the URL.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: GOP's hold on House in danger, and Burchett is big part of why | Ashe