THEN SHE DOESN’T KNOW MUCH HISTORY: Tenn. lawmaker shocked Democrats were locked in House chamber.

Johnson said just before a 15-minute recess shortly after 5 p.m. Central, Democrats learned they did not have anyone on the three-person committee for a controversial TennCare Block Grant Bill.

Before the recess was over, Johnson said she and other Democrats decided to go outside to strategize their next move when the session resumed. Their next move met an unexpected obstacle.

“The speaker told the troopers to lock the doors and not let anyone leave,” said Johnson. “We told the speaker you have to let us out. You can’t do this. The speaker said I can do whatever I want, basically saying he was above the law.”

“State law is very clear,” said Rep. Casada later Thursday night. “You have been elected to be in there. If you shirk your responsibilities, several of the actions that can be taken is state troopers can bring you back in there [the House chamber].”

When Tennessee ratified the 14th Amendment, the Democrats (who opposed ratification) absented themselves to prevent a quorum. The speaker, consistent with the rules that allowed the Sergeant at Arms or his deputies to enforce a quorum, hired detectives to go out and bring them back. Then they were locked in until after the vote. Compared to that, this is nothing.