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VOL. 124 | NO. 73 | Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Senate Panel Kills Measure to Add Statewide Votes
AP
NASHVILLE (AP) – A proposal to amend the Tennessee Constitution to popularly elect the lieutenant governor and secretary of state has failed in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The panel voted 2-2 with three abstentions Tuesday on the measure sponsored by Chattanooga Democratic Sen. Andy Berke. Proposals need to gain the support of at least five of the committee's nine members to advance.
Senate Judiciary Chairwoman Mae Beavers of Mt. Juliet and Sen. Diane Black of Gallatin said they voted against Berke's measure because it did not include the election of the attorney general.
A similar proposal that also did not include the attorney general earned unanimous Republican support when it passed the Senate on a 20-10 vote last year. That measure ultimately died in the House.
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