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Rep. Mumpower prepares for 'a new order'
Speaker hopeful says education is a top GOP priority
(read article carefully for Mumpower's legislative priorities)
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20081116/NEWS0201/811160421/-1/NLETTER01?source=nletter-news
BY THEO EMERY • THE TENNESSEAN • NOVEMBER 16, 2008
In early 2007, soon after Republicans gained a majority in the state Senate, House Minority Leader Jason Mumpower stood in the chamber well to deliver a speech predicting a new day in the General Assembly and quoting from Niccolo Machiavelli's treatise on ruthless court politics, The Prince. "A new dawn has arisen, and a new order of things is at hand," he declared, before returning to his seat.
That new dawn arrived this month. On Nov. 5, the sun rose over Capitol Hill with a GOP gain of four seats in the House and a tighter 19-14 grip on the Senate, putting the party in charge of the entire General Assembly.
Republicans elated by their Election Day wins credit Mumpower, who probably will unseat Jimmy Naifeh as House speaker in January after 18 years.
Mumpower, 35, said the GOP House agenda is still under discussion, but the party will make education a priority and push for it to be taken up early in the budget process. He also expects to press for pro-business legislation, and quickly pass bills long bottlenecked in the House, including a constitutional amendment on abortion and firearm bills, before dealing with the budget.
Worried Democrats fret that if the Bristol Republican becomes speaker, he will lead with a heavy hand and shriller partisanship.
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Republican Speaker Appears Certain
As speaker, he would listen respectfully to Democrats and Republicans, he said, though that respect would vary depending on how much it was deserved. As to his style, should he gain the top post: "I will have a strong back and an iron fist, but it will be tempered with a velvet glove."
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Rise To Power Was Quiet
Some fellow lawmakers say Mumpower was something of an unknown quantity before 2007, a quiet member who wasn't particularly known among Democrats. Elected in 1996, he cut his teeth in politics working on the House campaign of now-Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, who became a political mentor.
"Jason has an unbelievable canny for politics. He has an ability to always amaze me. He always has a feel for what needs to be done, and when it needs to be done, and most of all he's a hard worker," Ramsey said.
Mumpower quickly gained attention when he campaigned to unseat then-Minority Leader Bill Dunn in 2006. Fellow members described him as meticulous and a highly organized strategist. In addition to The Prince, he also has a copy of Sun Tzu's The Art of War in his office within easy reach.
Lawmakers noted a brisk uptick in partisan sparring after he took over the GOP leadership in the House. Last session, he and Majority Leader Gary Odom sometimes traded sharp words on the floor. With his shaved head, Mumpower can cut an imposing figure; during one roll call vote last session, he stalked up and down the aisle, glowering and tapping in his hand the metal baton he used to press his voting button.
 Exposed: Rep. Jason Mumpower Twirls Baton While On The Tennessee House Floor http://matthewlistens.blogspot.com/2008/06/exposed-rep-jason-mumpower-twirls-baton.htmlThe Prince
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Prince |
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