Wait'll next year . . .

The State Senate voted today (here) to concur with the House's amendments to SB1573 (here), that is, a majority of Senators voted against a governor's override provision as part of the changes to Tennessee's commission-based system of judicial selection.

It was quick and without fanfare, and eight Republican senators joined the Democrats to pass the version of the bill preferred by the Lawyers' Lobby.

Until proponents of commission-based selection of judges change the Constitution to accommodate their preferred system, this issue will not go away; so look for a battle when the Judicial Commissions come up for review again in two years.

And look for the issue to come up in primaries and general elections in 2010. ;)

Voting Aye: (* - Republican; ** - Republican running for governor)
Ramsey**
Barnes
Berke
Burks
Faulk*
Finney
Ford
Gresham*
Harper
Haynes
Henry
Herron
Jackson
Ketron*
Kyle
Marrero
Overbey*
Stewart
Tracy*
Woodson*
Yager*


Voting No:
Beavers*
Bunch*
Burchett*
Crowe*
Johnson*
McNally*
Norris*
Southerland*
Stanley*
Watson*


Absent/Not Voting:
Black*
Tate