UPDATE: State Representative Mike Bell will be joining us on the radio in the 4:00 hour to discuss this issue. Be sure to tune in!

UPDATE #2: Representative Mike Bell encourages us to help with volunteer support or your donations for Jerome Cochran.  Jerome is running against Kent Williams.  Here’s Jerome’s address:

Jerome Cochran 

117 Creola Way Johnson City, TN 37601 

From our good conservative Republicans comes this presser:

Pikeville, TN 7/15/2008 –  state representatives in the House Republican
Caucus are calling on a Republican colleague to return money from the House
Democratic leadership. Representative Kent Williams, a Republican serving
his first term in the legislature, has taken a $250 campaign donation from
Representative John Litz, the Assistant Majority Leader for the House
Democratic Caucus.

“This is an outrage,” said State Representative Eric Swafford (R-Pikeville).
“It is a slap in the face to his colleagues in the House Republican Caucus.
By accepting this money from a leader in the House Democratic Caucus, it
seems that Rep. Williams is saying that he is okay with the Democrats
killing common-sense proposals like SJR 127 and legislation that protects
our Second Amendment rights.”

State Representative Chris Crider (R-Milan) cited Williams’ vote in January
of 2007 for House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh, adding that this vote, coupled with
the monetary donation from a member of the House Democratic Caucus, shows
where he stands on the issues.

“You can’t claim to be pro-life and pro-Second Amendment, and then support
and take money from those who repeatedly stop legislation that supports
those values,” said Representative Mike Bell (R-Riceville).

All candidates are required to file campaign financial disclosure reports
periodically, which are public record. All donations above $100 must be
reported. Representative Frank Nicely (R-Strawberry Plains) said that after
the most recent filing deadline on July 10th, the donation to Williams
showed up on his disclosure statement.

Swafford concluded, “I think we know where Kent Williams’ intentions and
loyalties lie. They are certainly not on the side of conservative values.”

I’m glad to see our GOP members standing up to one of the esteemed members of the Naifeh Shoe-Shine Caucus.  Guys like Williams aren’t just selling out their fellow legislators, they are helping to serve as a road block to good legislation.  

GOP State Representative Kent Williams supports Jimmy Naifeh for Speaker and in turn, Democrats support Kent Williams.

AC has more at NashvillePost.com.