Rep. Jeremy Durham, R-Franklin, will keep his position as Majority Whip after House Republican caucus members did not cast enough votes today to reconsider his leadership role. The Tennessean reports a vote was required to suspend the rules in order to discuss the issues surrounding Durham. During a press conference following the meeting, Durham said “he fought to keep his position in order take a stand against the ‘liberal media.'"

Knoxville lawmakers have requested a special committee to investigate the University of Tennessee’s diversity office because of controversial memos it has issued, The Tennessean reports. One post encouraged students and professors to use gender-neutral pronouns; another post supported “inclusive holiday celebrations.” The group of officials, led by Rep. Eddie Smith, submitted letters today to Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey and House Speaker Beth Harwell, R-Nashville. A Harwell spokesperson said she would support formation of the committee. "The people of Tennessee deserve to know how their tax dollars are being spent, especially in situations like this," Smith, R-Knoxville, said.

The Knoxville News Sentinel asserts that the “political honeymoon” between Gov. Bill Haslam and the General Assembly's Republican majority may have come to an end. The author cites tort reform limits on damages awards in lawsuits and the governor’s new merit-pay system for state employees. State Rep. Rick Womick, R-Rockvale, called for the impeachment of the Republican governor for accepting the gay-marriage ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court. “The governor's controversy-avoidance skills may be challenged on multiple other matters that seem to be of high importance to him as well as state legislators,” the author writes.

The Tennessean published a list of of six lawmakers to watch when the legislature convenes tomorrow. The Republicans are Rep. Jeremy Durham, R-Franklin; House Speaker Beth Harwell, R-Nashville; and Sen. Brian Kelsey, R-Germantown. Kelsey is expected to advance legislation that will address criminal justice reform. The list also includes Democrats Sen. Jeff Yarbo, D-Nashville; Rep. John Ray Clemmons, D-Nashville; and Rep. Joe Armstrong, D-Knoxville. Armstrong was indicted by a federal grand jury in June for felony fraud and tax evasion charges.

Peers of House Majority Whip Jeremy Durham will discuss removing the Franklin Republican from his leadership position when the legislature reconvenes tomorrow. The Tennessean reports it is unclear what action of Durham’s resulted in the formal caucus, but Durham, R-Franklin, faced criticism after he requested a lenient sentence for a former youth pastor convicted of possessing child porn. "Durham is a walking cancer for the caucus ... From his questionable interactions with lobbyists to the way he berates staff and his inappropriate relationship with colleagues, this needed to happen a while ago,” said a high-ranking Republican official.

The Tennessee General Assembly will reconvene tomorrow at noon. The TBA advocates on behalf of its members for the passage of legislation important to the practice of law. This session will be focused on the budget surplus, implementation of 2014 constitutional amendment on judicial selection, indigent defense representation funding and many other initiatives. Stay tuned for Action Alerts on TBAImpact and government affairs updates online and in TBA Today. 

Fayette County Commissioners on Thursday selected retired University of Tennessee agricultural extension agent Jamison “Jamie” Jenkins to fill the remainder of former state Rep. Leigh Wilburn’s term in the state House of Representatives. Wilburn resigned the seat in December, a little more than a year into her freshman term. The district includes all of Fayette and McNairy counties and a narrow strip of Hardeman County.

Knoxville Rep. Bill Dunn wants legislators to quickly address the judicial confirmation process, following Gov. Bill Haslam’s appointment of Roger Amos Page to the Tennessee Supreme Court. A 2014 state constitutional amendment allows the the governor’s appointees to be subject to confirmation by the General Assembly. The House and Senate failed last year to agree on a plan for how the votes would occur; the vote is required within 60 days from the start of the annual session on Jan. 12. Dunn, R-Knoxville, wants to tack on a “sunset” provision to a plan discussed last year that would require the process to be revisited in 2017. Read more from the Knoxville News Sentinel.

Sen. Ken Yager, R-Kingston, said he has “lost confidence” in Tennessee Rehabilitative Initiative in Correction’s CEO Patricia Weiland. Yager and other lawmakers confronted the longtime CEO on Thursday following an audit that revealed financial mismanagement. The mistakes, which included TRICOR and the Department of Correction operating without a contract, led to a $4 million deficit and TRICOR ending its prison food program. "I don't have any confidence in (Weiland’s) ability to clean up this problem that has been created under her watch," Yager said. Read more from The Tennessean.

Retired Army colonel Sam Whitson announced he will challenge House Majority Whip Jeremy Durham for his seat, The Tennessean reports. "Our citizens must have a state representative with character, courage and a total commitment to our county rather than any personal or future political ambition," Whitson said in an e-mail announcing his campaign. Durham, R-Franklin, faces a GOP caucus meeting next week to determine if he will keep his leadership position. A grand jury declined in December to investigate Durham on prescription fraud charges.