Tennessee House Speaker Beth Harwell tentatively won a second two-year term as speaker, while Rep. Gerald McCormick of Chattanooga was unanimously re-elected as majority leader of the Republican Caucus yesterday. Other leaders elected include Caucus Chairman Glen Casada of Franklin, Assistant Majority Leader Kevin Brooks of Cleveland and Floor Leader Vance Dennis of Savannah. Though most members of the leadership did not face opposition, Tullahoma's Judd Matheny was defeated in his re-election bid for speaker pro tempore – the House's number two post – by Rep. Curtis Johnson of Clarksville. The full House will vote on several of the appointments in January. See a list of all leaders elected on Chattanoogan.com.

State House Republican Majority Leader Gerald McCormick sounded off Monday against a possible state-run insurance exchange under the federal health care overhaul, according to WPLN. That’s at odds with Gov. Bill Haslam, who has hinted he might prefer the state option. By contrast, McCormick argues there’s too much fine print still waiting to be written. “At this point I don’t think there’s a snowball’s chance of that happening. We’re not going to set up a state exchange unless we really have some detailed information on it and it becomes favorable for the state of Tennessee to do so in a way that cannot be reversed. And I just don’t see that happening based on past experience with the federal government.”

Tennessee House Speaker Beth Harwell tentatively won a second two-year term as speaker today, but her Republican colleagues dumped Speaker Pro Tem Judd Matheny, who championed anti-Islam legislation in the House, the Commercial Appeal reports.

A joint study committee of the Tennessee General Assembly on Tuesday will discuss the proposed Fairness in Ticketing Act and a competing proposal related to ticket regulation sponsored by state Sen. Mae Beavers (R-Mt. Juliet) and state Rep. Charles Sargent (R-Franklin). The Fairness in Ticketing Act, sponsored by state Rep. Ryan Haynes (R-Knoxville) and state Rep. Mike Faulk (R-Church Hill), would require ticket brokers to register with the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance and to disclose the face value of tickets, exact location of seats, and refund policy, among other things. The Tennesseean has the story.

Since Gov. Bill Haslam asked during the 2012 legislative session that major changes in workers' comp be delayed until 2013, a lot of work has been done on it, columnist Tom Humphrey writes. Among recommendations made by consultants retained by the state is a proposal, broadly embraced by business groups, that would take trial courts out of the system. Haslam says he is looking at that option "real seriously" and it would be a significant overhaul. The consultants propose creation of "ombudsmen" in each region — 31 is a suggested number — to try and resolve claims through mediation. If there's still a dispute, the case would go to "workers' compensation judges" — about 20 — overseen by a "chief judge." The Knoxville News Sentinel has more

State Rep. Jim Cobb, R-Spring City, was arrested today after a Rhea County grand jury indicted him on Monday, the Times Free Press reports. He is charged with assault in connection with an election-day incident on Aug. 2. Cobb is scheduled to appear for a Friday hearing in Circuit Court.

Tennessee Safety Commissioner Bill Gibbons says the state needs to look into streamlining the DUI laws, according to the Memphis Commercial Appeal. “Right now our DUI law is 58 pages long. That's compared to an 18-page first-degree murder death-penalty statute. So it's very complicated,” he says. Gibbons believes an updated, revamped DUI law will be easier for prosecutors, defense attorneys and citizens to understand. The department plans to submit a proposal to the state legislature in January 2013.

State Rep. Curry Todd's arraignment on drunken driving and weapons charges, set for today, has been delayed until Sept. 14, the Associated Press reports. The Collierville Republican was arrested in October after failing a roadside sobriety test. A loaded .38-caliber gun was found stuffed in a holster between the driver's seat and center console.

State Sen. Stacey Campfield, R-Knoxville, is in the middle of a four-year term but Knox County Commissioner Richard Briggs has expressed new interest in seeking his 7th Senate District seat in 2014, the News Sentinel reports. Briggs, a Repubilcan, is a cardiothoracic surgeon and retired Army colonel who has served in active and reserve units. He says he will wait until after the Nov. 6 elections before making a decision.

State Rep. Joe Carr, R-Lascassas, denied telling a reporter today that he agreed with U.S. Rep. Todd Akin’s theory that victims of “legitimate rape” seldom carry pregnancies to term, but he stood by his position that Akin should not be pressured to leave the Missouri Senate race. Carr confirmed to the Tennessean that he does not think Akin should be forced to drop out, but that view does not constitute proof that he agrees with Akin on the subject of rape.