Battle for State House Speaker; Bad Economic News for East Tennessee

It wasn't exactly a lovefest this week as the state House elected its first Republican speaker in 40 years. The problem for the Republicans was that it was the wrong Republican who won the vote.

Holding a razor thin majority of one, the Republicans needed every GOP vote to take the top seat. But in a move that caught most everyone by surprise, Democrats banded together and voted for Republican Kent Williams of Elizabethton. That meant all Williams needed to secure the speaker's position was his own vote, which he got.

Joining Gene Patterson this week to explain what happened Tuesday and why it's important are state Rep. Stacey Campfield (R-Knoxville) and state Rep. John Litz (D-Morristown).

Appearing in the second segment is the head of the Knoxville Chamber Partnership, Mike Edwards. He discusses the bad economic news that seemed to hit East Tennessee almost daily, as a number of companies were announced layoffs and liquidations.

Then, 6 News political analyst George Korda and political columnist Frank Cagle have the Final Word.