Morning Round-up: De-annexation Bill Dies, Tennessee’s Bible Debate and Impeaching Alabama’s Governor

If you’re in the city of Chattanooga, you’re going to stay there. A Tennessee Senate committee voted to kill a legislative proposal by Senator Bo Watson and Representative Mike Carter that would have allowed communities to hold elections to reverse annexation by cities. The Mayors of Chattanooga, Memphis, and Knoxville urged lawmakers not to adopt the bill, arguing it would stunt job growth and cripple their cities. The House passed the bill on a 68-25 vote earlier this month. The full Senate had been poised to vote on the measure, but sent it back to committee after Republican Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey of Blountville questioned the measure’s fairness and constitutionality.

Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam says he remains opposed to a resurrected effort to make the Holy Bible the official state book of Tennessee. The Governor says while he considers the Bible the most important book in his life, he has the same reservations about the measure that he did before the bill was derailed in the state Senate last year. Senator Steve Southerland revived the measure this week, and it is has advanced to a full floor vote. The Morristown Republican says the measure is meant to honor the historical significance of the Bible and not as a state endorsement of religion. The state’s Attorney General warned last year the bill would run afoul of both the U.S. and state constitutions.

A Republican Alabama lawmaker plans to begin impeachment proceedings against Governor Robert Bentley. The announcement comes as Bentley’s top aide resigns amid the fallout of the Governor’s admission that he made inappropriate remarks to her, but the two did not have an affair.