The Tennessee House is warning lawmakers and the crowds watching floor sessions that they could be booted from the room if their behavior is deemed out of line. For lawmakers, it could last a few days, and they would have to vote remotely. For the public, it could be up to two years if someone misbehaves particularly badly. Republicans toughened the House’s punishments for breaches of decorum under a news rules package passed Thursday. It marked yet another rewrite of the rules the GOP-dominant chamber has undergone in recent years targeting hecklers in the House gallery or lawmakers whose fiery floor remarks are ruled out of order.
