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Article published Jun 12, 2009 House votes to allow dogs in restaurants
The Associated Press
NASHVILLE -- The House has voted to give Tennessee cities the power to allow dogs to be brought to restaurants' outdoor dining areas.
The bill, sponsored by Republican Rep. Harry Brooks of Knoxville, passed on a 64-21 vote. Both Maryville Reps. Joe McCord and Bob Ramsey voted for the bill.
The measure would be limited to cities with a population of at least 100,000 and business owners would have the power to decide whether to allow dogs at their establishments.The Senate, which passed the measure unanimously last month, would have to agree to minor changes before the bill could head for Gov. Phil Bredesen's consideration.Guns in parks
The sponsor of a bill to allow handguns to be carried in city or county parks in Tennessee said Thursday he's abandoning the provision in exchange for the governor's commitment not to veto a separate bill about weapons in restaurants.
The House agreed to a motion by Rep. Frank Niceley to recall the guns-in-parks bill previously passed by both chambers.
The Strawberry Plains Republican said a revised version would allow handgun carry permit holders to bring their weapons into state parks only, not local ones.
In return, Niceley said, Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen won't veto a bill that includes an effort to prevent local beer boards from denying permits to restaurants that allow patrons to carry handguns.
But Bredesen said Thursday he was unaware of any agreement beyond cleaning up the guns in parks bill.
"It's a very messy bill," Bredesen said. "They asked if they could withdraw it and send one back to me that might be more acceptable."