Rob Briley

Rob Briley (b. October 15, 1966 in Nashville, Tennessee) is an American politician and a Democratic member of the Tennessee House of Representatives for the 52nd district, which is part of Davidson County. cite web | title="Tennessee House Member" | url=http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/house/members/h53.htm | accessdate= September 12 | accessyear= 2007 ] He is the brother of Nashville politician David Briley and the grandson of Beverly Briley, Metro-Nashville's first mayor. cite web | title="NewsChannel 5.com Nashville, Tennessee - State Rep. Rob Briley Arrested For DUI, Vandalism:" | url=http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=7051484&nav=menu374_1 | accessdate= September 11 | accessyear= 2007 ]

Education and career

Rob Briley has been a state representative since being elected to the 101st Tennessee General Assembly (1999-2000). He is a member of the House Ethics Committee; the House Finance, Ways, and Means Committee; the House Rules Committee; the House Calendar and Rules Committee; the House Civil Practice & Procedure Subcommittee; the House Criminal Practice & Procedure Subcommittee; and the Joint Workers Compensation Committee. He was Chair of the Judiciary Committee until he resigned. In 1991, Rob Briley graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from the dn|University of Colorado. In 1997, he obtained his J.D. and graduated from Vanderbilt Law School. He presently works as an attorney.

Drunk driving and vandalism charges

After Rep. Briley allegedly rammed a truck in the rear in Dowelltown on September 8, 2007, state troopers cited him for driving under the influence, evading arrest, and violating the implied consent law. He tried to escape officers who pulled him over in Wilson County and started a chase that, according to Watertown police, topped speeds of over 100 miles per hour (161 km/h). He was charged with drunk driving and leaving the scene of two accidents after Watertown police stopped his vehicle.

Twice, Rob Briley asked police officers to shoot him in the " [expletive] head," and he called all the Wilson County Sheriff's Department deputies " [expletive] Nazis." He said to one deputy, "You're not an American, are you? You're an [expletive] German!" [cite news|first=John|last=Rodgers|title=Police video shows Briley cursing cops, asking to be shot|publisher="Nashville City Post"|date=September 11, 2007|url=http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/news.php?viewStory=57499] Inside his car, police found a bottle of bourbon and three bottles of pills. Democratic leaders said that he would keep his legislative seat and Judiciary Committee chairmanship for now, [cite news|first=Sheila|last=Wissner|title=Arrest may not cost Rep. Briley top post|publisher="The Tennessean"|date=September 11, 2007|url=http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070911/NEWS0201/709110375/1009/RSS0102] though Governor Phil Bredesen said he should step down from his post as chair of the Judiciary Committee. [cite news|first=John|last=Rodgers|title=Bredesen: Briley should step down from Judiciary post|publisher="Nashville City Post"|date=September 13, 2007|url=http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/news.php?viewStory=57517] On September 15, 2007, he resigned from his position as Chair of the Judiciary Committee. He stated he was being treated at Cumberland Heights alcohol and drug treatment center. [cite news|first=Sheila|last=Wissner|title=Briley resigns House leadership position|publisher="The Tennessean"|date=September 15, 2007|url=http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070915/NEWS0201/709150359/1009/RSS0102]

On March 4, 2008, Briley announced that he would not seek re-election to his seat in the state House. [cite news|first=Ken|last=Whitehouse|title=NashvillePost.com exclusive: Briley not seeking re-election|publisher="NashvillePost.com"|date=March 4, 2008|url=http://www.nashvillepost.com/news/2008/3/4/nashvillepostcom_exclusive_briley_not_seeking_reelection]

Political views

Rob Briley voted against a bill that would have allowed Tennesseans with gun carrying permits to take their firearms into recreational facilities like state and local parks and playgrounds. [cite news|first=John|last=Rodgers|title=Bill to allow guns in state parks, playgrounds clears Judiciary panel|publisher="Nashville City Paper"|date=May 10, 2007|url=http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/news.php?viewStory=56111] He stated that a House bill that would have allowed citizens to carry guns in establishments that serve alcohol was a ploy by Republicans to get Democrats to vote against gun rights. He also stated that the bill shouldn't have been allowed to have been brought up because it was voted down in the same committee the previous year. [cite news|first=Skip|last=Cauthorn|title=Democrats question GOP gun legislation|publisher="Nashville City Paper"|date=March 30, 2004|url=http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/news.php?viewStory=31886]

Rob Briley has also come out against a bill that makes it easier for men to end child support payments for children if paternity tests show the children don't belong to the men. [cite news|first=Tom|last=Humphrey|title= Campfield's child support termination bill attacked.|publisher="Knoxnews.com"|date=April 21, 2008|url=http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/apr/21/campfields-child-support-termination-bill/] In the floor debate Briley showed more interested in keeping the man paying than in the paternity test proving he wasn't the father: “Yet you want to punish a child as the result of an adulterous situation,” said Briley. “You put the child in the position of bearing the burden of a parent’s conduct.” [cite news|last=Kleinheider|title=Floor exchange as Briley sends bill to summer study.|publisher="Nashville Post"|date=April 21, 2008|url=http://politics.nashvillepost.com/2008/04/21/gone-baby-gone-briley-sends-campfield-paternity-bill-to-summer-study/]

References