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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) Tennessee capitol hill democrats say a House bill to remove Nashville Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle is equivalent to legislative blackmail.

The bill, sponsored by Rutherford County Republican Tim Rudd, is gaining attention after he said Chancellor Lyle violated her oath.

She interfered in our election, she did not throw out state law, she tried to rewrite state law, and a judge cant do that, said Rep. Tim Rudd.

The legislation will authorize the Speaker of the House of Representatives to appoint a committee to meet with a like committee from the Senate to consider the removal of Lyle from the Office of Chancellor of the Twentieth Judicial District by the Tennessee General Assembly.

She tried to have mass available absentee balloting without the approval of the state legislature, and only the state legislature can write election laws, said Rudd.

The Murfreesboro Republican is leading the charge targeting Chancellor Lyle, who was appointed by Republican Governor Don Sundquist in 1996, for an August 2020 injunction allowing for more people to qualify to vote absentee because of COVID-19.

What the Republican political operatives who are behind this are saying to our judiciary is if youre a judge, dont do your job and impartially apply the law as Chancellor Lyle did, instead carry out our far-right political agenda, said Davidson County Representative Mike Stewart.

Democrats are striking back accusing Republicans of abuse of power.

They would take that limited power and try to apply it and retaliate politically against a judge that everybody knows is an extraordinary talented and impartial judge, its totally ridiculous, said Stewart.

Chancellor Lyle and the Attorney Generals office had no comment.

Rudd says Democrats are upset because theyre in the minority.

The Democrats are in favor of judges interfering with the legislative [branch] because they cant get their agenda passed, Rudd said. Judges should stay on their side of the line, well stay on ours and respect one another.

Currently, judges can be removed by impeachment for a crime, unfitness for office, and through a judicial conduct review board. There are over 60 House co-sponsors.

Chancellor Lyle also recused herself recently from overseeing Governor Bill Lees BEP education funding lawsuit. Its unclear if it was related to the removal resolution.

Rep. Rudd released a full statement, calling Lyles conduct egregious and grossly unprofessional:

The American representative democracy is deeply dependent on two things: A neutral free press to give citizens unbiased and unopinionated information from which to make their decisions, and a fair and non-partisan judiciary dedicated to upholding the Tennessee State Constitution without legislating from the bench. Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle violated the boundaries between the legislative and judiciary when she attempted to disregard state law and implement her own rules, personal opinions and policies that were in direct contradiction of existing state law. She knew and fully understood the Tennessee General Assembly did not authorize or support mass-mail balloting. The legislature is the only authority in Tennessee that can write laws or hold elections.

TheU.S. Constitutionplainly states The Times, Places and Manner of holdingElectionsfor Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by theLegislaturethereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations (Article I, section 4). The last time I looked, the words Judiciary having the power to hold elections was not in the U.S. Constitution or the Tennessee State Constitution. Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle overstepped her responsibilities and violated her oath. She further threatened state officials with incarceration if they did not break the law by implementing her rules. Her conduct is egregious and grossly unprofessional.

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Democrats say bill to remove Nashville judge is legislative blackmail - wreg.com

The TAKE with Rick Klein

It may not come off as fair to Democrats to have to account for the actions of their own at this moment -- particularly as their GOP counterparts stay strong behind a former leader who continues to spread lies both big and small.

But Democrats should recognize the reckonings that have the governors of the nation's two largest blue states fighting for political survival at the moment.

In California, organizers claim to have enough signatures to force a recall vote against Gov. Gavin Newsom. The backlash Newsom is facing to his handling of the COVID-19 crisis hinges on a perception that some elected leaders flouted the restrictions they championed -- and a new attitude toward reopening doesn't undo damage done by infamous dinner photos.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks during a press conference before the opening of a mass COVID-19 vaccination site in Queens, New York, Feb. 24, 2021. | California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks after touring a Covid-19 vaccination site Feb. 22, 2021 in Long Beach, California.

In New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo faces a more immediate and potentially more serious challenge to his leadership, stemming from nursing-home COVID deaths and now a second sexual-harassment allegation. Kavanaugh-era quotes about believing accusers and the need for thorough investigations are again forcing Democrats to account for standards they helped set.

Storylines like these are awkward at any time. They represent a particular challenge for Democrats' efforts to reclaim moral ground they believe former President Donald Trump surrendered, at a time that President Joe Biden is rallying his party toward what he hopes will be his first major legislative victory.

As Democrats in California, New York and beyond answer for Cuomo and Newsom, there's at least one major distinction that could have repercussions for their respective futures. Newsom appears to enjoy the united support of his home-state party, as they seek to rally against Republican efforts to push a recall.

Meanwhile, after a polarizing decade in office, Cuomo has few natural allies among powerful New York Democrats -- plenty of whom would gladly see him gone in next year's elections, if not sooner. Even his call for an outside lawyer to review allegations against him isn't being viewed in good faith by New York's attorney general.

The RUNDOWN with Alisa Wiersema

The speech Trump delivered to close this years Conservative Political Action Conference may have been lengthy and predictable, but it also addressed a couple of loose threads supporters and critics alike had been analyzing since he left office.

Trump addressed the major question almost immediately. We have the Republican party, Trump said to loud applause. It's going to unite and be stronger than ever before. I am not starting a new party.

The former presidents declaration about keeping the party intact came on the heels of the results of the CPAC straw poll, which said 68% of convention attendees would like to see Trump run for president again in 2024. Meanwhile, 55% said they would vote for him if the election were held today.

Former President Donald Trump speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Fla., U.S. Feb. 28, 2021.

That support seemed to give Trump the backing to publicly pick up where he left off. Throughout his speech, he continued to peddle false claims about the validity of the 2020 election and did so despite having faced impeachment proceedings over his involvement in the Capitol Hill riots aiming to challenge the election. He even falsely teased a potential third presidential victory in the future, and railed on mail voting practices in battleground states he lost in November.

But while the former president has yet to officially take any steps toward a third presidential run, hes already putting a target on the backs of politically vulnerable Republicans who had been critical of him throughout his second impeachment. During his remarks Sunday night, Trump called out nearly 20 lawmakers in the House and Senate to jeers from supporters. With 2022 races on the line, it remains to be seen whether those taunts translate into votes or whether Trump's intraparty influence cannibalizes Republican odds for crucial victories.

The TIP with Kendall Karson

For House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, there is "no chance" Democrats are retaining control of the chamber in 2022. "We're gonna get the majority back. We're five seats away," he told the crowd at CPAC over the weekend. He'd even bet his own house on it, he said.

McCarthy and Indiana Rep. Jim Banks signaled the party's strategy for reclaiming the House majority and it revolves one man. Largely crediting Trump with their successes in 2020, the two Republicans see his influence as crucial to reclaiming power in Congress.

"The least popular in our party are the ones who want to erase Donald Trump and Donald Trump's supporters from our party," Banks said. "If that happens, we won't win back the majority in 2022."

Rep. Kevin McCarthy speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Orlando, Florida, Feb. 27, 2021.

But not all members in the GOP's ranks are on board with a Trump-centric approach. Sen. Bill Cassidy, one of the seven Senate Republicans who voted with Democrats to convict Trump during his second impeachment trial, told CNN, "If we idolize one person, we will lose. And that's kind of clear from the last election."

As the rift over Trump continues to splinter the GOP, the party is set to be tested early in special elections this year, particularly in Texas. The increasingly competitive 6th Congressional District outside of Dallas is attracting a crowded field that includes Susan Wright, a longtime member of the state party's executive committee and the widow of the late Rep. Ron Wright, alongside Republicans with Trump ties. Sery Kim, a former official in the Small Business Administration under Trump, entered the race, while Brian Harrison, who worked in the Department of Health and Human Services in the last administration, moves closer to a run and Katrina Pierson, the former Trump campaign spokesperson, is reportedly weighing a bid, according to the Texas Tribune.

THE PLAYLIST

ABC News' "Start Here" podcast. Monday mornings episode features ABC News Anne Flaherty, who tells us what the approval of a third COVID vaccine does to the outlook of the pandemic in the U.S. ABC News Stephanie Ramos has the latest on sexual harassment accusations brought against New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. And ABC News Conor Finnegan analyzes the Biden administrations recent responses to Iran and Saudi Arabia. http://apple.co/2HPocUL

ABC News' "In Plain Sight" podcast. In an eight-part series, author Julia Sweig explores over 123 hours Lady Bird Johnson's audio diaries, most of them never-before-heard. Her stories reveal the surprisingly powerful role she had in the Lyndon B. Johnson administration. "In Plain Sight" reveals how one vastly underestimated woman navigated the politics and polarization of her era to become one of the most influential members of the administration, even if we never knew it. http://abcn.ws/ladybird

FiveThirtyEight's Politics Podcast. As Democrats prepare to pass the American Rescue Plan, a member of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, Heather Boushey, joins the FiveThirtyEight Politics podcast to discuss what is in the relief package and why. The plan is popular some 70 percent of Americans support it but economists and activists are asking whether certain parts of it go too far -- or not far enough. https://53eig.ht/2PfvTbd

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY

Download the ABC News app and select "The Note" as an item of interest to receive the day's sharpest political analysis.

The Note is a daily ABC News feature that highlights the key political moments of the day ahead. Please check back tomorrow for the latest.

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Cuomo and Newsom challenge Democrats on terms they set themselves: The Note - ABC News

The Senate parliamentarian ruled on Thursday that Democrats could not raise the federal minimum wage using the reconciliation process, effectively meaning Democrats will need 60 Senate votes to enact that policy. That represents the first of many expected procedural roadblocks to the Democratic agenda over the next two years. In this installment of the FiveThirtyEight Politics podcast, the crew discusses Democratic lawmakers varying views on how to approach Senate rules and the filibuster in particular. They also look to the speeches from the past weekends Conservative Political Action Conference for indications about where the Republican party is headed.

You can listen to the episode by clicking the play button in the audio player above or by downloading it in iTunes, the ESPN App or your favorite podcast platform. If you are new to podcasts, learn how to listen.

The FiveThirtyEight Politics podcast is recorded Mondays and Thursdays. Help new listeners discover the show by leaving us a rating and review on iTunes. Have a comment, question or suggestion for good polling vs. bad polling? Get in touch by email, on Twitter or in the comments.

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Politics Podcast: What Will Democrats Do When Their Agenda Hits A Roadblock? - FiveThirtyEight

Mr. Sanders took aim at the recent news that a moderate think tank, Third Way, was working on a project seeking to push Democrats toward the center for the midterm elections. He said that issues like canceling student debt, raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour and combating climate change were political winners.

The American working class today white, Black, Latino they are hurting. They want us to respond vigorously, he said. If we do so, I think that they will reward us in 2022. If we fail them, and the Republicans can go around and say, Hey, you gave these people the House, the Senate and the White House and they did nothing for you, we will not do well in 2022.

Still, the entrenchment by moderate senators and the presidents current deference to it presents a challenge for activists hoping to influence the administration. And while progressive elected officials are confident that Mr. Biden will side with them in the end, a growing chorus of activists is looking to him for more immediate action.

K Trainor, a student activist who has worked with progressive groups to turn out college students for Democrats, said Mr. Bidens answer at the town hall was deeply disappointing. She said that if the administration didnt deliver for young voters, it would make it harder to persuade them to turn out in future elections.

I think a lot of people in my generation are asking, Where is the courage? Ms. Trainor said. It feels like theyre backtracking and were not even 100 days in.

The Rev. William J. Barber II, a co-chair of the Poor Peoples Campaign who organized the West Virginia workers meeting with Mr. Manchin, said the debate reflected an ugly underbelly of Democratic politics. While poor and low-income workers, particularly those who are racial minorities or young people, make up the core of the Democratic base, he said, the policies that they care about most have often been sacrificed because of political calculations.

They are the human cost of the big tent, he said.

Democrats ran on this, they put it in their platform and they said this is what needs to happen, Dr. Barber said. It would be the ultimate abandonment and betrayal to then get here and have the power to do it, and then retreat.

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Democrats Big Tent Helped Them Win. Now It Threatens Bidens Agenda. - The New York Times

Democrats won the majority, and they should act like it. They promised Americans bold relief, and they shouldnt let Republicans use procedural hurdles like the filibuster to block their agenda. The best chance of keeping Republicans from permanently controlling the levers of power is by passing big, bold democracy reforms and the only way we do that is by eliminating the filibuster. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is too eager to use it.

In his first few months as Senate minority leader, McConnell has given us a preview of how Republicans will behave for the next four years. They will use every tool at their disposal, like the filibuster, to cling to power and stop progress.

They used it to block civil rights legislation in the 1960s. They used it to block background checks for gun sales in 2013. And theyll use it to block everything Democrats want to do in 2021. I am asking that California Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla support ending the filibuster.

Lori Saltveit, Corte Madera

Wonderful love poems

Regarding Kirsten Menger-Andersons Valentines Day lament in My search for love poems turns up bias (Insight, Feb. 14): It is true that men have written the bulk of famous love poems. But definitely not all. Menger-Anderson should check out two of the most beautiful love poems ever written: one by Anne Bradstreet (To My Dear and Loving Husband) and one by Elizabeth Barrett Browning (How Do I Love Thee? Sonnet 43).

Blair Hoffman, Moraga

Fix the supply chain

Regarding Auto industry bets future on batteries (Business, Feb. 17): Behind the coronavirus pandemic, there is another crisis lurking around. It is now frequently ravaging through the country, inflicting extreme weather, causing wildfires and snowstorms, destroying homes, and taking lives. There is no time to waste in tackling the imminent threat of climate change.

Although electrification of vehicles and transportation fleets is a step in the right direction, without a sustainable manufacturing supply chain, it will fall short of its promises to mitigate the climate crisis.

Manufacturing batteries from scarce minerals displaces the carbon footprint from consumers to the supply chain, depletes natural resources and is not sustainable for production at scale. Research in the battery industry is rapidly growing; however, government-funded research must focus on solutions that are transferable to commercial products and can be used for manufacturing at scale. Otherwise, funds and time are wasted as the link between research and mass production is broken.

Elham Sakhaee, Union City

Dont deny opportunity

Bureaucrats are not known for wisdom, as the San Francisco School Board has recently affirmed by its recent school renaming mania and especially the changes regarding enrollment at Lowell High School. If there is some racial or ethnic unbalance of opportunity, then find the reason for that and do something about it (such as improve education in the lower grades). It makes no sense to remedy the unbalance by denying opportunity for all.

Howard Kraus, El Cerrito

Restaurants rights

Regarding Restaurants may pay high price for ignoring employees values (Front Page, Feb. 15): The coverage of the Girl & the Fig controversy mostly misses the point. At issue is whether a business has a right to keep its facilities apolitical. Or, alternatively, does a butcher shop have to let the counter help wear T-shirts saying Meat Kills? Does a property management firm have to let the receptionist sport a button that says Rent is Theft?

When a restaurateur invests maybe a million dollars to start a restaurant, can the front-of-the-house employees, by right, set a political agenda so as to offend and likely lose half the potential clientele? Righteousness of his cause notwithstanding, did Colin Kaepernick have the right to usurp the NFL stage for his own political purposes? The suggestion proffered by some Millennials that demands political transparency as a prerequisite for patronage would split the country already divided politically into one divided economically. We shop at our stores; they shop at theirs. Give me a break.

Albert Sukoff, Berkeley

Curb PG&Es power

Regarding Judge says PG&E was reckless before fire (Business, Feb. 4): Pacific Gas and Electric Co. has a well-earned reputation for repeatedly failing to protect our public health and safety. PG&Es legacy of death, destruction and irresponsibility continues to catch up with it in court. Most recently, U.S. District Judge William Alsup stated that PG&E has been a terror t-e-r-r-o-r to the people of the state of California. Judge Alsup appears to be one of the few public officials willing to stand against PG&Es vast political and financial power.

We need more public officials and courts to step up and rein in PG&Es reign of terror. We need much more effective oversight of its reckless behavior.

That means not only its exploding gas pipelines and wildfire-causing electric power lines, poles and transformers but also PG&Es numerous dams in the Sierra Nevada and its dangerous and salmon-destroying century-old dams on the Eel River in Californias northern coastal range.

David Keller, Petaluma

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Letters to the Editor: Democrats need to support ending the filibuster - San Francisco Chronicle