NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Tennessee House Democrats have barred public and media access to a caucus meeting one day before the chamber votes for speaker.

The decision to close the meeting Monday is a break from past practices. House Democrats in recent years have criticized their Republican counterparts for holding closed caucus meetings.

House Democratic Caucus spokesman Addison Pate says the meeting was closed because members wanted to discuss political and strategic issues freely.

Democrats lost control of the House in November's elections, when Republicans won a 50-49 majority. Democratic Speaker Jimmy Naifeh, of Covington, is nevertheless trying to extend his record 18-year stint in the chamber's top post.

Republicans meanwhile held an open joint caucus meeting Monday afternoon to elect their three nominees for the state's constitutional offices, though the members case secret ballots.

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Information from: The Knoxville News Sentinel, http://www.knoxnews.com

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

The decision to close the meeting Monday is a break from past practices. House Democrats in recent years have criticized their Republican counterparts for holding closed caucus meetings.

House Democratic Caucus spokesman Addison Pate says the meeting was closed because members wanted to discuss political and strategic issues freely.

Democrats lost control of the House in November's elections, when Republicans won a 50-49 majority. Democratic Speaker Jimmy Naifeh, of Covington, is nevertheless trying to extend his record 18-year stint in the chamber's top post.

Republicans meanwhile held an open joint caucus meeting Monday afternoon to elect their three nominees for the state's constitutional offices, though the members case secret ballots.

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Information from: The Knoxville News Sentinel, http://www.knoxnews.com

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)