NASHVILLE — Republican Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey says he is interested in doing away with a state law that keeps him from raising funds for his gubernatorial campaign while the General Assembly is in session.

But the idea isn’t sitting so well with state Sen. Jim Kyle, D-Memphis, who is weighing a gubernatorial bid himself. And GOP rival and Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam said lawmakers probably ought to review why the in-session ban was adopted to start with before acting.

Lt. Gov. Ramsey, who is Senate speaker, recently expressed frustration over the in-session ban passed by lawmakers in 1996.

“I’ll be perfectly honest, I don’t think the bill is fair. I think it’s something that needs to be changed,” Lt. Gov. Ramsey said, noting he understands why it was passed and applied to lawmakers seeking re-election to the General Assembly.

There were concerns voiced at the time that lawmakers were hitting up special interests for re-election campaign cash even as they were considering legislation.

“But to tie someone’s hand when they’re in the Legislature when they’re running for another office doesn’t seem fair,” said Lt. Gov. Ramsey, whose three GOP rivals — U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn., Mr. Haslam and Shelby County District Attorney Bill Gibbons — face no such restrictions.

“The governor himself can raise money,” Lt. Gov. Ramsey said. “If you’re a sitting congressman you can raise money. Why shouldn’t someone in the legislature, if they’re running for an office, also be able to raise money?”

Sen. Kyle said he agrees with the lieutenant governor to “an extent.” But he pointed out that Sen. Ramsey and Senate Republicans opposed changing state law several years ago to allow two Democratic House members running in special Senate elections to raise funds back home.

“I’m not necessarily supportive based on the positions he and other Republicans have taken over the years,” Sen. Kyle said.

“Ron has a simple remedy,” Sen. Kyle said, recalling how his wife resigned a judgeship to run for the then-state Public Service Commission. “There’s no rule that Ron has to be in the Senate.”

Asked about Lt. Gov. Ramsey’s remarks, Mr. Haslam, a declared candidate, grinned and said, “I’m not worried about Ron. He’ll be OK. I’m assuming they put the law in for a lot of reasons, and I don’t know that I even have an opinion on that. Selfishly, I like it the way it is now.”

But he said, “If they’re going to change it, they need to go back and review why it was put in place in the first place.”

Sen. Andy Berke, D-Chattanooga, who is weighing a race, said, “I’ll wait to see if Gov. Ramsey pushes that issue. I think people want to see a legislature that is free from the corruption of money and special interests, and the question is how does that play into a transparent and open government?”

Both U.S. Rep. Wamp, Lt. Gov. Ramsey and Mr. Gibbons have complained about Mr. Haslam, whose family founded the Pilot Oil chain. Mr. Haslam has reported raising at least $1.6 million so far, while Congressman Wamp has reported raising about $850,000.