South End Grounds

Nissan and The Ethics Committee's Bill

My thoughts on the Nissan deal and the ethics committee's bill are hanging out at Bill Hobbs' site. 

Firm With Ties to Lt. Gov. John Wilder Also Has Ties to Bribery

Today's Knoxville News-Sentinel runs a follow up story from the AP on Lt. Gov. John Wilder's involvement with a Texas law firm that sought to change Tennessee law to allow them to conduct business in the state. 

Tennessee Lt. Gov. John Wilder is downplaying any part he may have had in changing state law to permit outsourcing collection of unpaid taxes. However, records obtained by the Chattanooga Times Free Press show he was a key player in changing the 2003 legislation months before he arranged several meetings between top state officials and Texas law firm Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson interested in a contract to collect delinquent Tennessee taxes. Wilder acknowledged he may have talked to the bill's sponsor, but he said: "I wasn't active in it, and I doubt I even knew when it passed."

The article recounts several details that have already been discussed at the Chattanooga-Hamilton Civic Forum so I won't repeat them here.  However, the article does point out a new little factoid of which I was previously unaware.

Wilder said he traveled to the firm's headquarters and watched hundreds of employees at work. He said Linebarger Goggan quickly tracked down a man who owed a 20-year-old $250,000 judgment to a Wilder law client.

How nice.  The firm helped him collect $250,000 for a client in no time at all.  This whole episode piqued my curiosity which has been fanned by rumors from Capitol Hill sources, so I decided to employ an innovative research technique that the newshounds at the AP apparently don't know about -- Google.  I searched for the following words, Linebarger, Goggan and bribe.  Let's have a look at the results, shall we?

Here's a press release from the United States Department of Justice announcing a guilty plea from Juan Pena to federal bribery charges. 

Appearing before United States District Judge Royal Furgeson this afternoon, Pena pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bribery and one count of bank fraud. In pleading guilty, Pena admitted that from January 2002 to October 2002, he conspired with Jack Pytel, a sole practitioner in the city of San Antonio, and former San Antonio City councilmen Enrique “Kike” Martin and John Sanders in a bribery scheme that centered on the City of San Antonio’s private contract to collect unpaid fines and fees. Pena also admitted that in connection with the conspiracy he guaranteed a $25,000 bank from Lone Star National Bank to co-defendant Jack Pytel, knowing that the credit application submitted in support of that loan was materially false and a portion of the proceeds were to be used to complete payments to councilmen Martin and Sanders. Pena is the fourth defendant to admit his guilt in this scheme.

Juan Pena's corrupt activities were done on behalf of Gov. Wilder's friends at Linebarger, Goggan, Blair, Pena & Sampson.  Pena's name has since been dropped from the name of the firm, for obvious reasons.  Moving on, now.

Around the time Gov. Wilder was moving legislation through the General Assembly on behalf of Linebarger, Goggan, et al., the firm hired a recently retired Travis County Attorney by the name of Ken Oden.  Oden's new title was "ethics manager."  It seems the firm really needed one.

[Oden's] hiring was partly in response to the indictment of Juan Peña, a partner in Linebarger's Edinburg office, on federal charges of conspiracy to bribe two members of the San Antonio City Council. Then, last week, Linebarger was sued by the Austin firm Municipal Services Bureau, which claims Linebarger violated the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, better known as RICO. MSB claims Linebarger, which specializes in delinquent tax collection, obtained contracts by bribery in Houston, Corpus Christi, Beaumont, Miami, and other cities and that the firm rigged bids in Fort Worth and Dallas.

A RICO suit, lovely.  (I'm still researching the resolution of this.)  Next.

Linebarger Goggan has also been accused of fee gouging.  Most recently, in a letter-to-the-editor in Memphis.

[The Commercial Appeal's] Sept. 20 front-page headline said City Atty. Sara Hall had "salvaged" the city's contract with the Texas law firm of Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson to collect delinquent taxes.

According to your article, Hall went to Texas to cancel the contract, but ended up "negotiating" a $1.5 million reduction in fees, which would keep the contact in place.

According to figures finally released by Hall, Linebarger collected about $29 million in delinquent taxes from April 2004 to June 2005, and the city was charged about $5.6 million in collection fees -- about 20 percent. This averages about $400,000 a month.

Is John Wilder involved in any underhanded dealings with a firm whose record is spotty, at best?  No one can say with any degree of certainty.  But it seems clear that bribery, alleged RICO violations and fee gouging warrant a closer look at Wilder's involvement with this firm.  Apparently, he doesn't remember much about his relationship with the firm (except they collected a $250,000 judgment for one of his clients) so we need to dig up some details and refresh his memory. 

I am not accusing Gov. Wilder of anything, but there's enough smoke here to justify a search for fire. 

Lt. Governor Wilder's Influence Peddling

Joe Public at the Chattanooga-Hamilton Civic Forum reconstructs a troubling timeline that seems to indicate that Lt. Governor John Wilder used his position to influence legislation and contracts on behalf of a Texas collections firm.  Wilder's defense is his now famous, "I can't remember" line.  If he can't remember something like this, then I question his fitness to lead the state.  If he does remember but just isn't saying, then he is no more ethical than legislators who have recently done a perp walk.  Either way, Wilder's long and storied service to Tennessee needs to come to an end.

Democrat Hubris Reaches New Levels

Adam Groves has a must-read post on Democrats' reaction to some common sense ethics proposals put forward by House Republican Leader Bill Dunn (Knoxville).  Read Adam's entire post and then come back.

Ho, hum, what's taking you so long?  Okay, good.  You're back.

The depths that Democrats will go to in order to avoid any common sense ethical reform defies logic.  It is matched only by the hubris they display at the thought of any idea that comes from a Republican mind. 

In response to a proposal to stiffen regulation of political caucuses, Black Caucus Chairman Johnny Shaw says:

The Black Caucus is probably in better shape than your [House Republican] caucus.

Could someone remind me when it was the Black Caucus was established for tax purposes?  No one knows because they haven't filed any disclosures, any tax returns or any documents that can attest to the Caucus' very existence.  Shaw's comments remind me of a guy I once saw who had his head in a rather unusual place...the sand.

Speaker Jimmy Naifeh, who now qualifies as the most arrogant, out-of-control cuss of a human being involved in politics says:

There's not going to be but one way to make a living and that's to trim trees, I guess.

This is an obvious swipe at Bill Dunn's occupation outside of the legislature, which is trimming trees.  Bill Dunn is, by anyone's admission, one of the most principled and ethical people on Capitol Hill.  So, if it takes a tree trimmer to restore trust in our government then I say let's elect Bill Dunn's entire crew.  I guess Jimmy Naifeh is scared that the money his wife brings into the household might be scrutinized because she's, ya' know, a lobbyist.  I ask you, my loyal Grounds patrons, who do you trust with the future of your state?  The tree trimmer who is in politics for all of the right reasons or the man who profits from his wife's occupation of lobbying her husband? 

But Naifeh isn't done shoving his foot into his mouth.  He chides Dunn for suggesting that the legislature should tell citizens how they vote on legislation.  As Adam Groves summarizes,

It would cost more money to have state archives personnel present at all meetings, Naifeh said, challenging Dunn that he may have to vote for a bigger budget.

What Jimmy Naifeh's little brain can't grasp is that Republicans will spend tax dollars on some things.  One of those things is giving citizen's access to their government.  It seems we have found one government program that Democrats totally oppose.  Pity their party.

Naifeh's ankle is now somewhere in the vicinity of his molars with this one.  Speaking of Dunn, he says:

He thinks he's the first one to come up with any ethics legislation

No, Speaker Naifeh, he is the first one to come up with good ethics legislation.  I would advise the Speaker to take lots of pictures this year and make many, many memories because if he keeps this attitude up, he's going to find himself unemployed.  At least he'll have more time to spend all that money his wife is making as a lobbyist.

The larger point is this:  These are the people who are running your state.  These Democrats will ultimately make the decisions on which ethics reforms pass into law and which will be discarded.  Jimmy Naifeh runs the House because the Democrats that represent 54 legislative districts elect him to do so.  You might love your Democratic State Representative, but you must understand one thing:  When you elect that Democrat you are endorsing the screed that Naifeh is spewing with these comments.  As long as Jimmy Naifeh is Speaker of the House, you have NO hope of any meaningful ethics reform.  As long as Jimmy Naifeh is Speaker of the House, you will not be able to trust your state government.  As long as Jimmy Naifeh is Speaker of the House, the FBI will be trolling the halls of Legislative Plaza because they know it's fertile ground for corruption.  Think about that before you cast another vote for a Democratic legislator. 

(Same goes for Republicans who voted for Naifeh.)

A New Line of Defense

Some comments that show up on The Grounds deserve a post of their own.  Such is the case with Terry's response to my post about Lois DeBerry, her feeble defense and the jelly-spined Democrats who won't investigate her.  Terry writes,

Perhaps this is a revolutionary new line of defense--maybe here on out to be known as Deberrius Me Sorrius. Technically however, the precedent was set with Bredesen. Hence I'll dub it "OoopsUs No Ethicus" defense.

Precedent setter: Top staffer accused of sexually harrassing employee? Shred papers, apologize.

From there, the possibilities are simply limitless.
Caught snorting cocaine? Blow your nose and apologize.

Caught ingesting oxycontin without a scrip? Throw up, give it back to the dealer, apologize.

Caught beating your kid? Hug them, take them to Chucky Cheese, apologize.

Embezzle from your boss? Just add up what you think you took, give it back, apologize.

Heh.

The Party of Gambling Money From Bribe Peddlers

When a Republican was indicted for accepting bribes, his party quickly called for his resignation. 

When a Democrat takes gambling money from the same group doling out bribes like candy to children, her party decides there's nothing to investigate. 

On a party-line vote, the Democrats on the House Ethics Committee decided not to investigate Lois DeBerry for accepting $200 in gambling money from E-Cycle Management, the FBI front company for a corruption investigation in Tennessee.  Note, the House Ethics Committee didn't make this decision, the five Democrats on the committee did.  All of the Republican members voted for an investigation.

If you care about ethics in government, yet you love your Democratic State Representative, remember this come election time.  As long as Democrats run the House, legitimate and serious ethics violations will not be investigated.  This party has proven today that ethics are a partisan issue in Tennessee. 

It appears that Rep. DeBerry's heartfelt plea won the day:

“In my 33 years of public service I can’t remember my integrity ever being questioned before this year,” DeBerry said. “And it hurts, it’s painful."

Cry me a river.  DeBerry's integrity deserves to be questioned and her "lapse in judgment" as she calls it, warrants punishment.

It hurts that the second-highest ranking member in the House of Representatives thinks it's okay to take a limo to Tunica and accept money from a company that has business before the legislature.  It's painful to recognize that the Democratic Party doesn't think that it's worth investigating.  It's painfully obvious which party is more concerned with politics than an ethical state government.   

UPDATE:  Bob Krumm reminds us that we need a wholesale change of leadership in the legislature.

House Republicans have asked the Attorney General to launch its own investigation.  However, Attorney General Paul Summers is big buddies with John Wilder and Jimmy Naifeh so we know how far this request will go.  House Democratic Leader Kim McMillan responded to the GOP's request,

Republicans prefer delays "to turn this into a partisan battle," even though DeBerry "has apologized, admitted she made an error in judgment and offered to the committee multiple types of remediation that she has been engaged in an effort to try to solve this problem."

This is beyond the pale.  Of course, Repubicans are making this a partisan battle because it's clear that Democrats are not at all interested in investigating wrongdoing.  If Democrats didn't quake in their boots at the thought of looking into one of their own, this wouldn't be partisan.  Furthermore, doesn't McMillan stipulate in her statement that DeBerry is guilty of wrongdoing.  She calls it an "error in judgment."  Others might justifiably call it a crime.  And what is this remediation?   She returned the 4,000 nickels.  Big deal.  I hardly classify that as an appropriate punishment.  I remind you, this is the party that runs the State House and this is the tact they take on serious ethics charges.  Do they deserve to remain in power?

And Republicans are not blameless in all of this, at least the Republicans who are in bed with Democrats.   Two Republican members of the Ethics Committee, Steve McDaniel and Doug Overbey, failed to show up for the meeting, citing work conflicts. 

[House Republican Leader Bill] Dunn might have been aided in his efforts yesterday to launch an investigation if two of his fellow party members on the ethics committee had not been absent: Reps. Steve McDaniel of Parkers Crossroads and Doug Overbey of Maryville.

Those two Republicans have both supported Democrat Naifeh in his past bids for the House's top job. (Groundskeeper Note:  It should be noted that they both supported DeBerry for her leadership post.)

McDaniel and Overbey both cited work conflicts as the reason they did not attend.

It would have taken a majority vote by the committee to investigate DeBerry — seven votes, a margin the six Republicans on the committee could not have reached even if McDaniel and Overbey had been present and voted as a party bloc. However, if all six had been present and voted together, they would have had enough clout to prevent the committee from adjourning without having decided anything, under the committee's rules.

My guess, the Democrats got a hold of Overbey and McDaniel because they knew that the vote would end up being 6-5.  If that was the vote, the Dems would have a tough time explaining why an investigation wasn't happening even though a majority of the committee called for one.  Shame on Overbey and McDaniel for playing along with this corrupt House Leadership team.

Around the Horn

I apologize for having to lump so many topics into one post, but I'm having to economize my time.

First, thanks to all who have commented, emailed and called about the Lil' Batgirl.  It's much appreciated.

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The biggest news of the day is Leo Mazzone's departure from the Atlanta Braves.  Well, maybe not the biggest news, but it's huge to Braves fans.  He got offered a job to coach with his best friend, in his hometown where his parents and children live.  And as an added bonus, his salary is doubled.  I'll miss him, but I can't blame him.  At least he didn't go to the Yankees.

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It turns out that Phil Bredesen can't order his staff not to take a lobbying job after they leave his employ.  At least he can't do it via executive order, so says his lawyer.  Of course, we find this out the day after he makes a public pronouncement that he will end the revolving door practice.  Didn't he think to ask his lawyer if this is legal before he made a big public to-do about it?  Was everyone but his lawyer in on the decision?  Looks like his press staff knew what was going on.  I find it pretty hard to believe that no one asked the legal staff about the legality of an executive order.  Who authors executive orders?  The lawyers. Oops.

This is classic Bredesen political opportunism.  Even in the off-chance that Bredesen didn't talk to his lawyers, he made the statement knowing that a second day story about him not being able to do it wouldn't make the waves that his first day story would.  Either he made the statement without clearing it through the Counsel's office first (which is irresponsible) or he did and blew it off knowing they could fix the problem in a manner that would draw as much attention as the initial announcement.  That's nefarious.

As I've stated before, I'm opposed to a revolving door law anyway.  It does nothing, absolutely nothing, to address real ethics problems and it will create more than a few.  It will drive lobbying underground.  If a legislator or executive branch employee wants to take a lobbying job, they will.  They'll just lobby in more subtle ways until their elimination period ends.  So we've traded registered lobbyists for a lobbyist who can't register, isnt' bound by the attendant disclosure laws but will still influence legislation, even if it isn't by way of lobbying. 

Revolving door bills look good in the newspaper but they're shoddy policy, just the kind of thing I would expect the Bredesen administration to champion.

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Speaking of revolving doors, Kim McMillan seems to be walking through one everyday.  (Before you continue reading this post, I strongly urge you to read the entire Tennessean article.  So go away and do that now.)

Good, you're back.

Let's review.  Kim McMillan sponsors an ethics bill with a glaring loophole, one that she and her fellow lawyers get to walk through.  Even indicted, resigned and disgraced former State Senator John Ford sees that as a problem:

One of those arrested, former Sen. John Ford, D-Memphis, spoke out on McMillan's legislation during an April debate. Ford criticized the lawyer provision as "patently unconstitutional" and said it gave lawyers special treatment and allowed them to represent clients doing business with the state.

Ford has pleaded not guilty in the Tennessee Waltz sting.

The ethics law was aimed at elected officials such as Ford, who were taking money from firms to perform consultant work and pushing their interests before state boards, commissions and agencies.

"You can't hide behind being a lawyer on all of this stuff," Ford said during a heated speech before a packed Senate chamber. "Fifty percent of the lawyers I know don't practice law, they do consulting work."

And then McMillan, who is an incredibly smart woman, inexplicably does an not-so-smart thing by using the loophole to represent a client before the Tennessee Regulatory Authority, a state agency that McMillan oversees in her capacity as a legislator.  She obviously thought that a) no one would notice or b) her friends in the press corps wouldn't make a big to-do of it.  She's forgotten that things have changed over at The Tennessean.

Ah, Mr. Groundskeeper, aren't you okay with the revolving door?  Well, certain varieties of it.  The kind where a public official gives up their position to enter lobbying or consulting practice doesn't keep me awake at night.  That's a one way door.  The kind where an official continues in their capacity while representing businesses in front of the legislature or other state boards is problematic.  That's actually a revolving door they walk through everyday.

My question is this, is what McMillan did any different than what John Ford did by consulting for a company who was trying to get more TennCare business?  Both were representing a private business who was trying to expand their business.  In Ford's case the business was trying to get the state to do use the state for TennCare services.  In McMillan's case, she was trying to get a state agency to allow the business to provide new services.  That's the only distinction that I see.  What say you?  The comments section is open.

For more coverage:  McMillan's response is here and here. 
An AP story.
Tim Chavez weighs in on the issue. 
The Jackson Sun editorializes against McMillan.  Where are the other papers?  They weren't shy about excoriating Tre' Hargett for walking through the one-way door, what do they say about McMillan's daily revolving door?

Around the Horn

I managed to peel my eyes away from my beautiful little girls today to see what's going on in the world.

Blogging for Bryant is en fuego.  Ed Bryant is in the race to stay....Harold Ford, Jr.'s money is not.  Opines one of B4B's commenters, "It's hard to hold onto all that cash when so many rapists and murderers need parole, and so many friends are accused of manslaughter." Heh.

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From Roger Abramson's word processor to God's eyes....

You need to stop pretending to be involved and really get involved. Elections for the legislature are just over a year from now. Elections for the council are just nine months after that. We need the criminal lawyer who has dealt with the judicial system firsthand and knows where it works and where it doesn’t. We need the self-made businessman who can bring new ideas to government. We need the retired teacher who has served on the front lines of public education. We need the health care professional who has real-world experience with TennCare, Medicare, Medicaid and all of that other stuff that only about 10 people on Capitol Hill even remotely understand. We need the homemaker who understands what life is like for the average citizen beyond all of the party platforms, white papers and fiscal notes that clutter the political sphere.

In short, we need people like you. It may be some of the hardest work you ever do, but democracy isn’t supposed to be a piece of cake. Newspapers like this one thrive on poking fun at the foibles of our elected officials—the dumb, the corrupt, the incompetent and the all-of-the-above. But we’d be happy to write a piece about how swell things are going because people who actually have a clue are finally in charge. So get out there, take your lumps and show us what you can do. But above all, stop your whining.

Roger writes with some authority on this.  At least twice that I know of, Roger has had the fortitude put his name on a ballot.  He's exactly the type of person we need in public service.  And we need people like you, too.

He ends his column with a plug for some bright political strategists that potential candidates would be wise to call.  I can't run for office because my employer won't allow it, but I try to serve in other ways.  I love helping smart, principled and dedicated conservatives get their campaigns for state-level offices off the ground.  If you've been thinking about it, send me an email.  Oh, and my employer doesn't allow me to accept compensation for these services, so it won't cost you a thing.

(Tip o' the cap:  One such person that Tennessee would do well to elect to public office, Bob Krumm.
Looks like Joe at Chattanooga-Hamilton Civic Forum agrees with me. Run, Bob, run.)

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Speaking of Bob Krumm, head over to his blog and start scrolling...the rich irony of campaign finance (ahem) reform...Bob exhibits a quality that has escaped at least one Georgia judge -- common sense...And speaking of judges who lack common sense and any sense of judicial restraint.  More on this story from Blake Wylie. 

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16?  Two is enough for me.  But to each their own.

(Tip 'o the cap: Michael Silence, who links to a self-righteous, egomaniacal, left-wing, nut-job of a  columnist from, where else?, San Francisco.)

I hope the left keeps spewing this kind of bile.  Everytime they do, they turn off at least a few voters.  In this case, the 18 members of the Duggar family. 

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More from Planet Bizarro.  It was a Republican scheme to have the FBI infiltrate the legislature in an effort to remove African-Americans from office.  So says the unstable State Rep. from Chattanooga, JoAnne Favors.  Keep talkin', JoAnne, just keep on talkin'.

Memo to those who think Tennessee Waltz was racially or even politically motivated:  Corrupt people were targeted and it just so happens that some of those people were black and some of them were even white. Some of them were Democrats and one was a Republican.  Perhaps because the Republican Party isn't the most fertile territory for corruption. 

More from Adam Groves.  Still more from Adam. 

From Joe at Chatt. Civic Forum:

There's not a story here. There is an attention-grabbing distraction ploy, and nothing else.

Yep.

And hold onto your chairs here, I agree with TN Liberal:

The time seems appropriate to look at the acts that were committed here. This was not a case of subtle misuse of influence or political patronage. The accused were not enticed into giving away jobs or throwing out parking tickets. They were offered cold, hard cash to pass laws that would be to the detriment of the community. And they took the money. These people, Democrats and Republicans, black and white, abdicated all responsibility to their constituents in exchange for cash.

Yep, again.

Michael Silence has the FBI's response to JoAnne Favors mindless ramblings. 

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Braves pitching coach extraordinairre Leo Mazzone won't be leaving Atlanta to join the New York Yankess.  Whew.  But he might head off to Baltimore.  This is one free agent the Braves can ill-afford to lose.  Which is why the Bravos are playing hardball.

UPDATE:  Looks like he's gone.  I am quite literally teary-eyed.

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My World Series prediction is one step closer to reality with the Astros' NLCS victory.  The Cardinals will win one, perhaps next year if they stay healthy throughout the playoffs.  But this year belongs to the 'Stros.  It's only fitting that after 15 years of playing together - one-third of the franchise's life - Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell will finally play in a World Series together.  They are two of the classiest guys who ever put on a baseball uniform and what they have done over the course of their careers is nothing short of spectacular.  Mark this down.  You will never, ever, ever again see two first ballot Hall of Famers play their entire careers together. 

It broke my heart to see the Braves lose, but if they must lose I don't mind it being to this club.  They have a nice mix of great veterans like Bagwell, Biggio, Andy Pettite and one of my favorite all-time players, Roger Clemens balanced by youngsters like Willy Taverez, Lance Berkman, Roy Oswalt and Brad Lidge.  And they're all ballplayers, not primadonnas.  They are the team you'd most like to have a beer with.

For those of us who appreciate the big moments in baseball, here's one to look for in this World Series.  We all remember Kirk Gibson hobbling around the bases on one leg in the 1988 World Series after hitting a game winning homerun.  Keep your eyes on Jeff Bagwell if he DH's in the American League games.  You just might see him muscle a ball out of the park with his one good shoulder at a key moment in the Series. 

A few predictions:

• The teams will combine for 18 runs for the series.  Both pitching staffs are amazing and both offenses can be anemic.
• A.J. Pierzynski's good luck with the umps runs out and gets a few calls going against him. He's a jerk and he deserves it.
• Craig Biggio will hit better than .350.  He's going to make his only trip to the World Series count.
• Chris Burke (former UT Vol and current Brave killer) will help decide a game.  He's always in the right place at the right time.
• Roger Clemens will win Games 1 and 5 against Jose Contreras who will slide into one of his famous meltdowns.
• NLCS MVP Roy Oswalt will win Games 3 and the deciding Game 6 in addition the World Series MVP.  You gotta' love a guy whose team owner motivates him by offering to buy him a bulldozer. 
• Andy Pettite is the hard-luck loser in Game 2 to Mark Buehrle.  Final score 2-1. 
• Astros in six. 

 

Around the Horn

For much of what follows, I tip my cap to Bob Krumm. (Be sure to read his entire post.)

Here's a nickel's worth of free advice...If you have a broken foot and you need to go from the Nashville Airport to the State Capitol, don't bother with a taxi.  Call a State Trooper.  That's what Former Black Caucus Chairwoman did Tommie Brown (D-Chattanooga) did on behalf of her fellow caucus member, Henri Brooks (D-Memphis). 

When asked why she didn't call for a taxi for Brooks, Brown said, "Not with the condition she was in. It was a matter of protecting her foot."

Let the word go forth troughout every hill and holler in Tennesssee.  If you have a broken foot, it will not be protected in a cab.  Perhaps, Reps. Brown and Brooks could sponsor a bill next year on this pressing issue -- "The Podiatric Protection from Reckless Taxi Drivers Act of 2006." 

And Rep. Brown doesn't think you have a right to know what she's doing with your tax dollars.  Says Brown,

When asked if Brooks' ride was a perk of being in office, Brown replied, "I don't know. This is an attack on the Black Caucus. I have attempted to play by the rules."

Ok.

I wonder if Rep. Brooks said the Pledge of Allegiance after she was raced to the House chamber by a State Trooper.  Probably not. But I bet the Trooper did.

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In other news, Legislative Black Caucus' annual retreat is partially funded by state tax dollars from the Department of Financial Institutions, the University of Tennessee and the Tennessee Valley Authority.  The ACLU has yet to announce its intention to file a lawsuit against the use of taxpayer dollars for a praise and worship service. 

The Caucus has not disclosed if any of Lois DeBerry's gambling money went to fund the retreat.

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Two of the stories linked above are courtesy of The Tennessean.  After initially perusing them, I was impressed with the quality of the journalism displayed so I glanced at the byline expecting to see the names of Trent Seibert or Brad Schrade.  I was wrong.  Bonna de la Cruz wrote BOTH of them.  I'm not at all used to seeing her byline on good stories but today we have TWO of them.  We are witnessing the complete transformation of a once inept newspaper into a first rate product that does its community a great service.  Whatever Tennessean reporters are putting in their coffee, please share it with the rest of the Capitol HIll press corps. 

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Two great posts (here and here) about the 278th's imminent return to Tennessee.   The blogger that penned them, Lance Frizzell will be returning with them.  I'm thrilled about it and I know it will bring a smile to this little fella's face. 

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Laws don't create ethics.  Voters do. I couldn't agree more, Joe.

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And finally, Rob and Ann, sittin' in a tree, K..I..

A boy can dream, can't he?

Indicted Legislators May Vote on Ethics

(Story from The Tennessean)

Good news for all of us who truly care about ethics in state governement.

Even lawmakers who are under indictment on bribery charges will be allowed to debate the finer points of proposed new ethical rules for legislators.

If Gov. Phil Bredesen calls the legislature back to the Capitol for a special session on ethics, state Sens. Ward Crutchfield and Kathryn Bowers, both charged in the FBI's Operation Tennessee Waltz bribery sting, can sit and vote, an attorney with the Senate Ethics Committee said yesterday.(snip)

The requests went nowhere: One senator spoke against the idea, and a committee lawyer said it would be unconstitutional anyway.

Sen. Roy Herron, D-Dresden, said the prospect of their exclusion was "disturbing."

What's disturbing is for a state senator, widely considered to be an honest and decent man like Herron to say that excluding people indicted for taking bribes would be "disturbing."

The article mentions two other alternatives for calling a special session sans those indicted for public corruption.

1. Expelling the offending members and

2. The Ethics Committee, an individual member or the entire Senate could request that Crutchfield and Bowers not to participate.  They could, however, choose not to comply.

I'm all for #1.  Faster, please.