BillHobbs.com is a frequently updated blog of original reporting and commentary by Bill Hobbs, a longtime Nashville journalist and media relations adviser. I am currently serving as communications director for the Tennessee Republican Party, a job I began on Oct. 29, 2007.
By Adam Groves
Voting along mostly party lines, a joint special committee on Ethics Reform formed following Operation Tennessee Waltz, an undercover FBI investigation into Tennessee's State Legislature, Democrats rejected four common sense ethics reform measures proposed by House GOP Leader Bill Dunn. Measure that were defeated from the Knoxville News-Sentinel:
Barring legislators who work with firms that employ lobbyists from voting on bills where the firm's lobbyists are trying to influence the outcome. House Majority Leader Kim McMillan, D-Clarksville, who works for a law firm that has a lobbying arm and would thus be impacted by the proposal, did not vote.
Requiring people who lobby for government departments or agencies, including universities, to register as lobbyists. The measure would also exempt them from paying fees charged to other lobbyists. They are not required to register now.
Requiring candidates to itemize all their expenses and list the name of every contributor, regardless of how small. Current law allows candidates to lump minor expenses into general categories - simply stating such things as "gas" or "office supplies" - on disclosure forms. Similarly, all contributions of less than $100 per person can be lumped together in a total without listing each contributor.
Forbidding the governor to collect campaign contributions while the Legislature is in session. Current law has a "blackout" on accepting campaign money by legislators during the session, but the governor is not included. Gov. Phil Bredesen has voluntarily avoided most contributions in past years, but has indicated he will engage in fund raising in 2006 when up for re-election.
Dunn said he's still going to push for his defeated amendments when the legislature convenes for a possible special session to pass the ethics reforms. "I think that is something that the people deserve - to have a transparent government and know who's giving the money and where the money's going," Dunn said.
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