July 27, 2006

Bought and Paid For

Two Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers promoted by the Bredesen administration after they donated large sums to Gov. Phil Bredesen's 2002 and 2006 campaigns are asking for their money back now that they've been demoted.

Which, if you think about it, just confirms that the Bredesen administration was actively rewarding troopers who contributed to its campaign with job promotions

Bredesen campaign spinner Will Pinkston tries to make put lipstick on the pig with his quote in the story in the Thursday Tennessean:

"It's fairly common in politics for people to get mad when they don't get what they want," Pinkston said. "That may be the case here; it may not be."

They only want their money back now because the promotion they thought they had bought it turns out was only rented.

The Tennessean reported in November that two-thirds of troopers promoted under Bredesen gave money to his campaign or had family or patrons who did - part of a much broader pattern of politics and corruption in the THP which the Bredesen administration later admitted it allowed to exist, but which in fact it participated in, until the paper made it public.

Most of the politically-promoted troopers still have their promotions and higher salaries - and the Bredesen campaign hasn't returned the ethically tainted donations.

UPDATE: The Tennessee Republican Party has issued a press release challening the governor to do the right thing and return all of the money it recieved from troopers associated with the donations-for-promotions scandal. Here is the text of the release:

BREDESEN, RETURN THE MONEY
Governor Has Been Unresponsive Long Enough

(Nashville) - In the wake of Governor Phil Bredesen's trooper "campaign cash" scandal, two troopers have asked the governor to return the money.

"Phil Bredesen has yet to step up to the plate and return the money. Maybe he is stubborn, maybe it's arrogance, whatever the case, he needs to bear the responsibility and return all of the THP campaign contributions," said Bob Davis, chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party.

According to news reports, the Bredesen Administration has allegedly been involved in a 'promotions for cash' scheme and has been politicizing the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

Two troopers and their families contributed to Bredesen's campaign to the amount of $15,600. The two officers were promoted after their donations and campaign work for Bredesen but were recently demoted after a recent shakedown at the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

Bredesen has said that he would return campaign donations if asked to do so; however, he has yet to return thousands of dollars in contributions from troopers and their families associated with promotions within the THP.

"Sooner or later, Bredesen will realize he needs to take this issue seriously. Tennesseans are paying attention to see how he handles this and it's about time that he do what's right and give back the money," said Davis.

It has been 252 days since Republicans around the state have asked Governor Bredesen to return campaign donations connected to this scandal.