May 24, 2005

Smoke-Filled Room Update

The Tennessean has a report on the two secret closed-to-the-public meetings held by the state Senate Finance Committee, in violation of their own rules, in order to make decisions about various budget matters. State Sen. Roy Herron, one of the senators who attended those secret meetings, is coming in for some well-deserved abuse in an editorial in today's Tennessean about the secret meetings:

Herron described the meeting as a get-together among "friends." Yeah, right. "Friends" who were deciding which budget amendments would be brought to the Senate floor. "Friends" who were determining how $25 billion in tax dollars will be spent next year. "Friends" who denied their discussions and decisions to fellow senators and to fellow Tennessee taxpayers.

If a similar meeting had been held by a committee of the Metro Council, the Williamson County Board of Education or the state Board of Regents, it would be a violation of the state's open meetings law. It could be challenged in court and rendered null and void.

But the Senate budget meeting, while arrogant and irresponsible, wasn't illegal — and that's the most pitiful aspect of this particular mess. The Tennessee General Assembly has exempted itself from the open meetings and open records laws. Bills that would make the legislature accountable to the public were introduced this year, but were quickly shuffled off to oblivion. The closed-door meetings might not violate the law, but they certainly violate the trust that Tennessee taxpayers need in their government.