BillHobbs.com - Blogging about politics and media from Nashville.

July 6, 2005

Ethics Lapse

Don't miss Tim Chavez' column today on Gov. Phil Bredesen's new "ethics commission."

Bredesen appointed a panel Friday without ordinary citizens. And it will be led by a former Republican senator who was part of Lt. Gov. John Wilder's leadership team in the Senate and a former past chairman of the Shelby County Democratic Party who co-managed Harold Ford Sr.'s first congressional campaign. Hopes of recommendations that would bring sweeping change to the corrupt process on Capitol Hill just took a big hit.

The appointments represent good people. But people with titles often have experiences more in common with those in power who need to be regulated than citizens who have lost all trust in government. With ethics, "tabula rasa" or a blank slate is preferable. Experts such as Cody should come in and speak to a panel of citizens rather than the other way around.

But Bredesen is a reluctant participant in ethics reform. His record of balking on ethics three years ago and as late as three months ago shows a politician unmoved by the corrupt system on Capitol Hill. And his panel appointments of people who have the power and prestige to navigate it do not promise great change.

Operation Tennessee Waltz

declined to provide leadership on the issue

lobbyists

P.S.: A belated thanks to Chavez for the mention of my ~~blog~~ online magazine in his June 17 column about Bredesen's record of non-leadership on the issue of legislative ethics.
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For more scrutiny of the Bredesen record, see Bredesen Watch.

Posted in Bredesen Watch | Linked By |
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Comments

Love Tim Chavez's work. By the way news from the 22nd District. Chris Newton flipped the proverbial middle finger to to the State GOP, and says he will not quit House seat. The citizens in the district that I talked to this weekend were less than enthusiastic with Chris, and are skeptical about the ethics reform concept in general with this legislative body. It remains to be seen what is next. Love the magazine, I am buying the book!! --jc

PS: Wednesday, 07/06/05
Newton says he will not quit House seat

By BONNA de la CRUZ
Staff Writer

Indicted state Rep. Chris Newton said this morning he does not plan to resign from the state legislature despite pressure from the Tennessee Republican Party to do so.

The Republican from east Tennessee said a majority of constituents he met with over the weekend urged him not to quit.

Newton was among seven people, including two other sitting lawmakers, arrested in the federal corruption sting dubbed “Operation Tennessee Waltz.”

For more on this story, pick up tomorrow’s Tennessean.

http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050706/NEWS0201/50706001

Posted by: JC Bowman at July 6, 2005 12:58 PM

He should have put at least one blogger (wait...I'm sorry...citizen journalist) on the committee.

Or, why don't we just make our own committee and present our findings to the Governor's committee? Better yet, we could just formally present them with the list of reforms that we mentioned previously.

Posted by: Blake at July 6, 2005 01:41 PM

How are the TN Congress critter going to hold hearings when several of their members are under indictment? All charged should resign. John Ford did so he could raise MONEY.

Posted by: Gail at July 6, 2005 02:42 PM