July 21, 2005

Inside the Loop

Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen is currently considering calling a special session to enact ethics reforms covering legislators and lobbyists. But a few months ago Bredesen demonstrated just how little he minds the too-cozy relationship between legislators and lobbyists with one of the many appointments a governor makes while he's in office. MetroPulse comments...

Gov. Phil Bredesen appointed Larry McMillan to be a chancellor for the 19th Judicial District in Clarksville when a vacancy occurred last winter. In addition to his outstanding credentials, we would note that he is the husband of state Rep. Kim McMillan, D-Clarksville, who also serves as the majority leader of the Tennessee House of Representatives.

The break up of the firm of McMillan and McMillan has resulted in Majority Leader McMillan recently joining the law firm of Bolt, Cummings, Conners and Berry . That law firm has nine lawyers specializing in governmental relations. That's lawyer speak for lobbyists.

So if you need a good lobbyist, keep in mind that you can hire one of the majority leader's colleagues at her law firm. Meanwhile, Majority Leader McMillan is on a committee appointed by House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh to advise him on what ethics legislation he should support for a possible special session. Majority Leader McMillan was on the House committee that decided (or not) what ethics legislation would pass in the just-completed legislative session.