August 27, 2005

Lobbyist Watch

Lobbyist Watch: The Tennessean reports that Curtis Person is the new director of legislative affairs for Comcast Cable of Tennessee. In other words, he's their lobbyist. The Tennessean didn't mention it but I will: Person's father is a state senator from Memphis. Sen. Person has in the past pushed legislation sought by the cable television industry. He also is a member of the Senate Ethics Committee.

In related news, state Rep. Gary Moore, a Democrat from the Nashville suburb of Joelton, announced yesterday that he will give up his post as president of the Tennessee Professional Fire Fighters Association in October after receiving word that he was probably violating state law by serving in the post. The Nashville City Paper reports:

Last legislative session, the General Assembly approved an ethics bill that made it unlawful for a legislator to be paid for consulting services that involve attempts to influence legislation or state contracts. Moore is also a Metro Nashville firefighter. He made his decision to retire after receiving Attorney General Paul Summers’ opinion that he was likely violating state law through his role.

That opinion could have far-reaching effects on other legislators serving in similar consulting positions, Moore said, including Rep. Gary Odom (D-Nashville), the executive director of the Tennessee Optometrics Association. Odom has said he does not believe that the law affects him.

Odom is a member of the House Health and Human Resources Committee and the Joint Tenncare Oversight Committee, two committees that oversee healthcare policy.

Meanwhile, the pack of lobbyists in the Tennessee legislature are objecting loudly to a much-needed ethics reform that is already in place in 30 other states. It will be interesting to see where Sen. Person stands on that issue.

I've said several times that whatever ethics reform proposals the lobbyists object to the loudest should be the first reforms that the people demand the legislature passes.