THE RECENT ARRESTS OF LEGISLATORS

I've waited a bit to write about the recent arrests of legislators. Quite frankly, I wanted to let some of my emtions settle a bit. It still is hard to believe. Following are responses to questions repeatedly and recently asked by constituents and other Tennesseans.

1. WERE YOU SURPRISED BY THE ARRESTS?

Allegations had been swirling around Senator John Ford for some time, though he had maintained he had not violated the law.

I was concerned that our laws had loopholes that would let persons "consult" to represent private interests against the public good. That was why Representative Kim McMillan and several colleagues in the Senate and House and I had sponsored House Bill 1--to close such loopholes.

After that bill passed, the media reported that then-Senator Ford had said he was not going to run again and blamed the enactment of House Bill 1. That had made me think that perhaps in the past he had used legal advice to use the legal loopholes.

As to the indictments of the others, yes, I was surprised. Quite frankly, some more than others.

2. HAD YOU HEARD RUMORS OF CORRUPTION?

Yes. But one can hear a bad rumor about anyone from the Pope and the President on down. And often such rumors are started by political foes for reasons hardly altruistic.

3. HAD YOU HEARD SOMETHING WAS COMING DOWN?

Just the day before the arrests, a colleague told me he'd heard "some people are wearing 'wires.'"

I learned the day of the arrests that some of those arrested had been intereviewed by the FBI a few days earlier. But I had not heard that until after the arrests.

4. WERE YOU APPROACHED BY THE "STING" COMPANY?

I don't think so. I don't recall talking with someone representing that "sting" company, nor does my legislative assistant recall them coming around, nor did she find anything on my schedule indicating they had met with me.

I should note, however, that during a session I have literally thousands of conversations and at least hundreds of them will will be brief talks with people who grab, corner or walk with me, frequently people whom I hardly know or do not know at all. So, I cannot say for sure that no one with that company talked with me. But neither Josephine nor I have any recollection of having talked with someone from that sham company. And they doggoned sure did not offer me any bribe!

5. HOW'D ALL "TENNESSSEE WALTZ" INVESTIGATION GET STARTED?

We'll have to wait to see for sure. But I am told that this investigation may have begun or been enhanced by allegations that were made during an investigation into Shelby County government. Some who were caught doing wrong there maintained that others were doing the same or worse in state government. Or so a source tells me.

Also, there has been an ongoing investigation into the Sundquist administration, with indictments already handed down and more expected. Some of the impetus could have been from that investigation.

I suspect that some of the worst abuses occurred when the last administration failed to ride herd tightly enough on TennCare managed care organizations (MCOs) and contractors. I know Governor McWherter knew to keep close tabs when paying out taxpayer dollars to private companies, but the Sundquist administration did not move quickly and assertively enough and demand enough of some of those MCOs. Some think that the "gravy train" there led to more abuses in other areas.

6. WHAT ABOUT JOHN FORD?

I've not yet seen the videotapes of him stuffing thousands in cash into his pockets, but I will soon. I am told it is anything but pretty.

John Ford is an extremely intelligent, forceful advocate who was perhaps too effective in working on and with the last administration, but he also has had moments painful for all of us to watch. Sometimes we agreed on issues, but many times we stood toe to toe and argued over legislation.

I think it was just the day before his arrest (I know it was that week), he argued against a provision to require more accountability for taxpayers dollars in grants. The proposal was recommended by the Comptroller. Senator Ford, however, alleged that the proposal was aimed at African-Americans. Sitting next to him in the Finance Committee, I responded that the proposal was not about black and white, but about red and green, about taxpayers seeing red when their greenbacks are wasted.

I recall back when I had not been in the legislature very long, I sponsored the Lobbying Ethics Act. It prohibited some abusive practices and required more meaningful and restrictive disclosures. I never will forget being on the conference committee with John Ford and trying to keep him from doing harm to the bill. Later he was upset with me, telling me that I'd sponsored a "bad bill."

Just this session, I stood on the floor of the Senate, with but one desk between his and mine, and listened to him go off on House Bill 1 which I was sponsoring. I remember telling myself that I had not "gone off" on anyone over the legislation to that point, and I should not go off on anyone then. The best way to get the legislation passed was to ignore what I could and just respond as needed to address colleagues' concerns and set the record straight.

John spoke against what he perceived as defects in the bill, but ultimately he voted for it. And it passed the Senate unanimously.

Shortly after that he told a reporter he was not going to run again, because that bill was too restrictive....

7. DO YOU KNOW THE OTHERS WHO WERE INDICTED?

I know the other legislators and the former legislator. I served with and worked with all of them.

Each is an American entitled to the constitutional presumption of innocence.

Each is a child of God with hurting family members who need our prayers.

If any is guilty and has betrayed the public trust, he or she should be punished speedily and strongly.

If any is innocent, then I hope and pray they will be acquitted as soon as possible.