ETHICS LEGISLATION
Last session, Representative Kim McMillan and I sponsored legislation to create the Special Joint Committee on Ethics. That committee has been meeting this summer and fall. We met again this week.
Major changes are being proposed by a number of us. I believe major changes will be enacted.
Most legislators and even most lobbyists are ready for changes. That's what I find as I talk to my colleagues and the most respected lobbyists.
The old days of lobbyists "wining and dining" legislators nightly is history for most of us any way. Most lobbyists don't pursue their work that way now. Most legislators are ready to stop the reputation of the entire General Assembly from being tarnished by the habits of a relatively few.
There are a number of other areas where I think you'll soon see change, including contingency fees for lobbyists, disclosure of amounts being spent to influence the General Assembly, limits on individuals dumping hundreds of thousands of dollars into state races and money-laundering.
I welcome the counsel of Tennesseans on these issues. I especially would appreciate the advice of those I am privileged to represent in the 24th district.
posted by admin @ 5:24 AM
4 comments
4 Comments:
These are important also:
-Subject the General Assembly to the state's Open Meetings Act and Open Records Act.
-Roll call votes for all committee and subcommittee.
-Record (video and/or audio) all committee and subcommittee meetings.
-Look into providing streaming audio/video to the committee and subcommittee meetings.
Thanks for listening.
Senator I just want the games to STOP at the legislature. You all need to act like civilized and decent folks when your up there and do the peoples work each session and then come HOME! Thank you.
Senator Herron,
I agree with the need for new ethics legislation, but doesn't it seem that the heart of the whole shake-up has been forgotten? It wasn't lobbyists who were caught up in the sting, it was legislators. Now the committee is bending over backwards to legislate everyone but themselves. Even the "bagmen" the FBI used weren't registered and not even a part of the daily scene at the capitol. The people who are guilty of the crimes they were accused of, are just that, guilty. Laws were broken; they didn't use the loopholes that are getting headlines now. The laws are on the books, they were not followed. It is not possible to legislate a conscience, it is the responsibility of every district to send a person who can be trusted.
What I'm really leading up to is to argue against the idea of banning contingency fees. How is it fair for legislators who are lawyers fight for a restriction that they would not want imposed on themselves? Lobbyists don't fight any harder to win a battle based on a contingency fee. This population lives and breathes on reputation. They aren't going to stop working for an issue because the money was up front and not a "win fee," they want to maintain their reputation of being right on an issue and possessing the skills in research and persuasion to get the job done. The person who wins because of contingency fees is the person who comes from a small, struggling group with an idea that goes against the grain and doesn't garner press because it is not glitzy enough for attention. These are the people who can't afford a lobbyist, or any other knowledgeable guide, to help them navigate the maze of changing public policy. By basing the fee on the success, they have not thrown money into a fire without seeing any results. If anything, this is the most charitable work lobbyists do that is about to be outlawed. How else is a battered women's shelter going to change statute? How about those that would like to see more green space available for their children to enjoy? They need help. Before you go back into committee, remember that you would not just be keeping the trial lawyers from offering too sweet a pot for their lobbyist, you are keeping the smaller groups from participating in a meaningful way as well.
Thank you for your time and service.
People are spamming your blog, Roy.
T.Sharp
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