Special session about ethics needed

By Greg Little, Managing Editor, The Covington Leader Online
July 5, 2005

Sen. Mark Norris of Collierville, our state senator, is calling for a special session of the legislature to establish an ethics committee.

Norris is completely correct in asking for this session.

He said it is time to get the “foxes” out of the “henhouse” in Nashville. That about hits it on the head.

For too long, backdoor deals and behind-the-scenes maneuvering has taken place in Nashville. Though it seems incredible, the legislature doesn’t even operate under the open meetings laws it passed for everyone else.

All of these things need to change.

As do many other things, like how lobbyists operate, how campaign financing is handled and reported, where deals are made. The list could be endless.

I commend Norris for calling for this special session. I get the sense he’s as tired of the good ole’ boys as everyone else. Operation Tennessee Waltz just put the icing on that cake. Let’s be honest, there are corrupt lawmakers in Nashville and they’ve been able to continue those practices by controlling the legislation.

Now it’s time for the people to step forward and demand and end to the immorality we call “politics as usual.” There are no politics as usual anymore.

And what kind of message are those corrupt people sending to the rest of the state? That it’s all right to lie, steal and cheat, just don’t get caught?

A have a feeling all of the ramifications of Tennessee Waltz are as yet unfelt. I’m sure there’s still a lot of nervousness around the halls of Capitol Hill.

The other critical issue which cleaning up the dirty politics will solve is the impact it has on local politics. It’s no secret that some local politicians emulate their mentors in Nashville. Many aspire to be there someday themselves.

In doing so, some operate in backrooms and online, never letting the public know how and when deals and decisions are made. The old smoke-filled room might be gone, but technology has turned bad politics into a chat room, instead. And it’s still not right.

It never seems to fail that when something happens like Tennessee Waltz, some people lay low and others are out front saying things have to change.

Norris is leading the charge and asking the governor to call for a special session. The governor needs to listen to this call. We need government cleaned up and we need to start immediately.

As far as I’m concerned, lawmakers should have considered not even ending the session when the scandal broke. It was just a week or two earlier when many of them were hailing the passage of ethics reform. There was a big ceremony and everyone was there.

Then came the scandal. It must have shaken the core of the institution in Nashville.

And now it’s time to shake the rest of the apple. The time is now and Norris is right.

Let’s get it cleaned up for the people of Tennessee.