Legislators may support ban on trooper political donations

WKRN
December 14, 2005

Some state lawmakers think there should be a ban on campaign contributions from Tennessee Highway Patrol members. The idea came out of the first legislative hearing on Tuesday into a series of issues raised by a month of media reports.

After a series of headlines ranging from political cronyism to troopers with criminal histories, some state lawmakers joined the chorus for change in the THP.

"I don't think its too much to say if you are a trooper, you should not give politcal promotions," said state Sen. Rosalind Kurita.

The Tennessean found two-thirds of the troopers who have been promoted under Gov. Phil Bredesen gave him campaign contributions. Many around Capitol Hill say troopers giving contributions to governors goes back decades, but few lawmakers have ever raised the issue.

"It depends on who you know and who you support sometimes, and I think we all know that," said Sen. Mae Beavers.

The state Transportation Committee, which oversees the THP, launched hearings into a variety of issues raised about the agency's management. But banning trooper's political contributions may be a law that members can pass.

"That is why we are looking at legislation from other states to see if its appropriate and without violating constitutional rights, free speech and association and the like," said Sen. Mark Norris.

The top three Safety Department officials who oversee the THP resigned last week, but lawmakers want to explore the issues remaining - how troopers are hired, how they're promoted and if they're free to express problems within the Highway Patrol.

"It's a murky mess and we need to clean it up," said Kurita.

Finance Commissioner Dave Goetz said the Bredesen adminstration plans to hire Kroll Government Services - a national security firm - on a no-bid contract to help restructure the THP.

"It's not always preferable to go for a non-procurement bid, but sometimes you have to so you can get the help quickly and move ahead," said Goetz.

The speed of that no-bid consultant contract from the Democratic governor concerned some Republican lawmakers.

"I think there is some concern they may try and move too quickly and haste makes waste," said Norris.

Democrat lawmakers jumped into the fray as well, wondering about reports that the governor's office signed off on some trooper promotions.

"Then there is some checkoff with the highers-up in the administration," said Sen. Jerry Cooper. "We want to find out. That's the bottom line."

The committee looking into the THP issues meets again next month, and it may soon hear from those troopers who feel they've been blown around by the state's political winds. Gov. Bredesen's adminstration said that its cost of hiring an outside THP consultant could be $100,000-$200,000 for a 3-month no-bid contract.

Chris Bundgaard for News 2 at 5 and 6 p.m.