Lawmakers slowing down bills curbing THP cronyism

Some want to give Bredesen aides more time to make changes

By BRAD SCHRADE
Staff Writer, Tennessean.com
April 25, 2006

State lawmakers — who have been implicated in the politics and cronyism in the Tennessee Highway Patrol — are balking at tough legislation intended to rid the THP of those problems.

Bills that would make it illegal for lawmakers and others to help troopers get promoted based on politics, as well as a bill that would restrict troopers' political activity, both hit brick walls last week in a House Transportation subcommittee.

House Transportation Committee Chairman Phillip Pinion said he asked that the bills be deferred until next year — that would give Gov. Phil Bredesen's administration time to make changes at the Highway Patrol that were recommended in a recent outside consultant's report, he said.

The governor is "working hard" to get politics out of state government, the Union City Democrat said. "I'd rather let him do it and if, for some reason, we come back next year and it hasn't been done, and it's still the same old game, then maybe we need to look at doing something. I want to give him the chance to straighten it out himself. It is the executive branch, and that's his department."

Those who were pushing the legislative reforms said the problems at the Highway Patrol are so ingrained that administrative changes to policy are not enough. The reforms need to be made into law, they said.

One bill limiting influence of outside politics on the promotion process has numerous provisions intended to ensure promotions are based on merit. Another bill tries to limit and restrict troopers' involvement in political fundraising.