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October 07, 2005
It's Nothing Person-al
Without further ado, let's raise the curtain on this project, and shine our Cleen Gubmint Spotlight on a Person..
Yes, a Person named Curtis. Thanks to Bill Hobbs, who is ever a not-so-silent partner in the United Front Against Corruption's right flank, I direct your attention to a story in today's City Paper. You may have already known about the courageous move by new House Republican Leader Bill Dunn of Knoxville, wherein he, on the behalf of the late bills committee, declined a lobbying group's invitation to dinner and — I assumed — put the kibosh on other legislators' being wined and dined there as well. Read the article, though, and share in my eye-rolling over the technicality embedded in current law: lawmakers can't be taken to dinner by lobbyists, unless a full committee is invited; but, wink wink, said committee doesn't actually have to attend. Okay, that needs some work.
Back to Senator Person, though. Not only was he discussing TennCare and tort reform with a lobbyist for and members of a physicians' association at a nice restaurant on the Tennessee Medical Association's tab; he has some other laundry in the hamper that we ought to just go ahead and drag out. This is his day on this website, remember? He has close ties to another industry's lobbyist, too. Very close, in fact. His son, Curtis Person III, is the director of legislative affairs (i.e., lobbyist) for my despised cable/internet provider, Comcast Communications. Has Senator Person, a member of the Senate Ethics Committee (heh), dutifully abstained from participating in legislative activity related to his close relative's lobbying position? Apparently, not so much. (Again, laud the intrepid Hobbs for the story, and tip yer hat to Mark A. Rose.)
UPDATE 10/8: Here's more.
Voters in Senate District 31: all Tennesseans need you. Send a new, uncompromised public servant to Nashville (after all, Curtis Person has served there longer than some of you have been alive), and we will thank you.
Where will the spotlight shine next? My sense of drama tells me not to tell you. Stay tuned..
State Senate ~ You ain't 'enate | By joe lance | 01:47 PM