Ethics is not a political issue. Ethics transcends party lines; it is an issue demanding comprehensive, and meaningful, attention. Ethics is not a political football; ethics must be a primary concern to our leaders in government.
Recently, in Tennessee the Federal Bureau of Investigation indicted political leaders on bribery charges. Some political leaders have not been indicted, but their reputations are tainted because they accepted plain white envelopes containing cash “contributions.” The Tennessee Waltz tarnishes the image of Tennessee. The Tennessee Waltz crosses party lines.
In response to the indictments, Republicans demanded the resignation of one of their own. The Republicans have not, however, taken affirmative action to draft comprehensive ethics reform. Instead of proposing legislation leading to strict ethics rules, these leaders drafted a resolution asking for the expulsion of a state representative. These Republicans claim they are cleaning house.
The clean house approach is a political diversion from the real issue of ethics reform. Republicans are hiding their heads in the sand on drafting ethics legislation. The “clean house” approach to ethics will not result in new ethics rules.
Republicans in Tennessee are also claiming Democrats do not care about ethics. However, in making this proclamation, these Republicans ignore the actions of Democrats across the state-particularly the Democratic governor appointing a 12 member panel to address ethics. Moreover, these Republicans fail to support the governor’s inclination to call a special session on ethics.
The Democratic governor is taking affirmative action by appointing a commission to propose meaningful ethics reform-ethics proposals that must lead to a special session on ethics. The governor’s actions show us ethics is not a political matter; it is a matter of character.
The Republicans need to follow the lead of this governor, and Democrats across this state, by demanding affirmative action on ethics reform. Any other action is just “political talk.”
However, as usual, these Tennessee Republicans are long on politics and short on solutions.
Stuart James
Chairman, Hamilton County Democratic Party