In neighboring districts.
Posted on 07/28/2005 3:52:22 AM PDT by GailA
NASHVILLE -- The Tennessee Republican Party called on state House Speaker Pro Tem Lois DeBerry to step down from a committee examining ethics reforms after she admitted accepting $200 from an undercover FBI agent on a casino outing last year.
The money was also the subject of a complaint filed against the veteran lawmaker at the state Registry of Election Finance by Barry Schmittou of Clarksville, who's filed several ethics complaints against officials.
DeBerry, a Memphis Democrat, confirmed Tuesday she accepted $200 from an E-Cycle Management representative while at the Grand Casino in Tunica in May 2004. She said she reluctantly went on the trip with state Sen. Kathryn Bowers, also a Memphis Democrat, to celebrate their birthdays, which are a few days apart.
E-Cycle Management is the sham computer recycling company the FBI used in its Tennessee Waltz sting to catch corrupt lawmakers.
Bowers and five others have been indicted for taking cash from E-Cycle in exchange for their influence to pass legislation favorable to the company. DeBerry has not been charged.
DeBerry recalled the undercover agent, who she then knew as "L.C.," handed her $200 while she stood at a nickel slot machine and said "here's a birthday gift to play with." She played the whole amount and won nothing.
"L.C. McNeil" was listed as E-Cycle vice president in the company's promotional material.
DeBerry said she never discussed legislation with E-Cycle and did not accept money in return for official favors.
State law prohibits a member of the legislature from receiving a gift from a lobbyist or an employer of a lobbyist.
In a legal memo prepared Wednesday for House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh, the chief legislative attorney said E-Cycle is not registered in 2004 or 2005 as an employer of a lobbyist, and no person is registered as a lobbyist representing the company.
"Thus it would appear that the speaker pro tem has not violated the provisions" of the law, attorney Ellen Tewes's memo said.
But state GOP chairman Bob Davis said DeBerry "has clearly violated the spirit of the law, if not the law itself, and she should step down from this ethics committee immediately. If she doesn't resign from the panel, Governor Bredesen should step in if he is serious about ethics reform."
Naifeh appointed DeBerry as co-chairman of a special 12-member House-Senate committee created last month to examine the adequacy of state governmental ethics laws after the sting.
DeBerry could not be reached for further comment Wednesday.
Naifeh defended DeBerry as his longtime friend and said it is premature to ask her to step down from the panel before all the facts are known. He said he spoke with her briefly Wednesday. "I know in Lois's heart and mind, she would not have done anything she thought was illegal, immoral or wrong."
Schmittou's complaint is the latest of many he has filed with the Registry but it's unclear whether the agency has jurisdiction over such an incident since there was no registered lobbyist involved.
C.A. Nashville bureau chief Richard Locker: (615) 255-4923.
Ford asks for later curfew
July 28, 2005
John Ford is hoping the federal judge handling his criminal case will cut him some slack.
Ford, facing extortion and witness intimidation charges in the Tennessee Waltz investigation, has asked U.S. Dist. Judge J. Daniel Breen to lift -- or at least extend -- the 6 p.m. curfew that was a condition of his release on bond.
Ford is finding it tough to make a living because of the restrictions, his attorneys say. He is "assisting and running his family's funeral business, which would require his presence often during the nighttime hours," wrote his attorney, Michael Scholl. Most funeral home visitations are in the evening, after the 6 p.m. deadline.
Ford also has an insurance consulting business but must leave his Downtown office by 4:30 p.m. to make it to Collierville by 6, the motion says.
-- Chris Conley: 529-2595
ford is already violating his bond conditions, he's outside where he's allowed to be..daily going to meet his new honey pot at a office building outside where he's allowed to be...in his NEW Mercedes.
Since when is a breach of ethics cause for a Dim to step down from an ethics committee? After all, they hire hackers to protect computer systems and burglars to enhance building security. Just so long as she can recognize ethical breaches and hold OTHERS to a standard, why should she meet the standard? /sarcasm
Diz, it's Tennessee.
Family trees look like telephone poles. It's where family reunions are looked at as an opportunity to find a date.
So, as long as she can justify it in her heart and mind, anything she physically does is a-O.K. with Naifeh. What an a$$hole!
She did it because it 'looks' good.....and hopes it will be all she will be called on to do...next session she'll be right back on the committee.
Christian, mother, wife, educator, realtor, and lawmaker are all words that describe the Honorable Lois M. DeBerry, Speaker Pro Tempore of the Tennessee House of Representatives. An alumnus of Lemoyne-Owen College, Speaker DeBerry has served in the Tennessee General Assembly since graduating from college in 1972. Speaker DeBerry's tenure in office is characterized by her devotion to children and youth, including day care and adolescent development, health care and women's issues, education, criminal justice reform, and economic development.
A lifelong public servant, Speaker DeBerry is affiliated with many organizations nationally and locally including: The Board of Directors of the State Legislative Leaders Foundation; the Executive Committee of the National Conference of State Legislatures; President Emeritus of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators; education commission of the state; NAACP; P.U.S.H.; N.O.B.L.E.; Delta Sigma Theta Sorority; Memphis Chapter of LINKS; first African American woman elected to House of Representatives from the city of Memphis; first woman chairperson of the Shelby County Democratic Caucus; first African American elected speaker pro tempore of the House of Representatives; and founder and chairperson of Annual Legislative Retreat of Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators.
Why do you think we call him "Boss Hogg", he's a corrupt as the original Boss Hogg on Dukes of Hazzard's. His wife is the chief lobbyist of the state to boot. And the RATS see noting wrong in that.
Ha,ha, very funny! What was a thinking.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.