Bredesen could call special session for ethics in January

Bredesen created the Citizen Advisory Group on Ethics this summer after five current or former lawmakers were indicted in the Tennessee Waltz bribery sting to study ways the state should change its ethics laws. The group has been holding meetings across the state and is set to turn in a concise report by the end of September.

At the same time, a bipartisan panel of legislators has been working on drafting new laws.

Bredesen said the citizens’ group was working at a good pace.

“I believe they will have that for us and we’ll sit down with the Legislature and try to work out how we’re going to handle it whether it’s through a special session in November or one in January. That’s where I’m leaning,” Bredesen said after a luncheon meeting with Mayor Bill Haslam.

Timing makes the January session more plausible.

“It could well be in early November, but I’m just saying I think if you start thinking about the timing of having the legislative committee sitting down with this report … it pushes the time scale a little bit,” he said.

Proposals for new laws include an independent ethics commission to enforce ethics laws and keep lobbyists and campaign spending in line, giving the public more access to information on the Internet and stiffer penalties for political action committees and lobbyists who don’t meet its provisions.