Ethics Commission shifting from explaining to enforcing

This piece in the Tennessean discusses the shift from the largely educational role the Tennessee Ethics Commission has played in its first year to the enforcement role it is moving into. Fines are coming for those who haven't filed their November reports.

Gowan off the hook for now

John Rodgers in the City Paper reports that by a vote of 3-2, a panel of the Tennessee Ethics Commission did not rule that Robert Gowan was engaged in lobbying during his cooling off period. Their ruling seemed to firm up the distinction between strategy development and direct lobbying. Final action requires 4 votes, though, and since one member of the panel wasn't present, that wasn't possible.

The Siegenthaler p.r. matter was delayed.

More on those ethics violations

http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080325/NEWS0201/803250337

The piece provides a few quotations on the Gowan matter and an extensive discussion of the role of Siegenthaler P.R. in the wine-grocery stores debate. A Siegenthaler official raises constitutional questions regarding the focus of the probe.

Ex-aide to the Gov and a p.r. firm in the wine-in-groceries battle may have violated ethics rules

The Knoxville News Sentinel is reporting some possible ethics violations for a former aide to the governor (Robert Gowan) and Siegenthaler Public Relations, a firm involved in the battle to change Tennessee law to allow the sale of wine in grocery stores. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/mar/24/ethics-staffers-say-governors-ex-aide-violated-law/

Here's the TN Ethics Commission document prepared for their meeting tomorrow: http://www.state.tn.us/sos/tec/opinions/gowan3.20.08-3.2.pdf