NASHVILLE, TN – Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Chip Forrester recently criticized Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey for trying to eliminate the Tennessee Ethics Commission. Ramsey supports House Bill 506, sponsored by Rep. Curry Todd (R-Collierville), which would dismantle the Tennessee Ethics Commission and transfer its duties to the Registry of Election Finance.

“This is just another excellent example of why Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey has no business running for governor,” Forrester said. “Shifting the duties of the Ethics Commission to the Registry of Election Finance shows that ethics enforcement is not a priority for Lt. Gov. Ramsey and the Tennessee Republican Party.”

The Ethics Commission, championed by Gov. Bredesen in the aftermath of the ‘Tennessee Waltz’ scandal, was created by the General Assembly to hold elected officials accountable through the regulation of lobbying activities, financial disclosure requirements, and ethical conduct. Gov. Bredesen has spoken out against eliminating the Ethics Commission and merging it with the Registry of Election Finance, noting that ethics issues encompass more than simply election finance.

Lt. Gov. Ramsey’s defense of House Bill 506 is the latest in a series of efforts to diminish state ethics laws and their enforcement. When asked about the Ethics Commission bill, Lt. Gov. Ramsey was quick to assure Tennesseans that “…not one law in the state of Tennessee is going to be changed.” This assurance comes on the heels of an interview with the Chattanooga Times Free Press on April 2 where Ramsey called for changing the law banning legislators raising money during session (Tennessee Code § 2-10-310).

“The next Governor will have to convince the voters of Tennessee that he or she is a strong advocate for good government. It’s increasing difficult to imagine Lt. Gov. Ramsey pulling that off,” Forrester said.

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