Ethics Town Hall Meeting

A panel representing both sides of the aisle told a town hall meeting last night that some fairly common sense ideas could greatly improve the transparency of state government.

Republican State Senator Diane Black and Democratic Representative Frank Buck were joined by Ben Cunningham of Tennessee Tax Revolt, as well as several others, who all agreed that things such as open meetings and posting votes on the internet should be a part of state government.

Tennessee Alliance for Progress sponsored the event and coordinator Nell Levin says citizens should keep pressure on lawmakers in the coming weeks to make changes.

“We were deeply embarrassed to see our legislators being led out of the state capitol in handcuffs. We do not want to see that happen again any time in the future and I think citizens need to step up to the plate and say that ‘enough is enough, we’re ready for some change here.’ I think the impetus has got to come from citizens.”

The legislature will take up the proposed ethics reform bill again next week.