In this Jan. 26, 2012, photo, Republican Rep. Philip Johnson of Pegram discusses his proposal to loosen restrictions on lobbyist receptions for lawmakers during an ethics training session in the House chamber in Nashville, Tenn. Under current law, all 132 state lawmakers must be invited to receptions hosted by employers of lobbyists. Johnson’s bill would allow those receptions to be held for just the members of legislative committees in either chamber.NASHVILLE – A bill would make it easier for lobbyists to wine and dine lawmakers, a move that critics say would be a “step backward” from ethics reforms imposed on the General Assembly after the FBI’s Tennessee Waltz bribery sting of 2005.
Republican Rep. Philip Johnson of Pegram introduced the bill, which would allow employers of lobbyists to host receptions for standing committees in either chamber. Current law bans receptions, where food and alcohol often are served, unless all 132 state lawmakers are invited.
“Those [events] are extremely expensive, and actually it has limited the citizens’ access to us,” Johnson said in remarks on the House floor during annual ethics training Thursday.
Johnson’s proposal comes at a time when spending on lawmaker receptions is setting new highs. An Associated Press review of lobbyist disclosures shows that nearly $620,000 was spent on lawmaker receptions last year, a 36 percent increase from 2010.
The Tennessee Farm Bureau hosted last year’s most expensive reception at $23,661, while Vanderbilt’s sponsorship of the members versus interns basketball game was the cheapest at a cost of $626. The average event cost was $6,807.