Another state official joins lobbyist ranks

By BRAD SCHRADE
Staff Writer

Former Bredesen worker now charged with winning business from Tennessee

A Memphis insurance executive who has hired Gov. Phil Bredesen's former top lobbyist to help him get state insurance business in the latest example of the ''revolving door'' practice that advocates for stronger ethics laws say should end.

Activists say Tennessee should have a ''cooling-off'' period — from the time officials leave government employment and when they legally can lobby the government they served. Several states and Congress have such rules.

Oseman Insurance Agency has been in the news recently for its business association with state Sen. John Ford. The Memphis Democrat gets paid about $130,000 a year to sell policies for the company. Some of the policies have been with companies that do business with the state, particularly TennCare, which Ford helps oversee on three Senate committees.

Oseman hired veteran lobbyist Anna Windrow in January — a little more than a month after she left Bredesen's office. She was the governor's chief lobbyist when he took office in January 2003 and remained in that role until leaving the administration.

She returned in January to the private lobbying world where she worked for more than 15 years before joining Bredesen.

Windrow said she had a good client base before joining the government and doesn't believe she's gained any additional advantage from her public service. If there had been a cooling-off rule that required her to not lobby for a year after leaving the governor's office, Windrow said she probably wouldn't have been able to serve in Bredesen's administration.

''This is sort of my way of being in the process and doing my stint with public service,'' she said. Without the ability to return to lobbying, ''I don't know what I would have done.''

Oseman is one of nine clients Windrow's firm has signed since she left the governor's office in December, according to the state's latest lobbyist registration filings.

The company's president, Stephen Oseman, said there is nothing wrong with his longtime business association with Ford or the recent hiring of Windrow.

He said his company simply wants a chance to compete and have a chance to get the lowest bid in any work it does.

He said he hopes to bid on insurance contracts for state buildings in the next year or two and that's why he hired Windrow. He said she's been asked to scout out other opportunities in Nashville.

''The world turns on contacts, and Ms. Windrow is a very well-respected person and (she) has a lot of contacts,'' Oseman said. ''There's no piece of legislation I'm for or against. ….What Anna does for me is help me in other areas. It's not like I have her working the legislature over for me. She knows her way around Nashville. There is a lot of insurance business bid by the state. She helps me try to work through the opportunities if there are any and sometimes there are not.''

The ''revolving door'' in state government has been an issue for years. Advocates who want the rules changed to create the cooling-off period say it's one of many steps needed to change ethics policy at the state Capitol. At least 23 states and Congress have some form of a cooling-off period.

Inquiries into Ford's business and spending of campaign funds have ignited debate and increased public call for change. Just yesterday, Bredesen asked his Cabinet to review his own ethics policy and suggest any ways to strengthen it. His press secretary, Lydia Lenker, said Bredesen currently doesn't have any restrictions on his staff lobbying after they leave his administration. Lenker said the governor hires ethical people, like Windrow, who know to do the right thing.

''It hasn't been a problem,'' said Lenker, adding that Windrow hasn't approached the governor's office on behalf of any of her clients and has restricted her lobbying to the legislature.

Still, with all this swirling around the Capitol, legislation to create a cooling-off period has hit a snag.

A House subcommittee defeated a bill last month calling for legislators to have a 12-month cooling-off period.

Its sponsor said he doubts it will come back this session, even though there is still a bill alive in the Senate.

State Rep. Paul Stanley, R-Germantown, said it's important to have some lobbying moratorium after somebody leaves office to help change public perception that government officials profit afterward from advantages gained while in office.

His bill called for a 12-month cooling-off period for state legislators; however, he would like to see the rule applied to the executive branch and legislative staff.

''There's not been a record of anybody starving to death because they couldn't get a lobbying job,'' Stanley said.

One group that isn't giving up a push for ethics reform is the Tennessee Institute for Governmental Ethics and Reform. The group's chairwoman, Kelley Beaman, said even with the current controversy involving Ford, she is skeptical whether the legislature will bring about any real changes this year.

''They have this down pat. This isn't the first rodeo for these people. They know the system and have been defeating ethics legislation for years.''


Brad Schrade can be reached at 259-8086 or bschrade@tennessean.com.

http://www.tennessean.com/government/archi...ent_ID=68170249