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Interviews for March 06, 2006
Interview with State Rep. Brian Kelsey (R-Germantown)
We've had very positive feedback from our interview with Rep. Stacey Campfield (R-Knoxville) last week, so as the week begins, we have another treat -- an interview with state Representative Brian Kelsey (R-Germantown). Rep. Kelsey was first elected to the Legislature in 2004 and is currently the youngest members serving in the General Assembly, but has already made a name for himself, especially on ethics reform issues. Rep. Kelsey's interview can be seen below. If you're looking for the Daily Dose, it's right below this entry.
TNPoliticsBlog.com: First of all, tell us a little about yourself. You're a young guy and during your first campaign, but you've certainly already made a name for yourself in the General Assembly. During the course of your first campaign, though, which was just two years ago, how did you overcome any skepticism that your age might be an issue in the race?
Rep. Brian Kelsey (R-Germantown): I was fortunate enough to get involved in government at an early age. My internship with Senator Fred Thompson the summer after my freshman year of college inspired me to continue learning as much about government as I could. Since I attended law school in Washington D.C., I was able to gain further experience in the way government operates while interning for the White House Counsel’s Office, Senator Bill Frist, and Congressman Ed Bryant. I’m glad the voters were able to recognize this experience when they went to the polls. I was also an active member in the Shelby County Republican Party and had worked on many campaigns there for several years, so I did not have to introduce myself to the party faithful when I campaigned.
TPB: Have you faced any criticism because of your age from your fellow Representatives?
BK: Not other than a joke here and there and being mistaken for an intern during my first week on the job.
TPB: I’ve mentioned in a past interview that your class coming into the General Assembly is lot more conservative than Republican representatives have been in the past. Do you think that indicates that the state as a whole is slowly shifting to the right or are Republican gains temporary results of electoral factors in the 2002 and 2004 elections?
BK: Tennessee was and continues to be a conservative state, and I think the people are finally realizing that the Republican Party best reflects their outlook on life. The income tax debate encouraged the public to pay more attention to how their representatives were voting in Nashville. I think this greater scrutiny has resulted in legislators who better represent the conservative values of their districts. As Republicans have moved to the brink of having a majority in both chambers, naturally, our desire to implement the ideas we campaigned on has grown stronger.
TPB: I’ll ask you the same question I asked in my interview with Rep. Campfield, because your name was referenced there as well. Are you concerned that your public comments may hurt your committee appointments or your ability to push legislation?
BK: I have a duty to the people of Tennessee to always speak out on what’s right and what’s wrong. This duty supersedes any personal interest I may have in a particular committee assignment. As was written of Teddy Roosevelt after he called for the impeachment of a corrupt New York high court judge, just months into his first term as a twenty-three-year-old state legislator, “It is with the greatest satisfaction that those who are interested in good government see a young man in the legislature who does not know the meaning of fear, and to whom the bluster and bravado of party and political bullies are as absolutely indifferent as the blowing of the wind.”
TPB: During the special session you decided to return your per diem, the daily allotment for expenses that legislators get while the General Assembly is in session. What prompted you to make that decision?
BK: In the House, unlike the Senate, we discussed the ethics bill in a series of committees and subcommittees, with only a small number of representatives participating in each committee. As a result, most Tennesseans had no voice in ethics reform for several weeks of the month-long special session. I felt that we were using the subcommittee system to water down the ethics bill away from public scrutiny. It just did not seem right to me to be clocking in each morning for 15 minutes to receive $150 for a full day’s pay.
TPB: What do you believe is the major impediment to meaningful ethics reform?
BK: The ethics bill we passed had some great rules in it but no enforcement. With three Democrats and three Republicans, I’ll be surprised if the Ethics Commission ever garners four votes to sanction anyone. That’s why I have introduced a resolution to give criminal prosecutorial powers to the Attorney General to enforce ethics laws. If we give one person that much power, I also think he should be held accountable to the people through election.
TPB: During the special session, there was a reported dichotomy in the way the General Assembly has debated ethics reform has been characterized as the House's preference for sunshine and the Senate's preference for outright bans. How do you fall in that debate - does the state need more sunshine or more outright bans on questionable practices?
BK: That characterization was nothing but a public relations ploy to allow both chambers to look like they were moving forward on ethics reform. The characterization only insured that the chambers passed different versions of the bill so that the joint conference committee could re-write the bill on the last day of the special session. Tennessee needs outright bans on all kinds of questionable practices. Under the bill as passed, for example, members may continue to purchase Memphis Grizzlies basketball tickets with campaign funds. This type of behavior will not end without real ethics reform.
TPB: Other than continued efforts outside the special session for ethics reforms, what do you believe the legislative priorities for the General Assembly are currently?
BK: TennCare remains unreformed but continues to gobble up more of our budget than any other single item. There will be many attempts to solve the healthcare crisis in Tennessee, including medical malpractice reform and personal health accounts, both of which I support. Also, a lot of legislators have filed bills regarding eminent domain.
TPB: What is your opinion on Republicans picking up seats this year? Do you think Republicans will continue the trend of gaining seats in both the state House and Senate this year?
BK: I feel confident that Republicans will continue to pick up seats in the House, and I’m sure we will be in the majority within the next two years.
TPB: Let’s talk a little about your race. During your last campaign, you faced pretty hefty odds in crowded field of well-known Republican candidates. Do you know if you'll have any opponents in this year's election?
BK: So far, no one has filed to run against me, and I am keeping my fingers crossed.
TPB: Looking past all of that, you've been picking up the spotlight in print media all across the state. I'm sure you have future political ambitions - where do you see Brian Kelsey in ten years?
BK: First of all, I serve at the will of the people, so nothing is guaranteed. Lord willing, though, I hope to remain in state government, for as long as it takes to accomplish my goals for the state.
TPB: Finally, had to ask - do you have any plans to start a blog?
BK: I don’t have plans to start a blog, but I am working on significantly updating my website: www.VoteKelsey.com.
TPB: Thank you, Rep. Kelsey for taking the time to be interviewed. I know our audience appreciated your insight especially with regard to ethics reform. Thanks also for visiting the blog.
