Ethics body undecided on NRA giving lawmakers free tickets

Tennessee's arbiters of ethics couldn't agree on whether the National Rifle Association giving state lawmakers free concert tickets would be a violation of state ethics laws.

The NRA is headed to Nashville next week for its annual convention. An NRA attorney asked the Tennessee Ethics Commission recently about whether the gun rights advocacy group could give certain state lawmakers free tickets to a concert featuring country music artist Alan Jackson and comedian Jeff Foxworthy that's scheduled during the convention.

The ethics commission staff drafted an opinion that outlined numerous ways such a gift would seemingly violate Tennessee ethics laws. But the draft is just a suggestion; the commission must come to a consensus on a final decision before it can issue an opinion.

In this case, it couldn't reach consensus on the issue Thursday during its meeting, said state Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Finance Executive Director Drew Rawlins.

"It means the commission is not taking a position on it at this point. They have not approved giving the tickets or said they cannot give the tickets," Rawlins told The Tennessean.

Ethics law generally prohibits gifts to lawmakers from entities that employ lobbyists. There are certain exceptions to the law though; in the draft opinion, it says the NRA argues it should qualify for an exception. The organization argues the benefit of the ticket, listening to music, is the same for lawmakers as it is for anyone else at the concert.

The draft opinion countered by essentially saying that the fact the NRA wants to give the tickets to lawmakers because they are lawmakers is an "enhances the benefit" and is therefore not allowed.

A different portion of the draft opinion also lists the legislative intent in creating the ethics commission, quoting directly from state law.

"The general assembly recognizes that a public office is a public trust and that the citizens of Tennessee are entitled to a responsive, accountable, and incorruptible government. The Tennessee Ethics Commission is established to sustain the public's confidence in government by increasing the integrity and transparency of state and local government through regulation of lobbying activities, financial disclosure requirements, and ethical conduct," the law states.

Rawlins, who is a staff member and not an actual voting member of the commission, said there was no official vote on any draft opinion related to the tickets.

Tickets for the Jackson-Foxworthy event are officially sold out. As of Thursday evening, resale ticket prices through Ticketmaster ranged from $85 to more than $1,000.

Reach Dave Boucher at 615-259-8892 and on Twitter @Dave_Boucher1.