House GOP Leaders Tell TBI to Back Off

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.nashvillescene.com/pitw/archives/2011/10/24/house-gop-leaders-tell-tbi-to-back-off

Monday, October 24, 2011

Republican leaders in the legislature are thumbing their noses at the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. They have named Rep. Tony Shipley, R-Kingsport, the chairman of a special joint committee overseeing health-related boards. It's no coincidence that the TBI is investigating Shipley for possible official misconduct for improperly pressuring the Board of Nursing to reinstate the licenses of three nurses. The nurses, one of whom goes to church with Shipley, had been accused of over-prescribing pain pills at an Upper East Tennessee clinic.

House Government Operations Committee Chairman Jim Cobb, R-Spring City, tells Tom Humphrey he appointed Shipley to show support for him while he's under TBI investigation. "I have full confidence in Tony," Cobb said. snip

To pressure the nursing board in the last session, Shipley held up legislation to reauthorize the agency. Rep. Dale Ford, R-Jonesborough, who also is under investigation, introduced a bill to curtail the board's power.

[indepat]

1. Somewhere a more corrupt state legislature might exist than in Tennessee:

might, that is, but that's just my opinion and I might be wrong. :patriot: