D.D. 12/27/05

I hope that everyone had a very merry Christmas. Here's what's going on in state politics:

• The Tennessean reports that a special panel formed by Governor Phil Bredesen in the wake of Operation Tennessee Waltz to look at ethics reform never met. This fits the pattern of public relations action without any real teeth. The article also notes a letter from Rep. Glen Casada (R-College Park) who said that it appeared there may be exceptions to the ethics rules for those closest to the governor. "Like most Tennesseans, I thought you would treat your political appointees in the same manner as all state employees are treated," Casada said in a letter he wrote to Bredesen last week. "It now appears that friends of the Governor get special treatment."
• The Knoxville News-Sentinel takes a look at the coming 2006 US Senate race and a look back into 2005, the year of state government ethics scandals.
• State Sen. Jeff Miller (R-Cleveland) may be in trouble. Miller, while not charged in Operation Tennessee Waltz, did accept a $1000 campaign donation from bagman Charles Love. Miller refused donations while in session, but an aide has been subpoened to testify before a federal grand jury on Wednesday. The federal prosecutor overseeing the Waltz indictments wouldn't comment on the subpoena.