Gloria Johnson:

I just did an interview with Vinay @wbir about subpoenas at the legislature-no, I didn’t get one. And what it’s like to be there while this is going on. I told him I was sitting on the House floor Thursday thinking about what an honor it was to be there.

Then I did the math and realized about 20% of my colleagues across the aisle were being investigated, had been indicted, or were served a subpoena recently. Those very folks are the ones pushing through this new education funding formula that is not ready for prime time.

Why on earth would we go ahead with this funding formula brought to us by the very folks under investigation? The formula takes away local control, doesn’t add the needed funding, has no details or numbers-just says trust us and vote for it, we’ll fill in the details later.

Trust you? I don’t know, let’s see who else gets indicted first, before writing the most important piece of legislation in the state, affecting 1 million kids. Just a suggestion.????
I remember Rep. Lamberth in Freshman orientation telling us to use the secret hallways to avoid the press and others. I remember thinking why would I avoid the press? My constituents should be able to hear exactly what I’m doing in Nashville.
If I’m spending my time running from the press or hiding in secret hallways-I shouldn’t be up here. Interestingly, the most time I have ever spent in the “secret hallway” was when I was looking to see who was lurking behind the Ed committee during vouchers.
It was typically Speaker and/or Gov staff as I recall. And the Speaker on occasion. Folks doing right don’t need to avoid the press.
And as far as the “I am just a witness” line goes, don’t forget Robin Smith said that same thing before she was indicted. She insisted she wasn’t being investigated…

Silence in the face of corruption is complicity.