Drop It Like It’s Hot: Strip Club Invitations On Capitol Hill Spark Controversy

By Kleinheider Posted on May 15, 2008 at 2:32 pm

This evening at 4:00pm a VIP party will be held at Deja Vu Showgirls, a popular Nashville “Gentleman’s Club.” The Tennessee Cabaret Association’s lobbyist, Tracy O’Neill, who is registered to lobby both at the state level and here in Metro Nashville, admits to Post Politics that she handed out invitations to this event at Legislative Plaza but stated that the event “is in no way” a legislative reception as characterized by at least one state representative. O’Neill asserts that she merely shared information about an event being held by one of the Association’s members to “friends and colleagues.”

The invitation, which can be seen at this link, was handed out to various folks at the Plaza, including legislators, offers the chance to “Party like a Rock Star and Rock it Like a Porn Star.” Rep. Stacey Campfield discussed the circulation of the invitation here and described the event as a “legislative reception” sponsored by the Tennessee Cabaret Association.

Within the invitation, along with promises of totally nude performances and $10 dances, is an offer of complimentary drinks and a free buffet.

While free gifts to legislators are largely forbidden, entertainment, food, refreshments, meals, beverages, or health screenings that are in connection with an in-state event to which invitations are extended to the entire membership of the general assembly are permitted by Tennessee law under an exception list in Public Act § 3-6-305.

However, an invitation must be submitted to the ethics commission and to each member of the General Assembly at least seven days in advance of the event by the employer or lobbyist paying for the event.

This event is not listed on the Tennessee Ethics Commission website and Post Politics was told by the Commission that there had been no notification of the event nor were they in possession of a copy of the invite.

Additionally, Rep. Stacey Campfield announced publicly on his blog that he had not been invited to the event.

If all legislators are not invited to the event legislators can attend and receive food and drink in accordance with other provisions in § 3-1-106 so long as they do not receive a per diem allowance for the day. Also, an officer or management-level employee of the sponsoring organization must be present. The sponsor’s registered lobbyist cannot be counted as the officer or management-level employee.

The question of who is the sponsor then becomes important. In an opinion issued by the Ethics Commission in February of 2007, the commission concluded that local affiliates of the Tennessee Education Association were not “employers of lobbyists” or “lobbyists” and thus could “serve refreshments at meetings to which State Senators and Representatives are invited to discuss matters related to public education.”

While the correlation is not a direct one, Deja Vu, as a member of the Tennessee Cabaret Association, could possibly be seen in a similar fashion as the TEA’s local affiliates.

When contacted by Post Politics, lobbyist for the Tennessee Cabaret Association, Tracy O’Neill said that the Tennessee Cabaret Association doesn’t, due to the controversial nature of the adult entertainment business, host legislative receptions.

O’Neill stated to Post Politics that it is “completely inaccurate” to categorize the event as a reception, “The Tennessee Cabaret Association has nothing to do with this event.”

O’Neill went on to castigate a member of the legislature for describing it as such on his website, “Being aware of the history of [Rep. Stacey] Campfield, I can only assume that he is trying to exploit a potential situation here.”

Ms. O’Neill sent an email to Rep. Campfield, copying Tennessee Ethics Commission Executive Director Bruce A. Androphy, registering her dismay with his characterization. You can see that email at this link.

As to the role she did play in regards to the disbursal of the invitation, O’Neill did admit to handing out a few in the halls of Legislative Plaza to “a few friends” but said she made clear to everyone that she personally talked to about the event that it was not a legislative reception.

“I made it very clear that these invitations were being handed out at the request of one of our members and not on behalf of the Association,” O’Neill explained.

When asked whether or not she personally put an invitation in any legislator’s hand, O’Neill responded, “I cannot say that for sure.”

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Tags: Bruce Androphy, Stacey Campfield, Tennessee, Tracy O'Neill