NASHVILLE – The Tennessean Republican Party is appalled to learn that Democrat former state Sen. Bob Rochelle has been working behind the scenes to help Democrat former state Sen. Jerry Cooper escape serious punishment for stealing $95,000 from his campaign donors.

“Perhaps Bob Rochelle feels he owes Jerry Cooper because of Cooper’s stalwart supporter of Rochelle’s proposed income tax a few years back,” said Bill Hobbs, communications director for the Tennessee Republican Party. “We just wish he wouldn’t repay his political debt to Cooper by helping him escape his own debt to justice.”

Rochelle’s reappearance on the political screen to help a fellow income tax supporter comes when the state is facing a revenue “shortfall” of a quarter of a billion dollars. Last year, Democrat Gov. Phil Bredesen and the Tennessee Democratic Party campaigned hard to return the income tax architect to the state Senate.

Before they tried to tax Tennesseans’ incomes, Sen. Rochelle and Sen. Cooper were instrumental in the legislation creating the Tennessee Registry of Election Finance – legislation that includes the loophole through which Mr. Cooper may be able to keep $80,000 of the $95,000 he stole.

“Voters rejected the Democrats’ attempt to resurrect the political career of the income tax architect, and they likely won’t be happy with Democrats who are trying to help Sen. Cooper get away with stealing tens of thousands of dollars,” Hobbs said. “Instead of trying to help a thief, Democrats ought to be proposing legislation to close the Rochelle-Cooper loophole for thieves in Tennessee’s campaign finance laws.”

CONTACT
Bill Hobbs
Communications Director
Tennessee Republican Party
2424 21st Avenue, Suite 200
Nashville, Tennessee 37212
Phone: (615) 269-4260
billhobbs@tngop.org