Aug 17 2008
Err… Anyone Else Have a Problem with This?
WASHINGTON - The Tennessee Valley Authority approved a deal that will make it easier for a real estate company, partly owned by Rep. Heath Shuler, to build a marina on a Tennessee reservoir.Shuler sits on a congressional committee that oversees the federal electric authority.
Under the deal, The Highlands Development Group will receive access to 145 feet of Tennessee Valley Authority shoreline at Watts Bar Reservoir outside Knoxville so it can build a marina.
 Not cool, man. Not cool.
Shuler serves on a subcommittee of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which oversees TVA.
The project started in 2005 before Shuler decided to run for Congress, the Waynesville Democrat said Thursday. He had no contact with TVA about the project, and his name didn’t appear on the proposed swap because it was filed under the name of a limited liability company.
“We had no contact with the congressman,” Francis said.
I’ll take Shuler at his word, but at the very least he shouldn’t be on the committee that oversees the TVA. Even the appearance of impropriety is too much. I don’t expect my elected officials to be purer than new-fallen snow, but I expect them to avoid stories like this. Shuler seems like a good guy, so I hope he keeps his nose clean.
And by the way… why the hell do we still have the Imperial Federal Nanny working on the TVA???
