(Memphis) We now know what agenda a lobbyist may have been trying to push when they allowed State Representative Curry Todd from Collierville, to live rent-free.
“Folks are losing a tremendous amount of money; the rate payers and the state of Tennessee with folks getting into the cable business,” said Representative Curry Todd in a video from the house floor in April 2011.
Todd tried to push a bill through giving the state power over cities dabbling in the cable and internet business.
A source tells News Channel 3, the bill is what Nashville Lobbyist Chuck Welch fought for last legislative session.
The Tennessean reports Welch is the homeowner of A Nashville house Todd admitted to living in rent-free in 2011.
Welch has ties to a law firm right here in Memphis. Inside the law firm, Farris Bobango’s Memphis office, News Channel 3 was denied an interview and told to call the Nashville office.
We reached out to Chuck Welch himself but haven’t heard back.
On the law firm’s website, the firm says it, “has highly capable and talented telecommunications attorneys with broad experience in telecommunications,” and the firm has represented its telecommunications clients in legislation. The company also boats having “well established relationships with appointed and elected officials at all levels of government.”
It’s the relationship with Curry Todd now being questioned.
News Channel 3 reached out to Curry Todd Tuesday for comment, but did not receive an answer.
Last legislative session the telecommunications bill was not passed.
Todd is currently sponsoring a similar bill.
