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During Exclusive Interview With ETV's "The Big Picture" Former Sen. Tommy Moore Says He Understands New Job May Raise Questions But That "I Came in With Credibility and I Am Going Out With Credibility"
Show Airs Thursday, July 12 at 7:30 p.m.
For Immediate Release
July 10, 2007
Columbia SC...During the taping of an interview at ETV studios Tuesday, in response to a question from "The Big Picture" host Andrew Gobeil, former Senator Tommy Moore (D-Aiken) said he understands how some might question the new position he has accepted, as executive vice president of the Community Financial Services Association of America, since legislation to ban payday lending never came to pass. Nonetheless, Moore said that he is guilty of no ethical violations by accepting a job with a national payday lending trade association .
"The bill came before (the) judiciary committee because it had a criminal penalty and it went back to banking and insurance. I voted to bring it out of committee, it was not in my subcommittee. In fact, in '99 I believe it was, I voted to regulate the payday lending, so obviously, it has to look right and be right. But I did not entertain any written offer from the association till after we adjourned, and even after I resigned, to make sure that there was no ethical violations. So, I know that sometimes folks want to think what they want to, but I came in with credibility and I am going out with credibility."
Still later, during the interview that will air during the Thursday, July 12 episode of "The Big Picture" at 7:30 p.m., the onetime candidate for governor said, "I don't blame anyone for having their antenna raised-that's fine, but it's an offer...I did not even receive a written offer until after I had adjourned."
In response to another question by Gobeil, Moore said that some accounts that say he is going to be a lobbyist have gotten things wrong.
"I am not going to be a lobbyist, as some folks have reported. And even in that, I will not be involved in anything as far as SC is concerned for a year, even though I am not going to be a registered lobbyist."
Moore says his new job offers a great new opportunity for him and his family: "My wife and I have always wanted to broaden our horizons, shall we say, and Alexandria (VA) is such a beautiful city...I'm looking forward to another part of life."
As he leaves office, Moore cited two crowning achievements: "...I tried my best to make sure that I understood issues..You depend on other legislators to carry the ball a lot of times, but anything I was involved in (was) something I wanted to make sure that I understood the best I could."
And secondly Moore pointed to his record on constituent services. "Being there to answer questions. To be responsive. To channel people through the process...Folks back home would say 'This guy cared about us. He was there. He was responsive. When we needed an answer, he was there to give it.' "
Contact: Catherine Christman (803) 737-3259 or at christman@scetv.org.
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