While we may be over a year away from the next general elections, it's a crucial time of year for Tennessee politicians. It's time to raise money for their caucus and their own political races. If they are an incumbent in the legislature, their window of fundraising is closing fast and Tennessee's lobbyists are feeling the breeze.

State ethics law prevent legislators from soliciting or receiving funds for their campaign coffers during legislative session, which begins in January. Laws also prevent lobbyists from giving political action committee checks to legislators from their employers, but don't stop them from writing personal checks. That loophole has some lobbyists questioning recent fundraising calls from elected officials.

A number of lobbyists speaking confidentially to NashvillePost.com say that they have been contacted in the last week and asked to write personal checks for the Republican caucuses in the state house and senate. Legislative Republicans have a fundraiser scheduled for next week. While they believe the contributions would follow the letter of ethics laws, they believe it would violate the spirit. The lobbyists also wondered if there would be retribution delivered on their legislative packages if checks weren't written.

When asked about the issue State Senator Diane Black (R-Gallatin), caucus chair for senate GOP members, said that she understood the concerns. Black stated that the cost of campaigning is now so high that they must seek out every possible avenue to have the necessary funds to elect members that will push the GOP agenda in the senate. She added that there would be no political recourse taken against those who choose not to donate.

Lobbyists have been fertile fundraising ground for both Democrats and Republicans throughout the years. A review of Tennessee campaign finance disclosures over the past several years show that individuals who are registered lobbyists have given personal contributions to members of both political parties. However, the amount of money contributed by lobbyists has decreased since passage of ethics laws in the wake of the Tennessee Waltz political scandal.