Former Tenn. lawmaker denies extortion

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - A former Tennessee legislator charged with extortion took the stand in his own defense Tuesday and denied ever accepting payoffs from two FBI informants.

Former state Sen. Roscoe Dixon testified that he had supported legislation for E-Cycle Management, a bogus company set up by the FBI, as a favor to friends and not for money.

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Dixon, a Democratic lawmaker for 22 years[!], said he had tried to help the two establish careers as lobbyists.

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On the tape, Dixon tells Myers: "Throw me one of those stacks [of money], man."

What's sad about this? That the FBI had to come in and clean out our state legislature AGAIN. That in an election held right now Dixon would be re-elected in a heartbeat. That he would be even if he is convicted. That the standards we hold our politicians to are lower than a snake's belly. That this: "...Sen. Roscoe Dixon testified that he had supported legislation for E-Cycle Management, a bogus company set up by the FBI, as a favor to friends..." is thought to be some kind of defense. A state senator isn't supposed to get in office and support legislation to help his dadgum friends. Good grief.

Is it like this everywhere?