NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — The legislature's Fiscal Review Committee met at 1:30 p.m. to hear from Health Commissioner Dr. Lisa Piercey about the $26.5 million, no-bid contract exposed by NewsChannel 5 Investigates.
Watch below:
Sen. Jeff Yarbro, D-Nashville, has called for Tennessee lawmakers to launch a comprehensive review of the Lee administration's no-bid spending in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, potentially even hiring an independent consultant to lead that effort.
The Nashville Democrat's request follows a NewsChannel 5 investigation that revealed that Piercey, over the objections of career state employees, steered a $26.5 million contract for COVID-19 testing to a politically connected Utah company that had no experience in testing.
Related stories:
- Lawmaker calls for comprehensive review of Tennessee's no-bid COVID-19 spending
- Tennessee goes on $80 million, no-bid spending spree for COVID-19 supplies
- Lawsuit claims 'referral commissions, finders fees' paid in conjunction with state contract
- Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee plans to continue no-bid COVID spending
- House Republicans want comptroller to review Nashville’s COVID relief spending
- New questions uncovered about political activist's involvement in no-bid contracts
- House Democrats ask for audit of Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee's no-bid COVID deals
- EXCLUSIVE: Tennessee wastes millions on no-bid COVID contract with politically connected company
- Tennessee's no-bid COVID-19 spending continues with little oversight
