Like any state legislature dealing with 8 percent unemployment and thousands of its residents facing disenfranchisement, the Tennessee Senate is targeting the menace of underage hand-holding.

At least that’s what they told The Tennessean, which reported that seven pastors in the state will “bait” the IRS by endorsing candidates from the pulpit. A provision in the Internal Revenue Code bars all 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations, which includes houses of worship, from intervening in elections.

What began as a government internship for a one-time honors student with a questionable past has become a full-blown sex scandal that ensnared a married Tennessee state senator and led him to resign.

In 2009, Tennessee Senator Paul Stanley resigned from his seat amidst allegations that he had an affair with a 22 year old intern, whose boy friend attempted to extort $10,000 from Stanley in return for possible nude photos. Instead, Stanley reported the incident and resigned.