Governor Returns To His (Democratic) Roots…
by Bill Simon
Well, this is just dandy. Georgia Governor Perdue is proposing that the State Ethics Commission’s budget get slashed by 37.5%, or, from $1,600,000 last year to $1,000,000 for Fiscal 2007. This will cause Commission to slash and layoff personnel…AND, create an even larger (and, lengthier) backlog of complaints to weed through.
But, fear not, the Governor is proposing the state spend $19,000,000 on a new initiative to promote Georgia’s fishing industry. (Whoo-hoo!)
Here’s an idea to State Rep. Ben Harbin of the House Appropriations Committee: Reduce the $19 million on bass fishing promotion to $18 million, and increase the Ethics Commission budget to $2,000,000 per year, and leave it at that level for 5 years.
Strong ethics laws can only be backed by strong enforcement of said laws…what the Governor’s trying to do appears to be going back to the days when Democrats ran the state and, when they passed ethics laws, they did it grudgingly while never really providing enough financial resources to the tiny State Ethics Commission.
Technorati Tags: Governor Perdue, State Rep. Ben Harbin, House Appropriations Committee
January 20th, 2007 at 12:40 pm
Great idea
January 20th, 2007 at 12:41 pm
Let me be clearer: It would be a great idea to increase the budget to $2M for the ethics commission office.
January 21st, 2007 at 7:34 pm
Democratic roots? Come on. Do I sense an “it’s all Clinton’s fault” thread? Sonny is just following the rest of the corrupt republicans. Why should the state level be any different? No oversight. They can do what they want. Perhaps, he can buy more land.
January 28th, 2007 at 12:47 pm
If the Ethics Committee was generously funded, fully staffed, and assiduously active …………….. the government facilities would be damned near empty and the state correctional facilities would be busting at the seams ! After all , it’s the best damned gubmnt money can buy !
January 29th, 2007 at 5:45 pm
$19 million to promote fishing in Georgia? As if we dont already have enough rednecks fishing???
I’m glad the State understands their proper role by supporting this.
February 12th, 2007 at 8:46 pm
Gotta say I agree with Kafka. This is your 21st century GOP. Cronyism, cronyism and more cronyism!
February 13th, 2007 at 1:35 am
So, Caroline, the “21st century GOP” is exactly like the 20th century Dem Party, wouldn’t you say? 🙂
February 14th, 2007 at 8:48 pm
LOL! Hey, I never said I agreed with the part about the Dems only the part that the GOP is the party of cronyism!
What the heck is a smart guy like you hanging out with these fundy whack jobs?:)