Today Idaho’s largest news/views/skewspaper, the Idaho Statesman, ran an Associated Press article headlined “As ethics charges fly, wind farm siting bill dies.”
According to the article, state Representative Janice McGeachin (R-Idaho Falls) told the House State Affairs Committee she knew of two House members who voted on the bill without disclosing they allegedly had personal financial ties to the wind industry. The article continues, “McGeachin declined to name those she believes are violating House ethics rules, adding she’d be doing some ‘soul searching’ over whether it was her responsibility to raise concerns with them.”
Really? Representative McGeachin wonders if she has a responsibility to follow up on alleged ethics violations by fellow legislators? Consider this line from her biography linked above:
In 2005, along with several of my colleagues, helped to establish the Fiscal Policy Caucus (FPC). The FPC is committed to the principles of less government, lower taxes, personal responsibility, and accountable government and sought to educate House members on fiscal policy issues.
Making the huge assumption that Idaho’s news media are even capable of reporting completely and accurately, I wonder why Representative McGeachin is hesitating about reporting her information to the House leadership. It is perfectly understandable that she would not publicly identify the two legislators at this time. However, if she has credible facts to support her statement to the House State Affairs Committee, she is obligated to her constituents and all Idaho citizens to go forward with that information. If her information was not credible or if it was incomplete, then she should not have made her declaration to the State Affairs Committee.
Public corruption exists in our judiciary, our legislatures, and our executive agencies because it is allowed to exist by people who are too timid to speak up and speak out when they know of wrongdoing.
Corruption (I would add stupidity) in our judiciary, legislature, and executive agencies!!!??? Say it isn’t so. As far as timid people…just call them what they are “Sheekens” (a cross between a sheep and a chicken). More and more areas of the world are fighting for rights that once they never even dared dream for and here, in the U.S., the majority (the majority of both the Rs and Ds–those who are in the ‘have not’ category) are in a wholesale manner giving away our rights, that were fought so hard to obtain, and keep, so many years ago, out of fear…of exactly what, they don’t know. Sheekens…
Comment by Happy Trails — April 7, 2011 @ 9:28 am
It may be an ethical violation that really would not amount to much if it was investigated. Most likely she would be stung somehow as well if she reported it – payback – especially if there was no internal war to ruin her. (most of us are aware of how that goes down).They are all caught and intertwined into their own spider web of secrecy and deceit. That remark was a big ‘oopsie’ on her part and she will have to cover or fry which she is doing with her “soul searching” remark. Personal responsibility? She obviously does not have any. Just more crap in her crock.
Idaho has no financial disclosure LAWS that our representatives have to follow.
I believe it was Kate Kelly who tried to get some disclosure laws passed a session or two ago regarding financial disclosures but that bill was quickly buried. She bagged the corruption and flew the coop. Smart woman.
Comment by Stebbijo — April 7, 2011 @ 11:42 am