As previously noted, last week Troy King had his much-anticipated press conference to outline his position on Gov. Riley's anti-gaming task force. The end result was a lot of sizzle with no steak. Although the AG reasserted his authority to be able to shut down the task force, he did not take any action, 'criticizing' the actions instead.
In today's Birmingham News, Joey Kennedy provides a good analysis of the issue which you can read here. Kennedy acknowledges that King's conflicts of interest with the gaming interests make it difficult for him to step in. The Decatur Times Daily provides another detailed look at the issue which highlights Gov. Riley's position on the issue which you can read here.
I think it's worth pointing out that the point of this blog is not to defend every action Gov. Riley has taken. Although we are of the opinion that large-scale casino gambling would be a social and long-term economic detriment to Alabama, that does not mean that there aren't conflicts of interest on both sides of the issue. It also does not mean that Riley's task force may have overstepped its bounds in certain points.
The point of this blog is to highlight the difficulty of these problems and the need for an AG with strong conservative principles to take them on. King is approaching this issue with his hands tied behind his back because of his connections to gaming interests. His 'criticisms' fell on deaf ears, as John Tyson (the task force leader) immediately announced that he had no intention of taking King's criticisms seriously.
As Kennedy rightly points out, it's difficult to find credibility on the gambling issue right now. King is definitely not the right guy moving forward, either.
Showing posts with label Troy King. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Troy King. Show all posts
Monday, February 22, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Troy King: Nothing if Not Indecisive
Troy King just had his big moment--a major press conference he had trumpeted for days as his opportunity to wade into the gambling debate in Alabama. King has been doing it subtly for some times, through angrily-worded letters and quotes in media stories through him or his spokesman. Throughout this time, Troy King has tried to have his cake and eat it, too. On the one hand, he wants anti-gambling conservatives behind him, so he has promoted the idea of a statewide vote on gambling. On the other hand, he needs pro-gambling interests like Milton McGregor and Ronnie Gilley behind him, so he has talked about raids on legitimate businesses and the need to bring jobs to these parts of Alabama.
When finally given the opportunity to choose his side, King again fell flat. You can read the Press Register's highlights here. King has criticized, even condemned, Riley's task force on gambling for several weeks now. However, when given the chance, he recommended changes while refusing to enforce them or shut the task force down.
This is a really interesting situation, in which the incumbent attorney general basically calls a press conference to say nothing. He renewed his concerns, expressed his frustrations, and at the end of the day opted to do absolutely nothing.
I echo a theme which I have expressed many times on this blog--when given the choice between talk and action, King always chooses the talk. Action is difficult, and it can create disagreement. There is nothing easy about action, whether that is reducing the crime rate, investigating political corruption, or taking on the issue of gambling. Troy King was given yet another opportunity to give order to an extremely confusing issue, and he decided instead to just prolong the confusion.
Perhaps this is smart politics, I don't know. Holding two opposing sides at arm's length seems pretty risky to me. Either way, I know it's bad government, and this is yet another reason it's time for a change in June.
When finally given the opportunity to choose his side, King again fell flat. You can read the Press Register's highlights here. King has criticized, even condemned, Riley's task force on gambling for several weeks now. However, when given the chance, he recommended changes while refusing to enforce them or shut the task force down.
This is a really interesting situation, in which the incumbent attorney general basically calls a press conference to say nothing. He renewed his concerns, expressed his frustrations, and at the end of the day opted to do absolutely nothing.
I echo a theme which I have expressed many times on this blog--when given the choice between talk and action, King always chooses the talk. Action is difficult, and it can create disagreement. There is nothing easy about action, whether that is reducing the crime rate, investigating political corruption, or taking on the issue of gambling. Troy King was given yet another opportunity to give order to an extremely confusing issue, and he decided instead to just prolong the confusion.
Perhaps this is smart politics, I don't know. Holding two opposing sides at arm's length seems pretty risky to me. Either way, I know it's bad government, and this is yet another reason it's time for a change in June.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Troy King's Abortion Oversight
On Thursday, I read an interesting piece in the Birmingham News on Planned Parenthood in Birmingham, which you can also read here. Turns out, the Alabama Department of Health put the Birmingham branch on a year's probation for a number of major health violations. These violations included 9 of 9 cases where officials did not authenticate a parent's signature providing consent for a minor's abortion. One instance even used an expired driver's license with a different last name from the parent. In other cases, officials didn't look into possible cases of abuse, and we all remember the UCLA college student who produced a video of the abuses at the Birmingham center which included an official's agreement not to report statutory rape as required by state law.
Well, after the probation, the Attorney General's office commented, and they gave us this:
This returns us to a concern long-made on this blog. A good attorney general should be proactive, and not reactive. King is always reactive, waiting for the media to surround a crime, or a tape, and then he holds glitzy press conferences with officials around him to appear 'on the job.' However, the 'job' in actuality is part of a perpetual fight against crime when the cameras are off. There have been suspicions about Planned Parenthood practices for a number of years in different states and raised by different individuals. Instead, Troy King never considered taking proactive action and was instead caught in a trap once the tape was released.
The Birmingham News piece demonstrates yet another reason for an assertive, proactive conservative attorney general who will actually address real problems in this state.
Well, after the probation, the Attorney General's office commented, and they gave us this:
Alabama Attorney General Troy King looked into the case, but the 12-month statute of limitation on the offense had expired by the time King's office knew of the tape, said Chris Bence, King's chief of staff. Public Health, however, took the tape as a complaint and started an investigation.I understand Troy King's response in this particular case, but this raises a larger question: why was Troy King, a so-called 'social conservative' overlooking possible abuses earlier? It is true that King could not act on the tape, but one must wonder by Public Health is doing a better job in making sure that Alabama's laws are enforced than our state's top law enforcement officer.
This returns us to a concern long-made on this blog. A good attorney general should be proactive, and not reactive. King is always reactive, waiting for the media to surround a crime, or a tape, and then he holds glitzy press conferences with officials around him to appear 'on the job.' However, the 'job' in actuality is part of a perpetual fight against crime when the cameras are off. There have been suspicions about Planned Parenthood practices for a number of years in different states and raised by different individuals. Instead, Troy King never considered taking proactive action and was instead caught in a trap once the tape was released.
The Birmingham News piece demonstrates yet another reason for an assertive, proactive conservative attorney general who will actually address real problems in this state.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
King and McGregor's Scare Tactics: Two Sides of the Same Coin
The Birmingham News had an interesting piece this morning on gaming magnate Milton McGregor. McGregor has asked AG King to shut down Riley's task force on gambling. You can find the story here.
Interesting, McGregor actually says "it's time for King to 'come out of his office' and stop Riley." This quote is interesting because it underscores something frequently emphasized on this blog, that both sides of the gambling dispute deserve an attorney general willing to make his position on gambling clear instead of hiding between half-truths and clever maneuvering. Troy King has devised a way to support the expansion of gambling in this state when it comes to his supporters like Ronnie Gilley, but he continues to hide in his office at risk of exposing himself politically.
However it is also interesting that McGregor and King seem to have resorted to the same scare tactics on the gambling issue. In a way, it's like they are borrowing lines from the same source.
The News story offers the following on McGregor:
Am I the only person starting to notice a trend? When McGregor and his folks are cornered, they resort to making arguments about property. Now, I agree that property rights are important. It's probably one of the most sacred rights of the American tradition. However, using that right to hide behind illicit and socially degrading activities is just not right, nor is it upheld by the law. It's also interesting here that both McGregor and King are making the same vague threats about taxpayers or others 'getting hurt' or being 'liable' for particular actions.
It seems to me that both the AG and the gambling bosses are trying to use scare tactics on this issue. It's time to let them know it's time to stop.
Interesting, McGregor actually says "it's time for King to 'come out of his office' and stop Riley." This quote is interesting because it underscores something frequently emphasized on this blog, that both sides of the gambling dispute deserve an attorney general willing to make his position on gambling clear instead of hiding between half-truths and clever maneuvering. Troy King has devised a way to support the expansion of gambling in this state when it comes to his supporters like Ronnie Gilley, but he continues to hide in his office at risk of exposing himself politically.
However it is also interesting that McGregor and King seem to have resorted to the same scare tactics on the gambling issue. In a way, it's like they are borrowing lines from the same source.
The News story offers the following on McGregor:
Notice the veiled threat 'before somebody gets hurt.' Now, look at Troy King's letter to Governor Riley which he wrote back on January 29:
The owner of the state's largest and oldest electronic bingo casino said Monday that Alabama Attorney General Troy King should shut down Gov. Bob Riley's task force on illegal gambling before 'somebody gets hurt.'
Milton McGregor, owner of the VictoryLand casino in Shorter, in Macon County said Riley's task force and its commander, Mobile County District Attorney John Tyson, are behaving like 'storm troopers moving across the state, intimidating legal businesses and putting people out of work.'
Aside from the possible disregard of private property rights and due process, I am deeply concerned that you may be exposing Alabama's taxpayers, your Task Force Commander, the Director of Public Safety, the Director of the Alcohol Beverage Control Board, and yourself to liability.You can read the full letter from a link here.
Am I the only person starting to notice a trend? When McGregor and his folks are cornered, they resort to making arguments about property. Now, I agree that property rights are important. It's probably one of the most sacred rights of the American tradition. However, using that right to hide behind illicit and socially degrading activities is just not right, nor is it upheld by the law. It's also interesting here that both McGregor and King are making the same vague threats about taxpayers or others 'getting hurt' or being 'liable' for particular actions.
It seems to me that both the AG and the gambling bosses are trying to use scare tactics on this issue. It's time to let them know it's time to stop.
Inside the Numbers: New Polls in AG's Race
What's an election without some early political polling?
Public Strategy Associates, an Alabama-based political firm released a poll this morning. There are a number of interesting results, including Huckabee leading Sarah Palin in a key early Presidential poll. The part about Huckabee and the Presidential race turned into a national story in today's Politico in Washington which you can read here.
However, the interesting results for our purposes are within the AG's race. The tag-line is that Troy King and Luther Strange are running neck-and-neck, and that much is true. However, the trouble for Troy is that he is polling at just 27%. Strange, his opponent, has 24%, and a full 49% are undecided. If you think back to 2006 with folks like Gov. Riley on the ballot, support for the incumbent was a whole lot higher. It should certainly be unsettling for an incumbent who has served more than one full term to be polling at under 30% in terms of support.
The race to June is going to be an interesting one. Troy King can't consider this a great start, as an incumbent AG with an obviously superior bully pulpit.
Public Strategy Associates, an Alabama-based political firm released a poll this morning. There are a number of interesting results, including Huckabee leading Sarah Palin in a key early Presidential poll. The part about Huckabee and the Presidential race turned into a national story in today's Politico in Washington which you can read here.
However, the interesting results for our purposes are within the AG's race. The tag-line is that Troy King and Luther Strange are running neck-and-neck, and that much is true. However, the trouble for Troy is that he is polling at just 27%. Strange, his opponent, has 24%, and a full 49% are undecided. If you think back to 2006 with folks like Gov. Riley on the ballot, support for the incumbent was a whole lot higher. It should certainly be unsettling for an incumbent who has served more than one full term to be polling at under 30% in terms of support.
The race to June is going to be an interesting one. Troy King can't consider this a great start, as an incumbent AG with an obviously superior bully pulpit.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Top of the Week: Read the Open Letter
For those of you who have read the blog and those of you who are new, I encourage you to make a stand this week by encouraging those you know to read my Open Letter to ALGOP calling for action against AG King. The case is a simple one; in 2008, ALGOP took on AEA-bankrolled school board candidates who were seeking to oust respected conservative candidates. It seems only reasonable to make the same stand against someone with similar connections to trial lawyers and gambling interests. You can see a summary of those actions outlined in the letter.
Ultimately, what we're seeking is pressure on ALGOP to at least investigate and issue findings related to these claims. Conservatives could have a big year in 2010--it doesn't make sense to have those actions derailed by a major scandal. The truth needs to come out about Troy, and we're depending on you to help make that happen.
The letter has gotten attention, including from RS McCain's "The Other McCain" blog. You can read his posting on the letter here. We have also been picked up by Citizens for a Better Alabama. You can find their link to the blog by clicking above and looking for the twitter feed on the right-hand side of the screen.
Conservatives are starting to get the message, and I hope that many of you will get on board this week to spread the word. Have a great week.
Ultimately, what we're seeking is pressure on ALGOP to at least investigate and issue findings related to these claims. Conservatives could have a big year in 2010--it doesn't make sense to have those actions derailed by a major scandal. The truth needs to come out about Troy, and we're depending on you to help make that happen.
The letter has gotten attention, including from RS McCain's "The Other McCain" blog. You can read his posting on the letter here. We have also been picked up by Citizens for a Better Alabama. You can find their link to the blog by clicking above and looking for the twitter feed on the right-hand side of the screen.
Conservatives are starting to get the message, and I hope that many of you will get on board this week to spread the word. Have a great week.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Open Letter to ALGOP
Dear Chairman Hubbard and Members of the ALGOP Executive Committee,
The time has come to encourage your expeditious review of Troy King's actions as attorney general which directly contradict the conservative principles of the Republican Party. As Alabamians prepare to head to the polls in June, they deserve the full facts regarding their political candidates as well as the exposure of any ulterior motives which may guide these candidates. In 2008, when Paul Hubbert and AEA bosses attempted to bankroll liberal candidates in a Republican primary to take on principled conservatives, you took immediate action to make clear to voters that these individuals were attempting to sabotage the system. While we applaud your willingness to stand up in the face of unethical actions by the AEA, we ask you to make a similar stand in the face of opportunistic gambling kingpins and liberal trial lawyers. We also ask that you protect other Republican candidates in the 2010 elections from scandal by directly acting to condemn a candidate responsible for serious, egregious violations of basic ethical principles and good governance.
First, Troy King has been supported by gaming interests who are seeking to use the attorney general's office as an opportunity to undermine the rule of law in Alabama. On February 19, 2009, your Executive Committee unanimously agreed to a resolution opposing the expansion of illegal gambling in Alabama in the face of expansion attempts by gambling interests. Leaders in Alabama, including Governor Riley and members of the Alabama Legislature, stood up to condemn these actions by gambling kingpins. However, Attorney General King has refused to take a similar stance, creating a needlessly complex legal dilemma which is both a source of embarrassment and confusion. When the Sweet Home Alabama Coalition pushed for a backdoor approach to legalizing gambling and establishing a gambling monopoly for Milton McGregor, the Demopolis Times noted that "Alabama attorney general Troy King has been quiet on this issue when he should be leading the charge" on the gambling question. On July 7, the Birmingham News called Troy King a "powerful defender" of electronic bingo. In June 2009, Governor Riley also blamed King for the rise of illegal slot machines, stating: "The first place I would have gone had I been attorney general and received this letter [pertaining to gambling] was to Whitehall and these other places to shut them down...The attorney general didn't do that and the end result is a proliferation of these illegal slot machines that we now see all over this state." We would also point to a letter from Governor Riley dated January 29, 2010, which alleges that King's actions "show more concern for the casino bosses in Alabama than for the enforcement of the law by dedicated law enforcement officials" as evidence which seriously questions King's actions. These actions on the part of Mr. King raise clear doubts on his ability to adhere to the conservative principles endorsed by ALGOP.
Troy King has maintained questionable relationships with these gaming interests which both threaten conservative candidates in Alabama and obscure Troy King's ability to fairly decide the gaming issue. King attended a party as a guest of honor hosted by developer Ronnie Gilley. King then issued an opinion supporting Gilley's ability to maintain gaming devices at his Country Crossing development. His opinion has ignited a political firestorm which has undermined the efforts of Governor Riley in guaranteeing that the decisions of the Alabama Supreme Court relating to gambling are enforced. As many have responsibly noted, the law in Alabama regarding gambling was clear until Troy King became attorney general. Troy King also maintains questionable ties with Milton McGregor and AEA head Paul Hubbert, the two men the Executive Committee claimed "have joined together in an alliance to push for the passage of gambling legislation that will significantly increase the flow of special interest money into the Democrat Party coffers." Birmingham News Political Action Committee (PAC) information from 2006, King received contributions from PACs with significant ties to Milton McGregor and AEA. By tracing different PACs, king received PAC money from a PAC supported by CANPAC, a PAC receiving $275,000 from Milton McGregor and $25,000 from AEA. King also received funding from Fine-Geddie operated PACs. Milton McGregor gave $275,000 to Fine-Geddie PACs. Troy King has refused to substantively address these concerns which call into question his ability to make honest decisions regarding gambling in Alabama.
Second, Troy King has used his position as attorney general to provide lucrative contracts to liberal trial lawyers, namely Montgomery attorney Jere Beasley, a liberal trial lawyer who is heading Artur Davis' campaign. King has hired Beasley's firm to sue pharmaceutical companies under the auspices of the state of Alabama. Similar practices have been a source of ethical concern in a number of states, including Georgia. This process has also strongly criticized by the Federalist Society and conservative jurist and former Alabama attorney general Bill Pryor. Additionally, King's actions have been rebuked by the Alabama Supreme Court which threw out jury rulings on an 8-1 decision, much to the acclaim of conservatives who support reforms to our legal system which make it more difficult for liberal trial lawyers to engage in abusive lawsuits.
King has also received extensive support from these liberal trial lawyers who are opposed to the conservative principles of the Republican Party. As the Washington Times noted on October 20, 2009, King has received questionable PAC contributions connected with Jere Beasley. King has also received support from Beasley's online political update--the Jere Beasley Report, a report typically devoted to supporting liberal causes like national health care. These questionable associations and actions on the part of Troy King raise serious questions about his fitness to serve as a Republican candidate in 2010. This coupled with a federal grand jury investigation into his actions in the office pose a serious threat to our Party if he is allowed to stand as a candidate in June.
As proud Republicans and conservatives, we ask you to investigate King's actions and provide clear information to Alabama voters. We deserve a true conservative on the ballot in November, not someone who masquerades as a conservative in order to obscure the true issues which are of vital importance to our state. Again, we applaud your efforts in 2008 to separate pseudo-Republicans from true conservatives. Your actions prevented the AEA from being able to take advantage of the people of Alabama. Today, we ask that you make a similar stand against gaming bosses and trial lawyers. The time has come for clarity. If we do not act as conservatives to separate the good candidates from the bad, liberals will use this opportunity to undermine all of our conservative candidates. For these reasons, we encourage your urgent action on this matter.
Sincerely,
Alabama Conservatives
The time has come to encourage your expeditious review of Troy King's actions as attorney general which directly contradict the conservative principles of the Republican Party. As Alabamians prepare to head to the polls in June, they deserve the full facts regarding their political candidates as well as the exposure of any ulterior motives which may guide these candidates. In 2008, when Paul Hubbert and AEA bosses attempted to bankroll liberal candidates in a Republican primary to take on principled conservatives, you took immediate action to make clear to voters that these individuals were attempting to sabotage the system. While we applaud your willingness to stand up in the face of unethical actions by the AEA, we ask you to make a similar stand in the face of opportunistic gambling kingpins and liberal trial lawyers. We also ask that you protect other Republican candidates in the 2010 elections from scandal by directly acting to condemn a candidate responsible for serious, egregious violations of basic ethical principles and good governance.
First, Troy King has been supported by gaming interests who are seeking to use the attorney general's office as an opportunity to undermine the rule of law in Alabama. On February 19, 2009, your Executive Committee unanimously agreed to a resolution opposing the expansion of illegal gambling in Alabama in the face of expansion attempts by gambling interests. Leaders in Alabama, including Governor Riley and members of the Alabama Legislature, stood up to condemn these actions by gambling kingpins. However, Attorney General King has refused to take a similar stance, creating a needlessly complex legal dilemma which is both a source of embarrassment and confusion. When the Sweet Home Alabama Coalition pushed for a backdoor approach to legalizing gambling and establishing a gambling monopoly for Milton McGregor, the Demopolis Times noted that "Alabama attorney general Troy King has been quiet on this issue when he should be leading the charge" on the gambling question. On July 7, the Birmingham News called Troy King a "powerful defender" of electronic bingo. In June 2009, Governor Riley also blamed King for the rise of illegal slot machines, stating: "The first place I would have gone had I been attorney general and received this letter [pertaining to gambling] was to Whitehall and these other places to shut them down...The attorney general didn't do that and the end result is a proliferation of these illegal slot machines that we now see all over this state." We would also point to a letter from Governor Riley dated January 29, 2010, which alleges that King's actions "show more concern for the casino bosses in Alabama than for the enforcement of the law by dedicated law enforcement officials" as evidence which seriously questions King's actions. These actions on the part of Mr. King raise clear doubts on his ability to adhere to the conservative principles endorsed by ALGOP.
Troy King has maintained questionable relationships with these gaming interests which both threaten conservative candidates in Alabama and obscure Troy King's ability to fairly decide the gaming issue. King attended a party as a guest of honor hosted by developer Ronnie Gilley. King then issued an opinion supporting Gilley's ability to maintain gaming devices at his Country Crossing development. His opinion has ignited a political firestorm which has undermined the efforts of Governor Riley in guaranteeing that the decisions of the Alabama Supreme Court relating to gambling are enforced. As many have responsibly noted, the law in Alabama regarding gambling was clear until Troy King became attorney general. Troy King also maintains questionable ties with Milton McGregor and AEA head Paul Hubbert, the two men the Executive Committee claimed "have joined together in an alliance to push for the passage of gambling legislation that will significantly increase the flow of special interest money into the Democrat Party coffers." Birmingham News Political Action Committee (PAC) information from 2006, King received contributions from PACs with significant ties to Milton McGregor and AEA. By tracing different PACs, king received PAC money from a PAC supported by CANPAC, a PAC receiving $275,000 from Milton McGregor and $25,000 from AEA. King also received funding from Fine-Geddie operated PACs. Milton McGregor gave $275,000 to Fine-Geddie PACs. Troy King has refused to substantively address these concerns which call into question his ability to make honest decisions regarding gambling in Alabama.
Second, Troy King has used his position as attorney general to provide lucrative contracts to liberal trial lawyers, namely Montgomery attorney Jere Beasley, a liberal trial lawyer who is heading Artur Davis' campaign. King has hired Beasley's firm to sue pharmaceutical companies under the auspices of the state of Alabama. Similar practices have been a source of ethical concern in a number of states, including Georgia. This process has also strongly criticized by the Federalist Society and conservative jurist and former Alabama attorney general Bill Pryor. Additionally, King's actions have been rebuked by the Alabama Supreme Court which threw out jury rulings on an 8-1 decision, much to the acclaim of conservatives who support reforms to our legal system which make it more difficult for liberal trial lawyers to engage in abusive lawsuits.
King has also received extensive support from these liberal trial lawyers who are opposed to the conservative principles of the Republican Party. As the Washington Times noted on October 20, 2009, King has received questionable PAC contributions connected with Jere Beasley. King has also received support from Beasley's online political update--the Jere Beasley Report, a report typically devoted to supporting liberal causes like national health care. These questionable associations and actions on the part of Troy King raise serious questions about his fitness to serve as a Republican candidate in 2010. This coupled with a federal grand jury investigation into his actions in the office pose a serious threat to our Party if he is allowed to stand as a candidate in June.
As proud Republicans and conservatives, we ask you to investigate King's actions and provide clear information to Alabama voters. We deserve a true conservative on the ballot in November, not someone who masquerades as a conservative in order to obscure the true issues which are of vital importance to our state. Again, we applaud your efforts in 2008 to separate pseudo-Republicans from true conservatives. Your actions prevented the AEA from being able to take advantage of the people of Alabama. Today, we ask that you make a similar stand against gaming bosses and trial lawyers. The time has come for clarity. If we do not act as conservatives to separate the good candidates from the bad, liberals will use this opportunity to undermine all of our conservative candidates. For these reasons, we encourage your urgent action on this matter.
Sincerely,
Alabama Conservatives
Troy King's Person(ne)al Scandal
For those of you familiar with this blog, you know that we've written extensively on Troy King's confusing history with staff raises. We've talked about Chris Bence, King's spokesman and chief of staff who is paid as a paralegal even though he has no training as a paralegal. According to the Mongtomery Advertiser, King effectively gamed the system in order to raise Bence's salary from $94,000 to $104,400 a year. Then, there is Tyler Godwin, the intern who had a meteoric rise in the AG's office from unpaid intern to executive assistant ten months later making $57,000 a year. Another aid saw his salary increase from $67,000 to $95,000 after a stint on King's campaign. Well, that is the personnel issue in King's office, and it has generated plenty of criticism. Back when King was openly considering a run for Governor, David Prather of The Huntsville Times wrote: "King will have some problems with voters in 2010 if he seeks the Republican nomination for governor. It's pretty clear that fiscal responsibility is going to be a hard sell as a platform plank, that's for sure." So, that's the personnel issue.
Unfortunately, the personnel issue has also become a personal issue for Mr. King. As many of you know and a simple internet search will demonstrate, rumors began to surround King's possible homosexual relationship with his male aide in 2008. King supporters will be quick to note that nothing was ever substantiated, but there were certainly some strange occurrences. One day, King was displayed on John McCain's website heading up his Alabama leadership efforts. The next day, he was nowhere to be found. King managed to weather the initial storm, but he decided to run for re-election as AG instead.
Robert Stacy McCain has an intriguing blog about the scandal on his website today (http://theothermccain.com/2010/02/05/troy-king-and-the-scandal-that-dare-not-speak-its-name/). McCain brings up the scandal and the importance that conservatives work to address it. The gist of his story is that Alabama's political reporters owe it to the people of Alabama to cover this story and address these issues. McCain writes that right now King as "a major Republican scandal just waiting to happen." This is serious business.
Let's think for a minute about what brought the Republicans down in 2006. Sure, there were a number of problems, but when Florida Congressman Mark Foley was publicly exposed in a scandal involving Congressional pages, Republicans tanked everywhere. Images of him on the cover of Time and Newsweek came to symbolize the struggles of the GOP. Now, the GOP is rebuilding, and a lot of momentum is taking shape heading into 2010. That is especially important here in Alabama, where a major Governor's race, a series of judicial races, and several Congressional races will require major attention. These Republican candidates don't deserve to deal with a political powderkeg which frankly could explode at absolutely any moment.
The problem with King is that the allegations are not strictly personal--it also has to do with personnel. The rumor mill (reinforced in the sudden dumping by McCain) alleges that King has carried on a relationship with a male employee. Were this a heterosexual relationship, it would immediately be a subject of scrutiny. This is not just a question of morality; it's also a question of professional ethics in the workplace. Unfortunately, the Alabama press has not covered this story, and the Republican Party has taken no action to vet Troy King's story.
As conservatives, it is our job to vet our own candidate and make certain that they uphold to high standards of personal and professional integrity. If we don't do that job, the liberals will do it for us. The result is only scandal and struggle. It undid the Republicans nationally in 2006. It is our job now to make sure this scandal does not harm good conservative candidates in Alabama in 2010.
Unfortunately, the personnel issue has also become a personal issue for Mr. King. As many of you know and a simple internet search will demonstrate, rumors began to surround King's possible homosexual relationship with his male aide in 2008. King supporters will be quick to note that nothing was ever substantiated, but there were certainly some strange occurrences. One day, King was displayed on John McCain's website heading up his Alabama leadership efforts. The next day, he was nowhere to be found. King managed to weather the initial storm, but he decided to run for re-election as AG instead.
Robert Stacy McCain has an intriguing blog about the scandal on his website today (http://theothermccain.com/2010/02/05/troy-king-and-the-scandal-that-dare-not-speak-its-name/). McCain brings up the scandal and the importance that conservatives work to address it. The gist of his story is that Alabama's political reporters owe it to the people of Alabama to cover this story and address these issues. McCain writes that right now King as "a major Republican scandal just waiting to happen." This is serious business.
Let's think for a minute about what brought the Republicans down in 2006. Sure, there were a number of problems, but when Florida Congressman Mark Foley was publicly exposed in a scandal involving Congressional pages, Republicans tanked everywhere. Images of him on the cover of Time and Newsweek came to symbolize the struggles of the GOP. Now, the GOP is rebuilding, and a lot of momentum is taking shape heading into 2010. That is especially important here in Alabama, where a major Governor's race, a series of judicial races, and several Congressional races will require major attention. These Republican candidates don't deserve to deal with a political powderkeg which frankly could explode at absolutely any moment.
The problem with King is that the allegations are not strictly personal--it also has to do with personnel. The rumor mill (reinforced in the sudden dumping by McCain) alleges that King has carried on a relationship with a male employee. Were this a heterosexual relationship, it would immediately be a subject of scrutiny. This is not just a question of morality; it's also a question of professional ethics in the workplace. Unfortunately, the Alabama press has not covered this story, and the Republican Party has taken no action to vet Troy King's story.
As conservatives, it is our job to vet our own candidate and make certain that they uphold to high standards of personal and professional integrity. If we don't do that job, the liberals will do it for us. The result is only scandal and struggle. It undid the Republicans nationally in 2006. It is our job now to make sure this scandal does not harm good conservative candidates in Alabama in 2010.
Are We Getting What We Pay For?
Back in December, Alabama was finally able to top a list other than the AP or Coaches' Football Polls. It came in the salary paid to the Alabama's Attorney General. Troy King makes $168,000 a year. He had languished in second place behind California's Jerry Brown, but Brown and all other elected officials took an 18% pay cut, lowering his salary from $184,301 annually to $151,127 annually according to an AP report back in December.
Now, that's an awfully big salary, even for a lawyer in Alabama. Troy King is right about one thing--he personally doesn't control the salary. It was set by the legislature back in the 1960s to be tied to the pay of Supreme Court Justices. As their salary has increased, the AG has been the beneficiary. However, Troy King hasn't been proactive in a time of fiscal unrest either. He hasn't encouraged the legislature to address the problem, although Chris Bence (King's spokesman) did note that he apparently refused to receive a raise this year. This is a start, but it's a slow one when states like California are making drastic cuts to pay in order to make ends meet. So yet again, Troy King passes the buck when it comes to how much he is paid.
As Alabamians, though, we deserve to ask ourselves a bigger question--are we getting what we pay for? Here's the thing--it's alright to pay someone for legal advice if it's really, really good legal advice. Then that person is just doing honest work for the people of the state. In fact, a decent salary can encourage more folks from the middle class to enter public service if they have experience for the job. However, even when it comes to this standard, we're not getting what we pay for.
First, let's look King's handling of a major ethics investigation. As y'all remember, the two-year college scandal was one of the biggest in Alabama's history. Legislators have gone to jail, and top public officials like Roy Johnson have been removed from office. This was a major investigation, one where the Attorney General should have been the leader. However, Troy King had to recuse himself and give the case to St. Clair County DA Richard Minor. It turns out that King had asked Johnson for a job for a family member of a friend and had also asked Johnson to support a victims' rights group which had supported his campaign. Here's what the Daily Home out in Talladega had to say about all this. They write: "St. Clair County District Attorney Richard Minor, when asked to oversee the investigation in lieu of King, knew exactly what to do. He presented prosecutors with a list of employees in his own office who knew someone in the two-year system, whether it was a student, faculty or staff, to ensure that there was nothing that could be construed as a conflict of interest." They also note of King's conduct: "Asking the target of an AG investigation to find jobs for at least two people is not as King would downplay it--merely helping someone. It was a conflict, pure and simple, and his role should come under investigation as well." That's a pretty big problem for such a highly-paid official.
Second, it seems that Troy King has spent a lot of his time as the state's top lawyer hiring...other lawyers. First he contracts with Jere Beasley, a liberal trial lawyer, to sue pharmaceutical companies in a move that was criticized by conservatives like former Alabama AG Bill Pryor and the Heritage Foundation. It's also worth noting that after funneling these contracts and gaining Beasley's political support, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled against King's action in an 8-1 decision throwing out jury verdicts in the lawsuits against these companies. Then, Troy King has spent an awful lot of money on his own defense. Troy King has been under investigation by the Feds for some time for his role in a number of ethical scandals which have been well-documented on this blog. Back in August, he got a legislative committee to approve spending up to $100,000 to hire lawyers from the Birmingham firm Bradley Arant to respond to his federal subpoena. So yet again, Troy King is spending taxpayers' money to hire other attorneys to defend his office.
Now, at the end of the day, the numbers just plain don't add up. Troy King is being paid an extremely high salary, particularly in a state like Alabama where the cost of living is generally low. There are probably quite a few lawyers out there in private practice who would want to make what Troy King is making to do the state's work. However, when we look at Troy King's body of work, the results aren't there. He has had to recuse himself from some of our state's biggest cases, and he has spent much of his time rewarding private contracts to do the state's work. It's time for conservatives to rise up and oppose this type of nonsense. Conservatives have regularly fought to bring control of Congressional pay raises in Washington--it only makes sense to demand the same of our leaders in Alabama.
Now, that's an awfully big salary, even for a lawyer in Alabama. Troy King is right about one thing--he personally doesn't control the salary. It was set by the legislature back in the 1960s to be tied to the pay of Supreme Court Justices. As their salary has increased, the AG has been the beneficiary. However, Troy King hasn't been proactive in a time of fiscal unrest either. He hasn't encouraged the legislature to address the problem, although Chris Bence (King's spokesman) did note that he apparently refused to receive a raise this year. This is a start, but it's a slow one when states like California are making drastic cuts to pay in order to make ends meet. So yet again, Troy King passes the buck when it comes to how much he is paid.
As Alabamians, though, we deserve to ask ourselves a bigger question--are we getting what we pay for? Here's the thing--it's alright to pay someone for legal advice if it's really, really good legal advice. Then that person is just doing honest work for the people of the state. In fact, a decent salary can encourage more folks from the middle class to enter public service if they have experience for the job. However, even when it comes to this standard, we're not getting what we pay for.
First, let's look King's handling of a major ethics investigation. As y'all remember, the two-year college scandal was one of the biggest in Alabama's history. Legislators have gone to jail, and top public officials like Roy Johnson have been removed from office. This was a major investigation, one where the Attorney General should have been the leader. However, Troy King had to recuse himself and give the case to St. Clair County DA Richard Minor. It turns out that King had asked Johnson for a job for a family member of a friend and had also asked Johnson to support a victims' rights group which had supported his campaign. Here's what the Daily Home out in Talladega had to say about all this. They write: "St. Clair County District Attorney Richard Minor, when asked to oversee the investigation in lieu of King, knew exactly what to do. He presented prosecutors with a list of employees in his own office who knew someone in the two-year system, whether it was a student, faculty or staff, to ensure that there was nothing that could be construed as a conflict of interest." They also note of King's conduct: "Asking the target of an AG investigation to find jobs for at least two people is not as King would downplay it--merely helping someone. It was a conflict, pure and simple, and his role should come under investigation as well." That's a pretty big problem for such a highly-paid official.
Second, it seems that Troy King has spent a lot of his time as the state's top lawyer hiring...other lawyers. First he contracts with Jere Beasley, a liberal trial lawyer, to sue pharmaceutical companies in a move that was criticized by conservatives like former Alabama AG Bill Pryor and the Heritage Foundation. It's also worth noting that after funneling these contracts and gaining Beasley's political support, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled against King's action in an 8-1 decision throwing out jury verdicts in the lawsuits against these companies. Then, Troy King has spent an awful lot of money on his own defense. Troy King has been under investigation by the Feds for some time for his role in a number of ethical scandals which have been well-documented on this blog. Back in August, he got a legislative committee to approve spending up to $100,000 to hire lawyers from the Birmingham firm Bradley Arant to respond to his federal subpoena. So yet again, Troy King is spending taxpayers' money to hire other attorneys to defend his office.
Now, at the end of the day, the numbers just plain don't add up. Troy King is being paid an extremely high salary, particularly in a state like Alabama where the cost of living is generally low. There are probably quite a few lawyers out there in private practice who would want to make what Troy King is making to do the state's work. However, when we look at Troy King's body of work, the results aren't there. He has had to recuse himself from some of our state's biggest cases, and he has spent much of his time rewarding private contracts to do the state's work. It's time for conservatives to rise up and oppose this type of nonsense. Conservatives have regularly fought to bring control of Congressional pay raises in Washington--it only makes sense to demand the same of our leaders in Alabama.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Troy King and Private Attorneys: UPDATED
For those of you who have followed this blog for some time, you have likely noticed that we have criticized Troy King for hiring liberal trial lawyers like Jere Beasley to do work for the state. This process has been a major problem in many states including Georgia and West Virginia, where Attorneys General have used this power to reward political supporters.
In Alabama, this has certainly created strange bedfellows. Troy King calls himself a conservative, yet he has endeared himself to trial lawyer Jere Beasley. On October 20, 2009, the conservative Washington Times praised an 8-1 Supreme Court decision rebuking King's practice by throwing out many of the lawsuits. They also noted King's close connection with Beasley, citing numerous PAC contributions in over $150,000 linked to Beasley, his wife, and Montgomery lobbyists with close connections to Beasley (http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/oct/20/alabama-clips-trial-lawyers/).
There are a lot of interesting things to come out of this case. One, the Times reported that the court found that mispricing was the result of the STATE, and not the pharmaceutical companies. Second, Supreme Court Justice Thomas Woodall said this was "an attempt to use tort law to re-define [Alabama's] Medicaid reimbursement obligations." This directly refutes King's testimony that as AG he is simply seeking to uphold the rule of law. In fact this demonstrates that he has acted quite to the contrary during his time as AG by creatively using the law to further his own ends.
In return, as I said previously, Troy King has received the support of liberal trial lawyers. Jere Beasley runs the "Jere Beasley Report," a website devoted to supporting lawsuits (many which true conservatives believe are abusive) as well as other liberal projects like national healthcare. It was interesting to see back in October that Jere Beasley ran a story explicitly supporting Troy King's re-election campaign in 2010 and attacking his political opponent. As I said, politics makes strange bedfellows.
Well, the story made the news again in January. This month, the Washington Legal Foundation released a report supporting the Supreme Court's decision against King. "When attorneys general work with private attorneys - individuals with interests that may be different from the state - the overall benefit to the public becomes suspect at best," wrote Behrens and Silverman, who work for Shook, Hardy & Bacon's Public Policy Group in Washington (http://www.legalnewsline.com/news/225269-wlf-paper-praises-ala.-sc-decision). This echoes the concerns of Bill Pryor and the conservative Federalist Society who argue that hiring private attorneys creates a conflict of interest whereby the states then abuse the court system.
Unfortunately, what this ultimately means is that an essential point of what Troy King considers his success as Attorney General is a lawsuit practice which conservatives deem abusive and which the Alabama Supreme Court seems to think is unlawful. This is yet another reason the nation's highest-paid AG should be removed in June.
In Alabama, this has certainly created strange bedfellows. Troy King calls himself a conservative, yet he has endeared himself to trial lawyer Jere Beasley. On October 20, 2009, the conservative Washington Times praised an 8-1 Supreme Court decision rebuking King's practice by throwing out many of the lawsuits. They also noted King's close connection with Beasley, citing numerous PAC contributions in over $150,000 linked to Beasley, his wife, and Montgomery lobbyists with close connections to Beasley (http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/oct/20/alabama-clips-trial-lawyers/).
There are a lot of interesting things to come out of this case. One, the Times reported that the court found that mispricing was the result of the STATE, and not the pharmaceutical companies. Second, Supreme Court Justice Thomas Woodall said this was "an attempt to use tort law to re-define [Alabama's] Medicaid reimbursement obligations." This directly refutes King's testimony that as AG he is simply seeking to uphold the rule of law. In fact this demonstrates that he has acted quite to the contrary during his time as AG by creatively using the law to further his own ends.
In return, as I said previously, Troy King has received the support of liberal trial lawyers. Jere Beasley runs the "Jere Beasley Report," a website devoted to supporting lawsuits (many which true conservatives believe are abusive) as well as other liberal projects like national healthcare. It was interesting to see back in October that Jere Beasley ran a story explicitly supporting Troy King's re-election campaign in 2010 and attacking his political opponent. As I said, politics makes strange bedfellows.
Well, the story made the news again in January. This month, the Washington Legal Foundation released a report supporting the Supreme Court's decision against King. "When attorneys general work with private attorneys - individuals with interests that may be different from the state - the overall benefit to the public becomes suspect at best," wrote Behrens and Silverman, who work for Shook, Hardy & Bacon's Public Policy Group in Washington (http://www.legalnewsline.com/news/225269-wlf-paper-praises-ala.-sc-decision). This echoes the concerns of Bill Pryor and the conservative Federalist Society who argue that hiring private attorneys creates a conflict of interest whereby the states then abuse the court system.
Unfortunately, what this ultimately means is that an essential point of what Troy King considers his success as Attorney General is a lawsuit practice which conservatives deem abusive and which the Alabama Supreme Court seems to think is unlawful. This is yet another reason the nation's highest-paid AG should be removed in June.
Back in Session
It seems to be a scene far too common in Alabama these days. Prominent political figures or their staffs heading into federal courthouses in scandal. According to the AP last week, the federal investigation into Troy King's office has again resumed. King was initially investigated by Alice Martin, the Republican-appointed US Attorney in Birmingham. Although the investigation stalled when Martin was replaced by Joyce Vance, President Obama's nominee, it has now resumed.
Alabamians certainly have a stake in this case. For one, Troy King has spent $100,000 of our money to provide his own legal counsel in this investigation. Additionally, the rumored allegations are certainly strong ones. Investigators are looking into King's political contributions, his use of his public office for personal gain, and gifts he has received from big corporations like Alabama Power who gave him Braves Skybox seats that he just so happened to be rather slow in reporting.
If Scott Brown's election proves anything, it proves that Republicans are again a strong brand anywhere. Americans are tired of corrupt bargaining and special interest politics. By re-nominating Troy King in June, Alabama Republicans are destined to take a step backward. By nominating a man who is having his staff brought before federal investigators and a man with nearly 6 years of questionable ethical judgments. We saw what happened to Birmingham's credibility when Larry Langford was under investigation. The city became a national punchline.
We have the chance to keep the AG's office from becoming another punchline in June if we are willing to remove Troy King from office. If we do so, I have no doubt Republicans in our state can restore the office to its place of integrity when previous conservatives Jeff Sessions and Bill Pryor were at the helm.
Alabamians certainly have a stake in this case. For one, Troy King has spent $100,000 of our money to provide his own legal counsel in this investigation. Additionally, the rumored allegations are certainly strong ones. Investigators are looking into King's political contributions, his use of his public office for personal gain, and gifts he has received from big corporations like Alabama Power who gave him Braves Skybox seats that he just so happened to be rather slow in reporting.
If Scott Brown's election proves anything, it proves that Republicans are again a strong brand anywhere. Americans are tired of corrupt bargaining and special interest politics. By re-nominating Troy King in June, Alabama Republicans are destined to take a step backward. By nominating a man who is having his staff brought before federal investigators and a man with nearly 6 years of questionable ethical judgments. We saw what happened to Birmingham's credibility when Larry Langford was under investigation. The city became a national punchline.
We have the chance to keep the AG's office from becoming another punchline in June if we are willing to remove Troy King from office. If we do so, I have no doubt Republicans in our state can restore the office to its place of integrity when previous conservatives Jeff Sessions and Bill Pryor were at the helm.
Betting on Election Day
Howdy all.
I realize it has been a while since we have been able to have a conversation about Troy. Since that time, Alabama has won a National Championship, and gambling made its way all the way out to California with an anti-Bob Riley sign flying above the Rose Bowl.
This past year, Alabama football represented a whole lot of what's good about Alabama. Mark Ingram won the Heisman trophy, and in his tearful acceptance speech won the hearts of a nation. A gritty, collegial team made its way out to California where their character proved itself in the game against Texas. For those of y'all who pull for Auburn, their gritty OT performance spoke pretty highly of leadership as well.
I bring this up to say that, in a world of bad, there is good news out there about Alabama. There are reasons to be proud, and it's time for our politicians to live up to this expectation as well.
So, it's now an election year, and the gambling issue has morphed into a full-fledged forest fire, complete with resignations, allegations, and grandstanding. Troy King is trying to play both sides of this issue, and he's doing so rather cleverly. At some places and events, he laments that his hands are tied, telling voters that he is anti-gambling and merely bound by the horrible, inflexible law which needs to be changed by voters. In other newspaper stories, he is criticizing Governor Riley for threatening to shut down jobs. Thus, in some places, he is anti-gambling; in other places he is parroting the Milton McGregor line that gambling brings jobs to our state.
I realize that gambling is a tough issue, and I realize that there are passionate folks on both sides of the aisle. That said, I think many conservatives can agree that it is a bad thing to build an economy based on addiction. Just look at Nevada, which I cited last year. They had a particularly bad time in this recession, because as people made less money (or worse, lost jobs), they gambled less. They refused to travel, and the economy tanked. This does not even consider the crime and lewd behavior which can surround casinos. If we want to talk about economic development, how about we focus on energy, technology, or other forms of businesses which are on the rise? By focusing on gambling, we're really just selling folks short. Look at the Indian establishments which have been protected by federal law for several decades. Instead of rehabilitating communities, it has really reinforced other problems such as poverty and alcoholism. I, for one, as a conservative, support real and lasting economic growth.
That said, economic growth and 'jobs' are beyond Troy King's duty, by his own admission. His job is to respect the law, which as many have reported, the Supreme Court has made quite clear. BINGO in Alabama refers to card-and-token bingo played in a senior center or veteran's center. It is a community activity meant to bring people together, not a big business meant to enrich the pockets of special interests. Alabamians have gone to the polls locally and statewide to restrict gaming in this state. Troy King wants our state to spend more money to have more elections on an already jaded issue.
Why does Troy King do this? I believe the evidence is pretty strong that political motives are behind this. He issued an opinion favoring Country Crossings (now a household name) several weeks after attending a special party held in his honor (he was listed as a special guest) at the developer's home. PAC-PAC research demonstrates that people like McGregor have been supportive of Mr. King, and this, compounded with his other questionable ethical decisions, suggest that politics is the motive.
I, for one, support real economic growth, and I believe that all conservatives believe fervently in the rule of law. Troy King claims to support the rule of law, yet he has taken every opportunity to make that law far more confusing than was intended or necessary. For these reasons, it's time to replace him with someone who will do Alabama proud and bring the clarity needed to resolve this situation.
I realize it has been a while since we have been able to have a conversation about Troy. Since that time, Alabama has won a National Championship, and gambling made its way all the way out to California with an anti-Bob Riley sign flying above the Rose Bowl.
This past year, Alabama football represented a whole lot of what's good about Alabama. Mark Ingram won the Heisman trophy, and in his tearful acceptance speech won the hearts of a nation. A gritty, collegial team made its way out to California where their character proved itself in the game against Texas. For those of y'all who pull for Auburn, their gritty OT performance spoke pretty highly of leadership as well.
I bring this up to say that, in a world of bad, there is good news out there about Alabama. There are reasons to be proud, and it's time for our politicians to live up to this expectation as well.
So, it's now an election year, and the gambling issue has morphed into a full-fledged forest fire, complete with resignations, allegations, and grandstanding. Troy King is trying to play both sides of this issue, and he's doing so rather cleverly. At some places and events, he laments that his hands are tied, telling voters that he is anti-gambling and merely bound by the horrible, inflexible law which needs to be changed by voters. In other newspaper stories, he is criticizing Governor Riley for threatening to shut down jobs. Thus, in some places, he is anti-gambling; in other places he is parroting the Milton McGregor line that gambling brings jobs to our state.
I realize that gambling is a tough issue, and I realize that there are passionate folks on both sides of the aisle. That said, I think many conservatives can agree that it is a bad thing to build an economy based on addiction. Just look at Nevada, which I cited last year. They had a particularly bad time in this recession, because as people made less money (or worse, lost jobs), they gambled less. They refused to travel, and the economy tanked. This does not even consider the crime and lewd behavior which can surround casinos. If we want to talk about economic development, how about we focus on energy, technology, or other forms of businesses which are on the rise? By focusing on gambling, we're really just selling folks short. Look at the Indian establishments which have been protected by federal law for several decades. Instead of rehabilitating communities, it has really reinforced other problems such as poverty and alcoholism. I, for one, as a conservative, support real and lasting economic growth.
That said, economic growth and 'jobs' are beyond Troy King's duty, by his own admission. His job is to respect the law, which as many have reported, the Supreme Court has made quite clear. BINGO in Alabama refers to card-and-token bingo played in a senior center or veteran's center. It is a community activity meant to bring people together, not a big business meant to enrich the pockets of special interests. Alabamians have gone to the polls locally and statewide to restrict gaming in this state. Troy King wants our state to spend more money to have more elections on an already jaded issue.
Why does Troy King do this? I believe the evidence is pretty strong that political motives are behind this. He issued an opinion favoring Country Crossings (now a household name) several weeks after attending a special party held in his honor (he was listed as a special guest) at the developer's home. PAC-PAC research demonstrates that people like McGregor have been supportive of Mr. King, and this, compounded with his other questionable ethical decisions, suggest that politics is the motive.
I, for one, support real economic growth, and I believe that all conservatives believe fervently in the rule of law. Troy King claims to support the rule of law, yet he has taken every opportunity to make that law far more confusing than was intended or necessary. For these reasons, it's time to replace him with someone who will do Alabama proud and bring the clarity needed to resolve this situation.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Troy King's Political Staff
Those of you who are familiar with this blog are familiar with Troy King's difficulties paying his staff. I've written repeatedly about Chris Bence, the Chief of Staff who is actually a paralegal, bringing home $104,400 a year, even though he has no training as a paralegal. Then, there is the "executive assistant" who went from an unpaid intern to making $57,000 over the course of 10 months.
Well, it turns out that this executive assistant sure plays a lot of roles, including some which may be downright unethical. A source has informed me that Troy King's assistant has gone to GOP field school and regularly receives salary even while attending political events. Apparently he was at Troy King's big fundraiser in Washington recently.
Here's the problem--the state of Alabama is paying the AG's office to fight crime and send the bad guys to jail, not for a young man to campaign for his boss. These sorts of activities have gotten public figures into trouble in the past, and it's time to demand a stop to it.
Well, it turns out that this executive assistant sure plays a lot of roles, including some which may be downright unethical. A source has informed me that Troy King's assistant has gone to GOP field school and regularly receives salary even while attending political events. Apparently he was at Troy King's big fundraiser in Washington recently.
Here's the problem--the state of Alabama is paying the AG's office to fight crime and send the bad guys to jail, not for a young man to campaign for his boss. These sorts of activities have gotten public figures into trouble in the past, and it's time to demand a stop to it.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Troy and John McCain: A Match Made in...?
I suppose it's Washington season in Alabama politics. Not to be outdone by the fundraiser held for his opponent hosted by Alabama's senators, King decided to hold his own DC fundraiser with none other than Sen. John McCain. That's an interesting choice, for several reasons.
First, I don't think John McCain is exactly who to go to when your "conservative" credentials are being called into question. Many conservatives believe that Senator McCain lost to President Obama in 2008 by refusing to stand up to government bailouts and fight for traditional conservative objectives. He has long been a maverick within his own party, and his substantial loss in 2008 is definitely not a bright spot in the party's history.
Second, it's somewhat ironic that Troy King would appear with Senator McCain over a year after a really interesting interaction with the McCain campaign. As I have expressed before, I don't dabble in idle rumors or gossip. However, last year Troy King was the head of McCain's Alabama Leadership Committee. Then suddenly, the next day, all mention of Troy King's name was removed from John McCain's website. It corresponded with a series of rumors about Troy King's sexual life, along with other scandals relating to ethical violations.
I suppose all is well in 2009, and the difficulties of 2008 have been forgotten, at least in Troy's world. However, in the real world, McCain just brings back bad memories, for conservative Republicans and of Troy King's actions as AG.
First, I don't think John McCain is exactly who to go to when your "conservative" credentials are being called into question. Many conservatives believe that Senator McCain lost to President Obama in 2008 by refusing to stand up to government bailouts and fight for traditional conservative objectives. He has long been a maverick within his own party, and his substantial loss in 2008 is definitely not a bright spot in the party's history.
Second, it's somewhat ironic that Troy King would appear with Senator McCain over a year after a really interesting interaction with the McCain campaign. As I have expressed before, I don't dabble in idle rumors or gossip. However, last year Troy King was the head of McCain's Alabama Leadership Committee. Then suddenly, the next day, all mention of Troy King's name was removed from John McCain's website. It corresponded with a series of rumors about Troy King's sexual life, along with other scandals relating to ethical violations.
I suppose all is well in 2009, and the difficulties of 2008 have been forgotten, at least in Troy's world. However, in the real world, McCain just brings back bad memories, for conservative Republicans and of Troy King's actions as AG.
Troy's GOP Problem
The story on al.com this weekend screamed BREAKING NEWS, and the headline was just as damning in what has proven to be a few difficult weeks for Troy King. It read: "Republican AG King's top foes: Top GOP Figures." The story went on to summarize King's struggles in recent weeks with fellow Republicans, including Governor Riley as well as US Senators Jeff Sessions and Richard Shelby. Additionally, the bi-partisan Alabama District Attorneys Association has criticized King.
Perhaps the biggest news last week was the announcement that Senators Jeff Sessions and Richard Shelby were hosting a fundraiser and supporting King's GOP primary opponent, Birmingham lawyer Luther Strange. This is a big surprise, given that top GOP officials are often reluctant to openly endorse candidates in a primary. Sen. Shelby then followed suit by cutting Troy's opponent a $25,000 check.
Now, Troy King has downplayed this. He has noted that he cares more about the people out in front of Wal-Mart instead of in Washington. On behalf of all those Alabamians who frequent Wal-Marts, let me say this: just as we send Troy King to Montgomery, we also send Richard Shelby and Jeff Sessions to Washington. Both of our senators have received the votes of Alabamians because they have represented the conservative issues people care about. Just think for a moment about Sen. Sessions' stands in the Senate against irresponsible immigration reform and in favor of greater fiscal discipline. What about Senator Shelby's work to oppose the federal bailout which was so unpopular throughout the nation? We sent these men to Washington because we respect their judgment. Senator Sessions is himself a former prosecutor and Attorney General of Alabama. He has the experience to understand that office, and he clearly seems to believe that it would be better-served under new leadership.
Troy King can spin the news any way he wants, but he can't spin the fact that this has been one difficult week to be Troy King.
Perhaps the biggest news last week was the announcement that Senators Jeff Sessions and Richard Shelby were hosting a fundraiser and supporting King's GOP primary opponent, Birmingham lawyer Luther Strange. This is a big surprise, given that top GOP officials are often reluctant to openly endorse candidates in a primary. Sen. Shelby then followed suit by cutting Troy's opponent a $25,000 check.
Now, Troy King has downplayed this. He has noted that he cares more about the people out in front of Wal-Mart instead of in Washington. On behalf of all those Alabamians who frequent Wal-Marts, let me say this: just as we send Troy King to Montgomery, we also send Richard Shelby and Jeff Sessions to Washington. Both of our senators have received the votes of Alabamians because they have represented the conservative issues people care about. Just think for a moment about Sen. Sessions' stands in the Senate against irresponsible immigration reform and in favor of greater fiscal discipline. What about Senator Shelby's work to oppose the federal bailout which was so unpopular throughout the nation? We sent these men to Washington because we respect their judgment. Senator Sessions is himself a former prosecutor and Attorney General of Alabama. He has the experience to understand that office, and he clearly seems to believe that it would be better-served under new leadership.
Troy King can spin the news any way he wants, but he can't spin the fact that this has been one difficult week to be Troy King.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Troy King's Other National News Story
Over the past several weeks, Troy King has tried his hardest to get his name in the news, and not just any news--the national news. By now, a lot of us have heard about his big conversation on NBC about the Gabe Watson case. Kudos to Troy for getting his own way to visit the Big Apple; I guess he could take off from fighting crime in Alabama today.
Of course, Troy King made some other national news this week, this time coming from Washington. The Washington Times had an interesting editorial today on the impact of trial lawyers in Alabama politics. You can read the story here: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/oct/20/alabama-clips-trial-lawyers/
This, frankly, is yet another sad story in the long set of stories about these private contracts. In case you're not familiar with my posts on the subject, here is the gist of the problem. A state is wronged by a particular corporation, and they decide to sue the corporation for damages. Well, this has become increasingly common. Conservatives have long opposed this, because it means in many cases that the government is actively trying to sue private corporations, and it can lead to excessive lawsuits. Basically, if I'm a poor state with a budget shortage, what better way to gain needed funds than by taking on a private business? The AG's office can then sue, and they can choose to have some of their own attorneys handle the case, or they can hand the case off to private attorneys who take on the case for a share of the winnings. Troy King has done this on Medicaid fraud in Alabama.
The problem is that this has NEVER ended well, when these private attorneys have been used. Let's face it--the AG is a LEGAL officer, meaning that he has clear ties to the LEGAL community. That community can contribute funds to his campaign in order for state business. This has caused problems in Georgia, West Virginia, New York, and a handful of other states which have applied it. Now, Alabama joins the crowd. It has also been criticized by conservative scholars at the Federalist Society as well as Judge Bill Pryor, a former GOP Alabama AG.
Troy, unfortunately, has failed on both counts. First, it appears that his lawsuits have been excessive, tackling private industry in an economic crisis in an attempt to put money in the state general fund. At least, that's what the Alabama Supreme Court (a pretty darn conservative body) thought when they ruled 8-1 to dismiss hundreds of millions of dollars in jury verdicts. Additionally, Troy King has given these contracts to liberal trial lawyers who supported his campaign. In return, the liberal trial lawyers get lucrative contracts worth millions of dollars.
The Times story tries to track Troy King's contributions, but they are shady, in part due to Alabama Political Action Committee law. Basically, I can choose to give to a candidate as an individual or through a political action committee. As an individual, I go on the record, and anyone can see who I am. However, PACs are much shadier, because members donate funds to remain anonymous. In Alabama, actually, it's an all-out shell game. If I am a rich trial lawyer, I would give my money to a PAC, which would then give money to another PAC, and then another, and finally another PAC would then get the money and cut a check to the AG. By this time, the money is almost impossible to trace.
I've looked at some of Troy King's contributions, and there are certainly some interesting correlations. For instance, in late September 2006, Beasley-Allen law firm wrote two checks totaling either $4900 or $5000 (depending on how you read the sloppy handwriting on the documents) to the Free Enterprise PAC. Less than two weeks later, King's campaign received a $5000 contribution from that PAC. Another example is the Home Care PAC. On October 4, Beasley Allen contributed $10,500 to the PAC. Just over a week later, Troy King received a $7500 donation from the PAC. Over the course of a campaign, many candidates receive literally hundreds of PAC contributions, and it is difficult to track them on. However, as the story points out, there are some very interesting correlations.
Kudos to the Times for looking into this issue.
Of course, Troy King made some other national news this week, this time coming from Washington. The Washington Times had an interesting editorial today on the impact of trial lawyers in Alabama politics. You can read the story here: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/oct/20/alabama-clips-trial-lawyers/
This, frankly, is yet another sad story in the long set of stories about these private contracts. In case you're not familiar with my posts on the subject, here is the gist of the problem. A state is wronged by a particular corporation, and they decide to sue the corporation for damages. Well, this has become increasingly common. Conservatives have long opposed this, because it means in many cases that the government is actively trying to sue private corporations, and it can lead to excessive lawsuits. Basically, if I'm a poor state with a budget shortage, what better way to gain needed funds than by taking on a private business? The AG's office can then sue, and they can choose to have some of their own attorneys handle the case, or they can hand the case off to private attorneys who take on the case for a share of the winnings. Troy King has done this on Medicaid fraud in Alabama.
The problem is that this has NEVER ended well, when these private attorneys have been used. Let's face it--the AG is a LEGAL officer, meaning that he has clear ties to the LEGAL community. That community can contribute funds to his campaign in order for state business. This has caused problems in Georgia, West Virginia, New York, and a handful of other states which have applied it. Now, Alabama joins the crowd. It has also been criticized by conservative scholars at the Federalist Society as well as Judge Bill Pryor, a former GOP Alabama AG.
Troy, unfortunately, has failed on both counts. First, it appears that his lawsuits have been excessive, tackling private industry in an economic crisis in an attempt to put money in the state general fund. At least, that's what the Alabama Supreme Court (a pretty darn conservative body) thought when they ruled 8-1 to dismiss hundreds of millions of dollars in jury verdicts. Additionally, Troy King has given these contracts to liberal trial lawyers who supported his campaign. In return, the liberal trial lawyers get lucrative contracts worth millions of dollars.
The Times story tries to track Troy King's contributions, but they are shady, in part due to Alabama Political Action Committee law. Basically, I can choose to give to a candidate as an individual or through a political action committee. As an individual, I go on the record, and anyone can see who I am. However, PACs are much shadier, because members donate funds to remain anonymous. In Alabama, actually, it's an all-out shell game. If I am a rich trial lawyer, I would give my money to a PAC, which would then give money to another PAC, and then another, and finally another PAC would then get the money and cut a check to the AG. By this time, the money is almost impossible to trace.
I've looked at some of Troy King's contributions, and there are certainly some interesting correlations. For instance, in late September 2006, Beasley-Allen law firm wrote two checks totaling either $4900 or $5000 (depending on how you read the sloppy handwriting on the documents) to the Free Enterprise PAC. Less than two weeks later, King's campaign received a $5000 contribution from that PAC. Another example is the Home Care PAC. On October 4, Beasley Allen contributed $10,500 to the PAC. Just over a week later, Troy King received a $7500 donation from the PAC. Over the course of a campaign, many candidates receive literally hundreds of PAC contributions, and it is difficult to track them on. However, as the story points out, there are some very interesting correlations.
Kudos to the Times for looking into this issue.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Troy King and Victims: Justice for Desta
As y'all know, I have criticized Troy King for his positions on victims rights. For those who may not remember my claim, it is a simple one. I have argued that by focusing on particular victims and particular cases which are high-profile and sure to generate media attention, he actually does very little to solve the systemic problems which actually hurt victims. There are many victims of many crimes each year, and it is impossible to personally know them all. However, those in elected office ought to work to solve difficult cases and bring violators to justice.
Well, last week I stumbled on an interesting blog, which you can also visit. It's http://justicefordesta.org, and it is devoted to Desta Dodson-Byrd of Brierfield, Alabama, who was killed on February 25, 1999. Over ten years later, no one has been brought to justice, even though there apparently is a suspect in the case.
The blog published a letter to Troy King on October 2 after his big trip to New York to talk about the Gabe Watson Australia case. The entire letter is worth a read, but I found these paragraphs particularly compelling:
"Mr. King, it's really simple. Yes, it's sad that Watson was so lightly punished, but he was, in fact, punished. And it was done by the authorities who have obvious jurisdiction. You don't have jurisdiction. Not over the Watson case anyway.
Well, last week I stumbled on an interesting blog, which you can also visit. It's http://justicefordesta.org, and it is devoted to Desta Dodson-Byrd of Brierfield, Alabama, who was killed on February 25, 1999. Over ten years later, no one has been brought to justice, even though there apparently is a suspect in the case.
The blog published a letter to Troy King on October 2 after his big trip to New York to talk about the Gabe Watson Australia case. The entire letter is worth a read, but I found these paragraphs particularly compelling:
"Mr. King, it's really simple. Yes, it's sad that Watson was so lightly punished, but he was, in fact, punished. And it was done by the authorities who have obvious jurisdiction. You don't have jurisdiction. Not over the Watson case anyway.
But Desta, she was murdered in your fair state, our fair state. And when you were approached just a few months back by people pleading for you to do something, anything, to help find justice for Desta, you didn't even muster up the polite lip-service they'd expected to get from you. Perhaps justice or your concern for it is only for the tv cameras, or maybe there has to be a trip to the big city, the really big city, before you can be too very concerned."
I think these folks understand the situation. There are problems in this state which make it hard for victims of crime to see offenders brought to justice, and those problems should be solved. Perhaps we need more investigators, or we need more crime-fighting technology. These are legitimate priorities, and any AG should make certain that these things are provided for. King, on the other hand, has simply gone to the press conferences and done the tv interviews. Anyone can stand in a suit at a press conference. It takes a true leader, on the other hand, to fight the crime. It's a shame that Troy King has been willing to do the press conferences, without becoming a true leader.
Monday Update: Nancy Worley, Ctd...
I was almost shocked at the irony that in the same week I write that Nancy Worley's case has disappeared from the state political scene, she up and reappears. The AP reported from Montgomery last week that a panel of the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals could not agree on the validity of the felony charges pressed by King. Although we don't know how the judges actually split, three judges have to agree, and the three reviewing the issue were not unanimous.
So, what is the problem with this picture? As The Huntsville Times noted in the piece I cited last week, Worley would have had to answer for the corruption charges had King pursued the misdemeanor charges after the felony charges were thrown out. However, he continues a foolhardy attempt to get his felony charges reinstated, only to have a court leave them out...two years later.
This is the problem with our AG. A true conservative AG would be devoted to two principles--he would focus on ending corruption and getting results. The two principles are very closely related, and unfortunately, Troy King can talk about corruption all he wants out on the trail. He just hasn't gotten the results.
So, what is the problem with this picture? As The Huntsville Times noted in the piece I cited last week, Worley would have had to answer for the corruption charges had King pursued the misdemeanor charges after the felony charges were thrown out. However, he continues a foolhardy attempt to get his felony charges reinstated, only to have a court leave them out...two years later.
This is the problem with our AG. A true conservative AG would be devoted to two principles--he would focus on ending corruption and getting results. The two principles are very closely related, and unfortunately, Troy King can talk about corruption all he wants out on the trail. He just hasn't gotten the results.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Ouch! Troy King Lawsuits Exposed
By now, those familiar with the AG campaign have heard it a million times. Troy King is a taxpayer hero for hiring big-time private trial lawyers and rewarding them with lavish contracts in order to sue pharmaceutical companies for Medicaid fraud. King has repeatedly trumpeted this action in press releases and attacked conservatives who have criticized this process.
Well, for someone who prides themselves on supporting conservative judges and principles, it must have been a bit of a shock to Troy King to see more than $274 million in these verdicts thrown out by the predominately-conservative Alabama Supreme Court last week. The vote was not even close, as the Court voted 8-1 to throw out the verdicts. This has to be a bit of a rebuke, both of King's conservative principles and for his decision to hire private trial lawyers altogether.
To the first point, King repeatedly prides himself as a conservative. He has trumpeted his support for conservative judges, and he has repeatedly refused to take actions which are arguably constitution and would benefit the state (enforcing gambling laws, ending the process of sheriffs pocketing money for prisoner meals, etc.) because it would supposedly overthrow his legitimate authority. He has regularly said that his role as AG is not to make law, but to enforce it. Some of this may be true enough, but either way, an 8-1 decision against King by the state's highest Court also calls his existing policies into question.
Conservatives have criticized state AGs who have hired private attorneys to engage in these sorts of lawsuits. Now, it appears that this was all for naught.
It's interesting, because this was one of the big reasons Troy King said we should re-elect him in 2010. He has repeatedly trumpeted his work to get this money into the state's General Fund. Now, it appears that this has fallen by the wayside, as well. We're still 8 months out from a primary, and already Troy King is running short on any reasons to send him back to Montgomery in 2010.
Well, for someone who prides themselves on supporting conservative judges and principles, it must have been a bit of a shock to Troy King to see more than $274 million in these verdicts thrown out by the predominately-conservative Alabama Supreme Court last week. The vote was not even close, as the Court voted 8-1 to throw out the verdicts. This has to be a bit of a rebuke, both of King's conservative principles and for his decision to hire private trial lawyers altogether.
To the first point, King repeatedly prides himself as a conservative. He has trumpeted his support for conservative judges, and he has repeatedly refused to take actions which are arguably constitution and would benefit the state (enforcing gambling laws, ending the process of sheriffs pocketing money for prisoner meals, etc.) because it would supposedly overthrow his legitimate authority. He has regularly said that his role as AG is not to make law, but to enforce it. Some of this may be true enough, but either way, an 8-1 decision against King by the state's highest Court also calls his existing policies into question.
Conservatives have criticized state AGs who have hired private attorneys to engage in these sorts of lawsuits. Now, it appears that this was all for naught.
It's interesting, because this was one of the big reasons Troy King said we should re-elect him in 2010. He has repeatedly trumpeted his work to get this money into the state's General Fund. Now, it appears that this has fallen by the wayside, as well. We're still 8 months out from a primary, and already Troy King is running short on any reasons to send him back to Montgomery in 2010.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Whatever happened to Nancy Worley?
Do you remember Nancy Worley? I do. She was Alabama's Secretary of State who left office embroiled in controversy. A Democrat, she never had any love lost for Troy King, describing him as a malicious political prosecutor. To his credit, Troy King went after Worley aggressively, pursuing 5 felony and 5 misdemeanor cases.
However, where is Nancy Worley now? Well, I did some checking up on things, and it seems that after she was indicted, nothing else really happened. The case just went away once the media went away. I found an interesting editorial in the Huntsville Times from September 23, 2007, criticizing Troy King's actions. Troy King decided to push forward on five felony charges, which were thrown out by a judge. Instead of pursuing the case on misdemeanor charges, he tried to get the felony charges reinstated. First indicted in March 2007, she has since disappeared from the radar screen.
This problem speaks volumes about Troy King's time as Attorney General. He goes for glitzy charges which get people's attention, but he then fails to prove them and lets criminals get away. I remember Nancy Worley's campaign activities from her office, and it is this type of corruption which tarnishes the name of Alabama politics. However, instead of following through and getting her convicted, Troy King instead has let the case fall through the cracks over time. I did some research and could find no progress reports since the 2007 indictment.
I don't know about you, but I want an AG who resolves the problem this state faces instead of simply talking about them, then moving on to whatever issue the media decides to cover next. There is a difference, in my view, between a politician and a leader. The politician follows the media cycle, but the leader makes the media follow him. We elected a politician in 2006--I sure hope we can send him packing in 2010.
However, where is Nancy Worley now? Well, I did some checking up on things, and it seems that after she was indicted, nothing else really happened. The case just went away once the media went away. I found an interesting editorial in the Huntsville Times from September 23, 2007, criticizing Troy King's actions. Troy King decided to push forward on five felony charges, which were thrown out by a judge. Instead of pursuing the case on misdemeanor charges, he tried to get the felony charges reinstated. First indicted in March 2007, she has since disappeared from the radar screen.
This problem speaks volumes about Troy King's time as Attorney General. He goes for glitzy charges which get people's attention, but he then fails to prove them and lets criminals get away. I remember Nancy Worley's campaign activities from her office, and it is this type of corruption which tarnishes the name of Alabama politics. However, instead of following through and getting her convicted, Troy King instead has let the case fall through the cracks over time. I did some research and could find no progress reports since the 2007 indictment.
I don't know about you, but I want an AG who resolves the problem this state faces instead of simply talking about them, then moving on to whatever issue the media decides to cover next. There is a difference, in my view, between a politician and a leader. The politician follows the media cycle, but the leader makes the media follow him. We elected a politician in 2006--I sure hope we can send him packing in 2010.
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