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DEL.ICIO.USFire up the committee again, Eric: Dems to file another ethics complaint
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Only a week after the Joint Legislative Ethics Committee dismissed a complaint against House Speaker Glenn Richardson, Democrats are back with another.
This time, it’s a complaint against state Rep. Larry O’Neal, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. The topic is the legislation giving a tax break to Gov. Sonny Perdue. A first thought: The issue could make it even more awkward to bring up “private cities” legislation that would allow developers to levy their own taxes in carved out districts.
The filer is Edward Chapman of Atlanta, who says he’s bringing the matter up as a private citizen — but acknowledges that he’s a former research specialist for the state Democratic party.
Chapman alleges that O’Neal “used his position as a member of the House to bestow a financial benefit upon a client of his private law practice” — i.e., the governor.
The complaint against Richardson was dismissed for lack of evidence. In this one, Democrats have been more thorough. The nine-page submission includes a list of potential witnesses. The governor is among them.
The full story can be read here.
Comments
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By Guy Pinestra
January 24, 2007 11:37 AM | Link to this
I don’t think this complaint can be categorized as ‘partisan’. I was absolutely disgusted by the revelations of Sonny’s duplicity and profiteering with his land deals and his ‘special’ tax break.
It would be interesting to find out how many OTHER Georgians profited from this loophole, and exactly WHO they were.
By RJ
January 24, 2007 5:48 PM | Link to this
Guy Pinestra, No OTHER citizen benefitted from the tax break. Even more disgusting is Gov. Perdue’s arrogant responses to lingering media questions about the matter.
The State Attorney General and the FBI should be investigating Perdue’s role in these shady land deals and illegally claimed federal tax break. I have very little confidence that the “sleepy” State Attorney General will do anything. Given Perdue’s recent appointment of the wife of the Federal District Attorney to the State Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, I doubt he will do anything. No one is suppose to be above the law in America.
By Joc
January 25, 2007 9:59 AM | Link to this
It looks like some of the facts in the complaint fall under the federal Honest Service Fraud Statute. I wonder if the feds are looking at this matter. Sad to say but I share the previous bloger’s lack of confidence that the State Attorney General will to anything.
Perdue and O’Neil have refused to be forthright with the media. Under oath they can plead the fifth…that would be damaging.
Those of us who love Georgia take no great pleasure in this drama. However, the disposition of it will shake or make my confidence in the Legislature’s commitment to high ethical standards.
By TROLL
January 25, 2007 12:19 PM | Link to this
The thing that really irks me is the willful breaking of the law by our Governor when he deliberately hid his interest in MARYSON.
All elected and candidates for positions in government are required to post in their financial disclosure statements all of their holdings. This applies to all of us in public office.
Our Governor was an influential Senator when these very strict Ethics in Government laws were passed. He very well knows the documents that he has to file every year under this law.
He chose to break this law so that his friends who were working so hard to have Oaky Woods remain a Ga. treasure, would not know of his purchase of the 101 acres bounded by Oaky Woods.