Republican Party Of Kentucky Takes The Governor To Task For "Misusing The People's House", But Former Governor Ernie Fletcher Did The Same Thing.
Below is the email from RPK:
GOVERNOR BESHEAR’S ETHICS HONEYMOON COMES TO AN END
Rents out ‘people’s house’ for political fundraiser
FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Republican Party of Kentucky Chairman Steve Robertson today blasted Governor Steve Beshear for his decision to “rent out” the Governor’s Mansion for a political fundraiser. Over the weekend, the Kentucky Democratic Party sent out invitations for a political fundraiser to be held at the Governor’s Mansion on June 24th.
“Less than one month after issuing a water-downed executive order on ethics reform, it is apparent Governor Beshear’s ethics honeymoon has come to an end,” Robertson said during an afternoon press conference in front of the Governor’s Mansion. “Clearly, the good old days of misusing the ‘people’s house’ are back. This kind of renting out of the mansion for partisan, political gain has not been seen in Frankfort since the days of Patton – one of the most unethical Governors in Kentucky’s history.”
Robertson referenced Governor Beshear’s inaugural address, noting how Beshear promised “a Kentucky where citizens trust that their leaders are doing the people’s business, not their own.”
Robertson also noted how ethics reform failed during the recent legislative session after Governor Beshear and House Democratic Leaders balked at the Republican-led State Senate’s more stringent version – which would have prohibited lobbyists and state contractors from giving to gubernatorial candidates and others running for statewide office.
“Using the Governor’s Mansion for political fundraisers does not represent the kind of ethical and moral leadership the people of Kentucky deserve,” added Robertson. “Governor Beshear has said that his administration should be held accountable and that it starts at the top with him. I call on Governor Beshear to make real ethics reform part of the special session call.”
Robertson also called on the Democratic elected officials listed on the invite, specifically Auditor Crit Luallen and Attorney General Jack Conway, to join him in disavowing this activity.
Kentucky Democrat Party Chair Jennifer Moore’s defended Beshear’s decision saying that Robertson was just “hurt that he is no longer invited to the mansion” and this was “simply an event for supporters of the governor at his private residence.”
“It is unbelievable that Jennifer Moore would make the insinuation that Republican’s are not welcome in the Governor’s Mansion,” concluded Robertson. “I would hope Steve Beshear and Jennifer Moore would have more respect for the ‘people’s house’ – than to use it as a member’s only, political clubhouse.”
But as the archives of the Lexington Herald - Leader shows, Governor Ernie Fletcher used the mansion to entertain highway contractors in a SHAMEFUL manner to solicit campaign contributions:
Lexington Herald-Leader (KY)
2006-06-26
Section: City&Region
Edition: Final
Page: B1
FLETCHER COURTS HIGHWAY PAVERS
Ryan Alessi, Frankfort Bureau Reporter
Naturally, then, Gov. Ernie Fletcher — forced to restart his re-election fund-raising from scratch after Lt. Gov. Steve Pence dropped off the ticket — has begun courting the contractors.
The governor invited more than a dozen paving company executives to the Governor’s Mansion last Wednesday for lunch, a policy presentation and a political chat in the mansion’s second-floor residence.
During the luncheon, Transportation Cabinet Secretary Bill Nighbert detailed how the state will shell out a record $2.3 billion in road funds to contractors over the next two years, said Robbie Rudolph, Fletcher’s executive secretary of the Cabinet.
The group later retreated to the residence to discuss the re-election campaign.
-SNIP-
Wednesday’s event, which was partially organized by Amy Wickliffe — lobbyist for the Kentucky Association of Highway Contractors and former chief of staff to first lady Glenna Fletcher — instead was the first of several group meetings Fletcher hopes to have this summer, Rudolph said.
Lexington Herald-Leader (KY)
2006-07-07
Section: Main News
Edition: Final
Page: A6
MAJOR DONORS LINKED TO STATE
HIGH-RANKING OFFICIALS, ROAD CONTRACTORS ON LIST
Ryan Alessi, Herald-Leader Frankfort Bureau
Nearly 40 percent of the $372,225 that Fletcher’s 2007 campaign raised in the last two weeks came from Kentuckians Fletcher placed on boards and commissions, highway contractors that depend on state money and government workers — mostly high-ranking political appointees — whom Fletcher hired. Road building company employees and their family members gave Fletcher at least $54,000 over the last 15 days.
Many contractor executives attended a luncheon at the governor’s mansion two weeks ago, during which Transportation Cabinet Secretary Bill Nighbert outlined how the administration gets to dole out $2.3 billion worth of paving work in the next two years.
More than $44,000 came from board and commission appointees or their family members.
(Hat tip to Page One).
GOVERNOR BESHEAR’S ETHICS HONEYMOON COMES TO AN END
Rents out ‘people’s house’ for political fundraiser
FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Republican Party of Kentucky Chairman Steve Robertson today blasted Governor Steve Beshear for his decision to “rent out” the Governor’s Mansion for a political fundraiser. Over the weekend, the Kentucky Democratic Party sent out invitations for a political fundraiser to be held at the Governor’s Mansion on June 24th.
“Less than one month after issuing a water-downed executive order on ethics reform, it is apparent Governor Beshear’s ethics honeymoon has come to an end,” Robertson said during an afternoon press conference in front of the Governor’s Mansion. “Clearly, the good old days of misusing the ‘people’s house’ are back. This kind of renting out of the mansion for partisan, political gain has not been seen in Frankfort since the days of Patton – one of the most unethical Governors in Kentucky’s history.”
Robertson referenced Governor Beshear’s inaugural address, noting how Beshear promised “a Kentucky where citizens trust that their leaders are doing the people’s business, not their own.”
Robertson also noted how ethics reform failed during the recent legislative session after Governor Beshear and House Democratic Leaders balked at the Republican-led State Senate’s more stringent version – which would have prohibited lobbyists and state contractors from giving to gubernatorial candidates and others running for statewide office.
“Using the Governor’s Mansion for political fundraisers does not represent the kind of ethical and moral leadership the people of Kentucky deserve,” added Robertson. “Governor Beshear has said that his administration should be held accountable and that it starts at the top with him. I call on Governor Beshear to make real ethics reform part of the special session call.”
Robertson also called on the Democratic elected officials listed on the invite, specifically Auditor Crit Luallen and Attorney General Jack Conway, to join him in disavowing this activity.
Kentucky Democrat Party Chair Jennifer Moore’s defended Beshear’s decision saying that Robertson was just “hurt that he is no longer invited to the mansion” and this was “simply an event for supporters of the governor at his private residence.”
“It is unbelievable that Jennifer Moore would make the insinuation that Republican’s are not welcome in the Governor’s Mansion,” concluded Robertson. “I would hope Steve Beshear and Jennifer Moore would have more respect for the ‘people’s house’ – than to use it as a member’s only, political clubhouse.”
But as the archives of the Lexington Herald - Leader shows, Governor Ernie Fletcher used the mansion to entertain highway contractors in a SHAMEFUL manner to solicit campaign contributions:
Lexington Herald-Leader (KY)
2006-06-26
Section: City&Region
Edition: Final
Page: B1
FLETCHER COURTS HIGHWAY PAVERS
Ryan Alessi, Frankfort Bureau Reporter
Naturally, then, Gov. Ernie Fletcher — forced to restart his re-election fund-raising from scratch after Lt. Gov. Steve Pence dropped off the ticket — has begun courting the contractors.
The governor invited more than a dozen paving company executives to the Governor’s Mansion last Wednesday for lunch, a policy presentation and a political chat in the mansion’s second-floor residence.
During the luncheon, Transportation Cabinet Secretary Bill Nighbert detailed how the state will shell out a record $2.3 billion in road funds to contractors over the next two years, said Robbie Rudolph, Fletcher’s executive secretary of the Cabinet.
The group later retreated to the residence to discuss the re-election campaign.
-SNIP-
Wednesday’s event, which was partially organized by Amy Wickliffe — lobbyist for the Kentucky Association of Highway Contractors and former chief of staff to first lady Glenna Fletcher — instead was the first of several group meetings Fletcher hopes to have this summer, Rudolph said.
Lexington Herald-Leader (KY)
2006-07-07
Section: Main News
Edition: Final
Page: A6
MAJOR DONORS LINKED TO STATE
HIGH-RANKING OFFICIALS, ROAD CONTRACTORS ON LIST
Ryan Alessi, Herald-Leader Frankfort Bureau
Nearly 40 percent of the $372,225 that Fletcher’s 2007 campaign raised in the last two weeks came from Kentuckians Fletcher placed on boards and commissions, highway contractors that depend on state money and government workers — mostly high-ranking political appointees — whom Fletcher hired. Road building company employees and their family members gave Fletcher at least $54,000 over the last 15 days.
Many contractor executives attended a luncheon at the governor’s mansion two weeks ago, during which Transportation Cabinet Secretary Bill Nighbert outlined how the administration gets to dole out $2.3 billion worth of paving work in the next two years.
More than $44,000 came from board and commission appointees or their family members.
(Hat tip to Page One).
Labels: Hypocrisy, Keeping them honest
posted by KYJurisDoctor at 9:40 PM
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