Lexington Herald Leader Editorial Bemoans "... Who [Kentucky] Senate Is Listening To ...". *SIGH*.
But look who Senate is listening to ...
Just because the Senate has spurned independent, empirically-based analysis (see above) doesn't mean that it's not seeking advice.
Senate President David Williams hired Bill Nighbert, transportation secretary under former Gov. Ernie Fletcher, to advise Senate Republicans on the state's six-year plan for road construction.
Nighbert was recently acquitted of corruption charges. Federal prosecutors failed to convince jury and judge that Nighbert and highway contractor Leonard Lawson conspired to rig bids. But there was no disputing that Nighbert and Lawson and their families had become and remain close friends.
Nighbert recently admitted to violating the executive branch ethics code in a matter uncovered by the federal investigation and agreed to pay a $500 fine.
Nighbert's salary is coming from the Senate Republicans' campaign fund. That means no tax dollars are going to pay for his advice.
That does not mean that his advice won't be costly to taxpayers.
It's been documented that the lack of competition and other contractor-friendly practices inflate highway construction costs in Kentucky compared with other states.
House Democrats refused to participate in budget negotiations with Nighbert.
But Williams may have accomplished his goal, nonetheless. By associating themselves so prominently with a well-known friend to the paving industry, Senate Republicans send a signal to a group that has traditionally showered money on its friends in Frankfort.
The signal that Williams' embrace of Nighbert sends to taxpayers is another story.
Just because the Senate has spurned independent, empirically-based analysis (see above) doesn't mean that it's not seeking advice.
Senate President David Williams hired Bill Nighbert, transportation secretary under former Gov. Ernie Fletcher, to advise Senate Republicans on the state's six-year plan for road construction.
Nighbert was recently acquitted of corruption charges. Federal prosecutors failed to convince jury and judge that Nighbert and highway contractor Leonard Lawson conspired to rig bids. But there was no disputing that Nighbert and Lawson and their families had become and remain close friends.
Nighbert recently admitted to violating the executive branch ethics code in a matter uncovered by the federal investigation and agreed to pay a $500 fine.
Nighbert's salary is coming from the Senate Republicans' campaign fund. That means no tax dollars are going to pay for his advice.
That does not mean that his advice won't be costly to taxpayers.
It's been documented that the lack of competition and other contractor-friendly practices inflate highway construction costs in Kentucky compared with other states.
House Democrats refused to participate in budget negotiations with Nighbert.
But Williams may have accomplished his goal, nonetheless. By associating themselves so prominently with a well-known friend to the paving industry, Senate Republicans send a signal to a group that has traditionally showered money on its friends in Frankfort.
The signal that Williams' embrace of Nighbert sends to taxpayers is another story.
Labels: News reporting
posted by KYJurisDoctor at 11:17 AM
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