Friday, 6 June 2008
Beshear Thy Name Is Cronyism
It has been a while since I have done a story on Beshear's cronyism when it comes to appointments. Beshear talked throughout his campaign about setting a new tone in Frankfort and creating a post partisan environment. Those statements turned out to be nothing but a lie. But he is keeping one campaign promise. He is taking care of his own. His own friends and party cronies. We see three more examples just this week alone.
First we have former Louisville mayor, Jefferson County Judge Executive, and long time Democratic political crony, Dave Armstrong, being appointed to the Kentucky Public Service Commission. I guess Armstrong was looking for a way to get back on the public sector gravy train since Abramsom pushed him out as Mayor of Louisville.
Today we get two for the price of one. Former governor Paul Patton and former Lexington Mayor Pam Miller both got appointed to the council on post secondary education. Nothing like bringing in some new blood to help improve our weak educational system.
The Pièce de résistance occurred earlier this week when Beshear decided to have the state hire his old law firm. A story that interestingly enough was buried by the major news outlets in Kentucky.
Gov. Steve Beshear has turned to his former firm of Stites & Harbison to serve as the governor's office counsel in the lawsuit brought by Senate President David Williams over road funding.
Beshear opted to outsource his legal representation to his old employer and said he tasked his general counsel, Ellen Hesen, to spearhead the search. Mark R. Overstreet of the Frankfort office will take the lead, Beshear said.
But he dismissed a notion that hiring his former employer could give a perception that he played favorites or spark criticism.
"If there is, there is," he said. "I wanted to get who I considered to be the best lawyers to represent me on such an important issue."
Sure they are. I don't see how this could be a pay back to the legal firm that formerly employed him and one that he will probably go back to after he is booted out in 3 years. I am glad to see cronyism hasn't taken a back seat to Beshear's policy initiatives. Oh yeah, I forgot that he doesn't have any policy initiatives to get in the way. Its a joy to see business as usual under Democratic leadership.
