The Press-Register: Fair and Balanced
The Mobile Press-Register is about as fair to the Democratic party as an East German judge in the Olympics.
Rep. Marc Keahey calls them on it. They haven’t printed his response on the Governor’s use of the State plane. So I will
RE: May 14th Editorial
Dear Editors:
Your editorial published today, misrepresents the purpose and content of a bill I introduced last week in several ways. I would ask that you reread HB 854, which has been co-sponsored by a bi-partisan majority of the House, so I am attaching a copy with this letter for your review.
First, your editorial states that I want to “criminalize personal use of a state plane.” That is simply not true, while the bill prohibits the use of the state plane for any use other than official state business; there are no criminal penalties attached to the bill.
Second, your state that currently Governors are “prevented from using the plane for campaigning, which is only right.” The major flaw in your assertion is that they are not prevented from flying to campaign events on the state plane. A review the flight logs located on the Governor’s web site reveals numerous political trips, including fundraising events, on the state plane. The web site does indicate that the Governor’s campaign reimbursed the state for the cost of the trip or portion of the trip related to political campaigning. On several occasions, the Governor flew on a “state trip” and then attended a political event decreasing the portion of the trip his campaign was required to reimburse.
HB 854 specifically prevents the use of the state plane for political campaigning, which I agree “is only right”. A position your paper appears to endorse.
Third, you suggest that the state should “require governors to make details of their flights public.” I could not agree more. That is why the main point of this bill is disclosure. HB 854 requires more disclosure than is currently being provided voluntarily by the Governor. Governors, now and in the future, will be required to disclose dates, passenger list, purpose of flight, destinations and cost associated, giving the public a full picture of the state plane usage.
After you have had an opportunity to again review HB 854 in its entirety and consider the points I have made above, I would ask that you would provide some clarification for your readers. If you have any questions feel free to call me directly.
Sincerely,
Marc Keahey
Keahy and Hinshaw are both political hacks. The democrat strategy now is to pick at Riley on silly stuff because they’re mad he made them go on record about the pay raise, he’s trying to end their double dipping, and he fought them on their pork projects.
Comment by Anonymous — May 20, 2007 @ 11:38 am
Keahy has been in the Legislature for all of 5 months, so it’s ridiculous to call him a hack. This bill just adds to accountability and transparency and I am not sure how anyone could oppose it.
Comment by Anonymous — May 20, 2007 @ 12:00 pm
No one would oppose it because it is already being done. The Ethics Commission already governs this issue and has clearly stated that this is the law already. The only reason Guin and Keahy would even know how Gov. Riley uses the state plane is because he is the first Gov. to post his online unlike the previous governors both Republican and Democrat. This bill is just saying what the law already is so sure I would support it as well but I think this is another waste of time just to score cheap political points.
Comment by Rep. Cam Ward — May 20, 2007 @ 9:07 pm
I agree with Rep. Ward. Another waste of time.
Comment by Anonymous — May 21, 2007 @ 7:55 pm
Waste of time to score cheap political points? That about sums up most of Ward’s bills.
Comment by Anonymous — May 22, 2007 @ 8:24 am
I think one Rep. going to another Rep’s post and making a quasi-attack is the epitome of trying to score cheap political points.
Comment by QEK — May 24, 2007 @ 12:47 pm