Posted by The Senate Ethics and Conduct Committee met today to consider the matter of Sen. Charles Bishop (R – Arley) punching Sen. Lowell Barron (D – Fyffe) on the floor of the Senate in June.
The Alabama Senate Ethics Committee today hired former U.S. Attorney Doug Jones of Birmingham to be its general counsel and help it establish rules for its investigation of an ethics complaint filed by Sen. Lowell Barron, D-Fyffe.
…and it hopes to complete its work before the start of the 2008 legislative session Feb. 5.
Unlike Charles Bishop, it sounds like they are moving slowly and deliberately.
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Doug Jones is a good choice and an excellent attorney. Danny, I do find it interesting that you continue to focus on the Bishop punch (which was clearly a black eye for the state and deserves criticism), but don’t see fit to publicly take Joe Reed to task for his pathetic, childish, embarrassing attack of Bradley Byrne. What gives?
Any idea how much these investigations cost? Doug Jones probably doesn’t work cheap, and it’s a long time until February.
Mooncat, the article says that Jones will be paid $175 an hour with a cap of $75,000 for his work.
John,
1) The blog has referenced at least five articles about Reed’s ridiculous letter (including three today).
2) I have been travelling all of those days.
3) I didn’t have anything to add to what was already said, nor did I believe that the story was under-reported.
4) I find physical assault far more offensive than name-calling.
5) I don’t know of anyone who has defended Reed for his offense. Many people have defended Bishop for his act of violence, including giving him a standing ovation. To me, that makes the Bishop offense far more interesting.
6) I think the more interesting question is why are there people who are calling for Reed’s head who are willing to give Bishop a pass?
I tend to agree with Byrne’s comment that Reed’s remark was “silly” and that the letter was “really not worthy of a response.”
Also, I will add that I see nothing inappropriate in continuing “to focus on the Bishop punch,” as you say, because there is an ongoing, unresolved investigation of the ethics complaint. The matter contributes to Senate tension that, according to reports I hear, may affect whether or not there is a special session.
That is pretty significant, in my opinion.
mooncat, cost is probably of no concern to legislators when it’s not money out of their pockets.
hi i enjoyed the read