Posted by I heard about this Associated Press story before I saw it, even before it was in the papers.
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| House Minority Leader Mike Hubbard (R-Auburn) and Governor Bob Riley at Hubbard’s 2006 Campaign Kick-Off |
An excerpt:
Speaking at a news conference, the Republican governor [Bob Riley] said the measure before the State Board of Education on Thursday would prevent the “inherent problems” linked to legislators working for two-year schools at the same time they have the power to direct state funding toward the schools.
…
Responding to a question about [State GOP chair Mike] Hubbard from Democratic Party spokesman Jesse McDaniel, who attended the news conference, Riley said he would like the policy expanded beyond two-year schools to include legislators with links to four-year schools. Hubbard is president of Auburn ISP Network Inc., which holds the broadcasting rights to Auburn University athletics.
A deal between a school and a legislator is “not any more appropriate for Mike than it is anyone else,” said Riley, who previously tried and failed to get lawmakers to ban so-called “double dipping.”
“What we wanted to do is limit it across the board … (so) you can’t serve in the Legislature and have all these contracts and you can’t serve in the Legislature and be a double dipper,” said Riley, who did not directly say that Hubbard’s arrangement was wrong.
A source close to Republicans in the state legislature commented to the Political Parlor about the Associated Press article saying…
[The AP article] about the Governor being asked about Mike Hubbard’s contract with the Auburn University is one of the biggest reasons why so many Republicans are sour with him in the legislature. Without getting into the merits of Hubbard’s situation, I think a lot of people look at it like the Governor did not hesitate in throwing Mike Hubbard overboard despite Mike’s over-the-top loyalty to the Governor. I think some Senate and House Republicans look at it like “if he did that to one of his best friends, he wouldn’t hesitate and do it to me too.”
Riley and Hubbard are close. Hubbard calls Riley his “political mentor” and named his younger son Riley after him.
That I heard about this story so quickly yesterday (even before it was in the papers) makes me believe that it generated quite a bit of chatter.
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Hopefully, this will keep Alabama from passing a law that will be struck down in court in a few years anyway.
I’m sure the courts will strike it down, just like they struck down the Hatch Act. Right?
Don’t you realize that right now, many state employees who work at DHR, DOT, Public Health, Mental Health, ADECA and other agencies are prohibited from running for office because their salaries are paid, in part, by the federal government?
Rep. Ron Grantland had to choose between changing jobs or dropping out of the legislature when the Feds pointed out he was in violation of the Hatch Act by working in a federally-funded job at the State Health Department while serving in office.
How is the policy affecting two-year college and other state government employees any different?
The Decatur Daily wrote about Grantland’s situation here:
Grantland, 59, had to retire from the State Department of Public Health after a federal judge ruled last year he was in violation of the Hatch Act, a law that prohibits federal employees from engaging in partisan elections. The law applied to Grantland because his employer receives federal funding.
http://www.decaturdaily.com/decaturdaily/news/061108/seat.shtml
and another mention is here:
http://www.theworldaroundyou.com/2004/05/05/representative_grantland_to_lose_his_job/
Any of these anonymous Republicans happen to be double dippers? That could explain why they are supposedly “sour” on Riley.
Re: Hatch Act, Employees who work for educational or research institutions which are supported in whole or in part by a State or political subdivision of the State are not covered by the provisions of the Hatch Act.
Actually Riley didn’t throw Hubbard “under the bus” as Hubbard’s situation is completely different. He is not an employee of Auburn University. The company he works for has a contract that generates revenues for the University (primarily the athletic department), but receives no payment from the University. Mike owned the company before he was elected, sold it in 2003–but can’t be a “double-dipper” because he doesn’t not receive any money from Auburn University. The Governor is very well aware of Hubbard’s situation.
With Mr. Hubbard, its a simple question: Does he receive two state
pay-checks (like Blaine Galliher, Ken Guin, Terry Spicer, etc). The
answer is NO.
Ah, the sweet, sweet sound of hairs being split.
I ain’t “sour” on the Governor.
You should be. You are on everyone else.
Rep. Ball, the source was solid but of course doesn’t intend to talk for all GOP legislators. I appreciate you weighing in.
Susan, the point may be that if Riley did not say anything in defense of someone who is extraordinarily close to him and who is in a reasonably defensible situation, then how far would he go for someone else in the party? I think that is the real frustration expressed by someone close enough to the situation to see it in some GOP legislators.
My best understanding is that it may not be too difficult to clear the air on this particular matter, but that also it is a symptom of some frictions at work.
[cough]Cam Ward[cough]
Another Idea, we’ve had this discussion before. :)
Named his son Riley? Dude… that’s serious.
RE 14: Serious alright–seriously goofy.
Sorry [cough] Another Idea [cough] not me creating all the stir.
Like so many other stories this will be long on the back page after the State School
Board meets tomorrow.
His kid? Really? Man that is a trooper!
Check out the Anniston Star’s coverage of the press conference, where they actually got Riley’s quote CORRECT:
“It’s not any more appropriate for Mike Hubbard, or Bob Riley, or anyone to use their influence ot get contracts.”
If the Governor was throwing Hubbard under the bus, he was throwing himself, too. Bottom line, what the Governor actually said and meant is NOT what was reported by the AP. The Governor clearly was saying that the same rules ought to apply to everyone. Mike Hubbard’s situation simply happens not to violate the rules, but as the Governor was pointing out, that doesn’t mean the rules shouldn’t apply to him. They should apply to every legislator/public official.
Eliminating “double-dippers” from the legislature would be a step in the right direction, but the problem of legislators having a perceived, if not actual, conflict of interest when voting on legislation that could affect their normal full-time employment would still remain. One way that might be eliminated would be to change to a full-time legislature as I suggest over on Dan’s Daily Dixie @ http://www.dailydixie.com/2007/08/23/crazytalk/.
I forgot to check the block to be notified of followups, so this comment is just for that purpose. :-)
Hubbard sold his business and remained an employee. He owned this business while he sat on the Education Appropriations Committee in the House.
Yep, Riley threw himself under the buss all right. Check out the MEDICAID database contract he just handed out to a Mississippi based subsidiary of a Virgina company. It seems that another bid from a California based company came in at about $1 million cheaper – I suppose Toby is worth that much.
Several Alabama companies could have done this job. Listen, everyone is not a criminal, Bob’s not a criminal and neither is Mike – his hair is criminal and so is his son’s name, but that’s beside the point. The system is full of conflicts of interest – this is pure politics at its best and Bob is going to ride this wave of negative publicity. Will it make the system better? Maybe, especially if you support nothing but independent businessmen in government. Don’t count out Paul though, he’s smarter than the whole lot of the R’s – more personable as well. Good day.