What’s that sound? Why, it’s John Cheves writing about Greg Stumbo’s questionable ethics.
FRANKFORT — Greg Stumbo, Kentucky’s new House speaker, has been paid by a variety of businesses with interests before the state legislature, including coal mines, banks and law firms, disclosure forms and securities records show.
Now that Stumbo runs the House of Representatives — with power to help decide which bills succeed and who gets public funds — an ethics watchdog said he must avoid any actions as speaker that would benefit him personally.
“This is a great opportunity for Greg to show us that his progressive side can overrule the financial interests he has with some of these companies that want things from him,” said Richard Beliles, chairman of the non-profit Common Cause Kentucky.
During his stint as the Democrats’ House majority leader, from 1985 to 2003, Stumbo was criticized for using his Frankfort office to benefit financially back home in Prestonsburg.
Pretty sure you’ll want to read the rest of this. It’s a nice refresher on all the borderline behavior Greg has exhibited over the years and needs to address publicly– if he wants to be taken seriously. We worked hard to push things under the rug in 2007 and he fought like hell to avoid a discussion about any questionable situation. And it helps that our campaign staff was great at changing the subject.
Some highlights: Over the last two years, Greg has received $41,000 as a board member at Energy Coal Resources (Addington Family), butt tons of cash as co-owner of First Guaranty Bank of Pamela Justice coke ring fame, money from his son’s law firm, personal investments and the sale of his half-million-dollar personal airplane.
10 responses so far ↓
1 DemGirl // Jan 9, 2009 at 10:56 am
Jake, have you gotten the list of new committee chairs? Also, did you see Stumbo’s speech on the floor this morning? Thoughts on both?
2 jake // Jan 9, 2009 at 12:13 pm
DG – No list yet. It’s apparently tough to get? But I’ve asked the right people for it.
As far as his speech, no, haven’t watched it/read about it yet. But I did read the press release about his bill.
(Had to deal with business this morning that a plumbing disaster prevented me from working on for two days, so, catch me up to speed!)
3 DemGirl // Jan 9, 2009 at 12:18 pm
I have a list…do you want me to copy and post it here?
4 DemGirl // Jan 9, 2009 at 12:25 pm
A & R, Rick Rand
Ag & Small Business, Tom McKee
Banking & Insurance, Jeff Greer
Economic Development, Ruth Ann Palumbo
Education, Carl Rollins
Elections, Constitutional Amendments & Intergovernmental Affairs, Darryl Owens
Health & Welfare, Tom Burch
Judiciary, John Tilley
Labor & Industry, Rick Nelson
Licensing & Occupations, Dennis Keene
Local Government, Steve Riggs
Natural Resources & Environment, Jim Gooch
Seniors, Military Affairs & Public Protection, Tanya Pullin
State Government, Mike Cherry
Subcommittee on BRAC, Jeff Greer
Tourism Development & Energy, Eddie Ballard
Transportation, Hubie Collins
5 Steve Bittenbender // Jan 9, 2009 at 1:06 pm
Any word on Jimmie Lee keeping his A&R seat and his spot as human resources subcommittee chair?
6 Dion James // Jan 9, 2009 at 1:21 pm
While you were awaint a response from the “right people,” you should have just checked the Herald. It’s been there all day.
7 DemGirl // Jan 9, 2009 at 1:23 pm
Here’s the A&R Committee list. No Jimmie Lee. Jimmie Lee IS the BR Subcommittee on Human Resources Chair.
Rick Rand, Chair
Royce Adams, Vice Chair
John Arnold, Vice Chair
Johnny Bell
Mike Cherry
Mike Denham, Vice Chair
Jeff Greer
Richard Henderson, Vice Chair
Charlie Hoffman
Martha Jane King
Fred Nesler
Sannie Overly
Don Pasley
Tom Riner
Dottie Sims
Kent Stevens
Wilson Stone
Susan Westrom
Dwight Butler, Vice Chair
James Comer
C.B. Embry
Jimmy Higdon
Brad Montell
David Osbourne
Steven Rudy
Tommy Turner
Ken Upchurch, Vice Chair
8 jake // Jan 9, 2009 at 1:25 pm
“Dion” – Easier said than done when you’re out of the office all day and only have access to anything via your phone.
9 C.J.S. // Jan 10, 2009 at 4:36 am
DemGirl:
I’m afraid you accidentally pulled the Ag committee instead. I nearly flipped out in horror thinking that my State Rep. was named to the committee.
Anyways, here’s the new outlook for Approps:
Appropriations and Revenue
Rick Rand, Chair
Robin L. Webb, First Vice Chair
John A. Arnold Jr., Vice Chair
Harry Moberly Jr., Vice Chair
Fred Nesler, Vice Chair
Arnold Simpson, Vice Chair
Brent Yonts, Vice Chair
Bob M. DeWeese, Vice Chair (R)
Charles Siler, Vice Chair (R)
Royce W. Adams, Member
Jesse Crenshaw, Member
Mike Denham, Member
Derrick Graham, Member
Keith Hall, Member
Jimmie Lee, Member
Sannie Overly, Member
Don Pasley, Member
Jody Richards, Member
Tommy Thompson, Member
Jim Wayne, Member
Ron Weston, Member
Scott W. Brinkman, Member (R)
Dwight D. Butler, Member (R)
James R. Comer Jr., Member (R)
Danny Ford, Member (R)
Jimmy Higdon, Member (R)
Lonnie Napier, Member (R)
Marie Rader, Member (R)
Tommy Turner, Member (R)
From Bluegrass Politics:
http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2009/01/09/moberly-replaced-by-rand-on-budget-committee/
10 Republican // Jan 10, 2009 at 11:04 pm
Lonnie Napier? Aargh! The village idiot of the Republican delegation.
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