Gov. Steve Beshear issued the following statement Monday concerning the FBI investigation of Transportation Cabinet activity during former Gov. Ernie Fletcher's administration:
"We have been and will continue to cooperate fully with the federal investigation into allegations of impropriety at the Transportation Cabinet during the previous administration. I was elected to create a culture of integrity at the cabinet and throughout state government and we are making substantive progress toward that goal. Our full cooperation with this investigation from the beginning has been an important part of that process."
Sure, the statement may have given the current administration a bit more credit than it deserves in regard to this probe. But that's what politicians do; they seize opportunities to make themselves look good. So, if Beshear was indeed being opportunistic, I'm not going to gig him much for it.
Besides, this investigation offers Beshear another opportunity he should seize as quickly as possible. If he and his aides are serious about cleaning up state government, particularly the Transportation Cabinet, the allegations of bribery and corruption contained in an affidavit filed in federal court by Special Agent Clay Mason should create the perfect political climate for doing so.
In the early 1990s, the Operation BOPTROT scandal created the climate for putting some distance between lawmakers and lobbyists who had developed a far too cozy relationship. Similarly, this brewing scandal should create a climate for ending the often too cozy relationship between Transportation Cabinet officials and road contractors.
Certainly, neither contractors nor cabinet officials would be inclined during the midst of an FBI investigation to draw attention to themselves by sticking their heads up and complaining about efforts to improve the integrity of the contracting process.
So, whatever the Beshear folks have in mind for cleansing the cabinet and making the road contracting process less political and more competitive, this is the time for them to seize the day.
Larry Dale Keeling, a columnist for the Lexington Herald-Leader, has spent most of his 35-plus years in journalism reporting on or writing editorials and columns about Kentucky’s politics and political issues. He now brings his experience and expertise on those topics to the KyKurmudgeon blog.
The central issue is that the Transportation Cabinet operates under its own procurement rules. KYTC should operate under the same oversight of the Finance Cabinet’s procurement group, as does the rest of state government. The current system perpetuates the “we’re special” spirit that has gotten so many transporation officials in hot water over the past 50 years.
While he is at it, how about cleaning out the judicial cabinet good old boys. How much corruption can one cabinet have anyway?
They (Justice Cabinet) need to look at agencies with community components and employees working 2 to 4 hours daily, claiming to be working from home for the remainder, contracts requiring staffing levels but not enforced an other related lesser issues
It won’t happen.
If Steve Beshear would put some teeth into the bidding process for roads in Kentucky that might help. But that would be limiting the GOOSE THAT LAYS GOLDEN EGGS. And a politicain thrives and wins with BIG DONORS.
The main problem, (IMO) is who owns and controls the BLACKTOP PLANTS.
To my knowledge the processing plants in Kentucky are in certain geographies and there exist no other source, as all must purchase the blacktop from the same regional plant.
There has been no new permits for building
an asphalt plant in Kentucky for a number of years. Applications are made, but somehow the applications for new, small,asphalt plants do not get approved.
Why is that?
Well, all you have to do is look at who the big, big donors are in the political campaigns and you will clearly see the majority of the processing plants are owned by two people.
Now, when the larger contractors bid on jobs they sometimes bid on small jobs knowing they can not build them. So, they hand off the small jobs to smaller companies who are glad to get the work.
This is a PUBLIC RELATIONS move to make it appear there exist NO MONOPOLY on the limited number of Asphalt Plants in Kentucky.
So, not matter what size your paving company their is little opportunity to qualify for a bid and the smaller guys have to purchase their blacktop from the large road builders that owns the blacktop plants.
Until, there ARE MORE BLACKTOP PROCESSING PLANTS IN OTHER GEOGRAPHIES . . . THE COST OF ROAD BUILDING WILL NOT GO DOWN.
The question that can not be answered is why hasn’t the state approved permits for other and perhaps small processing facilities?
You might check the CAMPAIGN DONATION LIST then you will see who they are. And, these owners know how to play the game. Grease the palm, get the contract. Of course this is not bribery . . . it is an honest corporation interested in better government and those donations are of free will. VICKI GLASS, former aid to anyone that is important in politics . . HAS SAID:
“The donors are people who want good government and want to help the candidate to offset the heavy cost of campaigns.”
That is not the exact quote by PARAPHRASED.
Jim Anderson Stivers
Frankfort,KY.
LDK,
I can’t believe your reminded readers of the BOPTROT SCANDAL. Not a good thing, for a reporter that favors . . . the elite.
Yes, the last big bribe scandal was over the activity of THE HORSE LOBBY.
And, you continue to support this idea, knowing that . . . HISTORY DOES REPEAT ITS SELF.
cleaning house,
How about sending me some details on the Justice Cabinet good old boys in a e-mail?
ldk
why dont they just pass a law that says anyone who contributes over 100.00 cant work for the state or receive any contracts from the state ?
I’m with you on that one, mugwamp.
ldk