Wednesday, April 4th, 2007...7:49 pm
Harper Valley P.T.A.
Like many capitol watchers, I have a question: is Jack Harper the least bit interested in doing anything about problems at the State Veteran’s Home, or does he just see this as a way to throw partisan darts?
Today’s hearing of the joint committee looking into troubles at the home featured testimony of Alan Stephens, the Governor’s Chief of Staff of Operations. Harper’s questioning quickly ventured into “what’s this got to do with Tibet?” territory when he asked Stephens about his involvement in AZSCAM and noted that Janet Napolitano was his attorney back then.
The fact that so many of you who are newer to this state are scratching your heads right now indicates exactly how far away from current reality AZSCAM is. Stephens acknowledged that he was investigated and cleared. Apparently, the fact that he was invesigated and cleared in a pay-for-pro-gambling-votes sting operation during Rose Mofford’s administration is totally relevant to care for our state’s elderly veterans today. I’m a bit lost on the connection. I suppose that Harper is some sort of genius for seeing one when I can’t.
To be fair, members from both parties took to the floor of the house and senate after this incident and took Harper to task.
With each passing day, this guy is piling up the evidence that he cares nothing about the issues before this committee. If he wants to take pot shots at the Governor, Harry Mitchell, or heck, Al Franken, he can do that just as easily from some other soap box. Let the grown ups who actually are interested in care for our vets run the committee, and let Harper do whatever it is he does somewhere else.
1 Comment
April 5th, 2007 at 8:09 am
To borrow a phrase from the Army-McCarthy hearings (oh, how appropriate):
Have you no shame, Sen. Harper? At long last, have you no shame?