Actions > Words UPDATED
Governor Steve Beshear gave this big speech last night about ice and tough times (full analysis later). Earlier he was busy hiring more cronies. The Herald-Leader's John Cheves reports:
Despite the spokesperson's overreaction, these are dubious hires. It is hard to believe that there aren't already employees in these agencies capable of administering ATV grants and constituent services.
UPDATE: Page One Kentucky points out that it's not just Scott that Beshear has hired, but just about the entire Kentucky Democratic Party staff, and we know this because the KDP Chair is bragging about it:
Last month, two new Beshear appointees took patronage jobs with combined salaries of about $90,000. One is Kevin Hollenbach Holtz, the aunt of Democratic state Treasurer L.J. "Todd" Hollenbach. The other is Travis Scott, 27, who coordinated "Get Out The Vote" activities for Beshear's 2007 campaign and has worked for the Kentucky Democratic Party and the Democratic National Committee.Scott is assigned the important job of doling out state money to build ATV trails. Holtz is made a division director in the Office of the Ombudsman. Jim Waters says it well:
"We're talking about furloughs and wage freezes and possible layoffs for state workers, and yet the governor is still putting his cronies behind desks," said Jim Waters, spokesman for the Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Solutions, a free-market think tank in Bowling Green.In response, the Governor's spokesperson throws a fit:
"It's way past time for us to rein in state spending," Waters said. "We need to examine every penny we're spending, and if we did, neither one of these hires would have been approved as a critical public need."
"Are we not supposed to hire anybody in state government for the next two years?" Blanton said.Yes, Jay. Getting dinged for hiring political cronies means you're not allowed to hire anyone ever.
Despite the spokesperson's overreaction, these are dubious hires. It is hard to believe that there aren't already employees in these agencies capable of administering ATV grants and constituent services.
UPDATE: Page One Kentucky points out that it's not just Scott that Beshear has hired, but just about the entire Kentucky Democratic Party staff, and we know this because the KDP Chair is bragging about it:
We're reminded of a portion of an email that now-disgraced and outgoing Kentucky Democratic Party chairwoman Jennifer Moore sent out to State Central Executive Committee members on Friday, January 9, 2009:It's nice to know that Kentucky taxpayers can afford to find "Greener Pastures" for all of these individuals while we're trying to tighten the budget.Staffing
As we expected to happen, over the past month we've seen some of our great staffers move to "greener pastures" on their career path. Most all of our staff have been with the KDP since 2007, working 10 hour days through special elections, our Convention & Reorganization Process, many Fundraising events and the 2008 campaigns. I would like to thank the following great staff, and wish them well on their next endeavors:
* Nathan Dickerson- SPP Field Staff, now working in the Finance & Administration Cabinet
* Sara McGown- Regional Finance Director, now working in the Governor's Office of Board & Commissions
* Travis Scott- SPP County Coordinator, starting next week in the Department of Local Government
* Christina Smith- Communications Assistant, now working in the Governor's Office of Policy
