Democrats in Connecticut Ask Governor to Step Aside - NYT

[Wonk]

Published: December 14, 2003

HARTFORD, Dec. 13 Ñ The leader of the Connecticut Democratic Party called on Gov. John G. Rowland on Saturday to step aside while federal investigators continue looking into allegations that repairs were done on his private cottage at a discount in return for promises of state work.

Stopping short of calling for Governor Rowland, a Republican, to resign, the leader, George C. Jepsen, said, "At a bare minimum, step aside for as long as it takes for these investigations to be completed."

Mr. Jepsen was joined at a news conference here by five Democratic lawmakers, all of whom said they were ready to begin impeachment proceedings should the governor refuse to step aside.

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[jsw_81]

1. Impeachment

Does anyone know how strong we are in the CT legislature? Can we really get this toad out of office?

[mobuto]

2. Substantial majorities

21-15 in the Senate, 100-51 in the Legislature, a great many of whom are spineless.

But I don't think it'll be neceesary for them to grow spines if Rowland's indicted first by the Feds, and that's exactly what seems to be on the agenda.

[aquart]

3. Okay, I see Rowland is a Republican.

The Feds don't indict Republicans. Well, except for Janklow, and in that case there was a body.

[Judi Lynn]

4. Here's Sunday's Washington Post article on Rowland

Conn. Governor Admits Lying
Aides, State Contractors Helped Rowland Fix Lake Cottage
By Michael Powell and Vernon Loeb
Washington Post Staff Writers
Sunday, December 14, 2003; Page A10


Connecticut Gov. John G. Rowland (R) has a splendid little cottage on a lake in a tony section of the state, outfitted with a new kitchen, a cathedral ceiling and a hot tub with a water view.

But the Republican governor acknowledged last week that he did not pay for these improvements to his cottage. Instead, he relied on gifts -- of time and money -- from a prominent state contractor and several of his closest governmental aides. And he acknowledged that he lied when he claimed on Dec. 2 that he alone had paid for the improvements.

This, Rowland acknowledged, was not acceptable. "I provided information that was incorrect and incomplete," he said in a released statement. "I regret doing this and I am sorry I did it."

The revelations have prompted two prominent newspapers to call for the resignation of the three-term governor, who has become ensnared in several ethics scandals these past few years. Rowland, 46, turned over about 50 pages of canceled checks and invoices to the U.S. attorney, which along with the FBI has been investigating accusations of contract steering in the state government. Rowland noted through a spokesman that he would have nothing to say on the matter, as he was "continuing to cooperate" with federal prosecutors. (snip/...)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A62516-2003Dec13.html

[MrTriumph]

5. A Republican tradition

Does anyone recall when it was disclosed US Sen. Phil Gramm (TX) received free home improvements from Jerry Don Stiles, a former Texas home-builder and S & L sleeze-ball at the time? Just another dirty Republican political favor.

[Exultant Democracy]

6. The man should be in jail.

He cuts state jobs so that poor people lose their homes, yet he gets free work done on one of his extra homes.

[Tuttle]

7. Once again, JR can thanks a despot for getting his name off page 1

Tut-tut

[Tuttle]

8. unabashed kick

n/t

Tut-tut

[Atman]

9. This jerk was in line for a Bush post

He is great buds with Kenny Boy. One of the first Rowland scandals to break a couple of years ago is that Rowland gave Enron over $200,000,000 of state money which we never got back. He essentially "loaned" Enron the money as some kind of pre-payment for future energy purchases. The same week, Enron, totally coincidentally, of course, made a very large contribution to the Rowlad campaign. Rowland was said to be in line for a position in the Bush admin, but that all fizzled when his scandals started breaking.

He is an arrogant bastard who shouldn't be allowed to spend another moment in office.

[Tuttle]

11. ENRON as Nigerian email scam artist

And Rowland fell for it!

This guy has been a total zero since day on: does anyone remember his first campaign issue against Weicker (failed bid - Weicker won).

He wanted to criminalize the adult retarded population and jail them.

His next campaign issue: repeal the state income tax instituted by Weicker - noble, perhaps but ultimately failed, blaiming the Democrats in the legislature.

Hey, John - where did you get that mega-money that you floated to ENRON???

RESIGN!

Tut-tut

[Judi Lynn]

10. New York Times article on Rowland

Few Defenders for Connecticut Governor After Ethics Misstep
By STACEY STOWE and MARC SANTORA

Published: December 15, 2003


HARTFORD, Dec. 14 — The anger is palpable, and so is the disappointment. Two days after Gov. John G. Rowland's apology and admission that he lied about who paid for improvements to his lakeside cottage, Connecticut residents who may have seemed jaded by political corruption scandals are expressing sentiments as bitter and cold as the December air.

The target of their resentment made his first public appearance since Friday. Mr. Rowland attended a party in South Windsor for the families of Connecticut National Guard soldiers called to active duty. When asked whether he intended to resign, The Associated Press reported, Mr. Rowland noted his apology of Friday and cited his nine years of service as governor. "We're doing our job," he said. "We've laid everything out. We've made an apology. Everything has to be looked at in perspective in terms of what I've done in the last nine years."

Around the state, the people who shop, ski, eat, and work in the Republican governor's neighborhood or his favorite haunts cited what they saw as hypocrisy from a man who has been quick to criticize others accused of corruption.

Kevin Kearns, a furniture designer from Vernon, who voted for Mr. Rowland last year, expressed bitter disappointment on Sunday and said he saw a glaring double standard. "He told Ganim to step down when he got in trouble," Mr. Kearns said, referring to Mr. Rowland's statement the day Joseph P. Ganim, the mayor of Bridgeport, was indicted on federal bribery charges. "He should play by the same rules and resign." (snip/...)

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/15/nyregion/15ROWL.html