inspector general bill - #1

[bloom]

Sunday, February 20, 2005

Ind. Gov't. - Inspector General bill the focus of story today

"Inspector could get broad powers: Bill seeks unique ability to press criminal prosecution forward" is the headline to this story today in the Sunday Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, by Niki Kelly. Some quotes from the lengthy story:
INDIANAPOLIS – If Gov. Mitch Daniels succeeds, Indiana could have one of the rare state inspector generals – or maybe the only one – with the power to criminally prosecute wrongdoing after obtaining judicial approval.

Daniels has repeatedly touted the fact that 11 states have an inspector general’s office to investigate misconduct by state employees in the executive branch of government. * * *

The Journal Gazette contacted all 11 inspector general offices – from California to Florida – and none have the power to prosecute cases themselves. Instead, they pass their investigations to either the state attorney general or the local prosecutor.

<snip>

For instance, the inspector general can charge only four out of about 300 criminal offenses that exist: bribery, official misconduct, conflict of interest and profiteering from public service.


And he can charge state employees only with permission from both the governor and court judge.

http://indianalawblog.com/archives/2005/02/ind_govt_inspec_2.html



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Friday, February 25, 2005

Ind. Gov't. - Several stories today in the inspector general bill


"Inspector general bill slows House to crawl: Minority tries to strip prosecutorial power" is the headline to this story today by Nili Kelly in the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette. Some quotes:
Bitter division over one of Gov. Mitch Daniels’ top legislative priorities ground the House to a slow crawl Thursday.

After a brief appearance to pray and pledge, House members spent hours behind closed doors discussing strategy. At 5 p.m., they returned and heard strong debate on two Democratic amendments aiming to strip the prosecutorial power away from the Office of Inspector General.

Republicans defeated the changes along party lines – sending the Democrats to caucus again after just an hour and a half of work.

The controversy surrounds House Bill 1002, which would formalize the Office of Inspector General to ferret out waste, fraud and corruption in the executive branch of state government. It also strengthens some state ethics laws.

But Democrats claim it goes too far in giving the appointed inspector general the limited power to prosecute criminal cases against state employees accused of wrongdoing.

<more>

http://indianalawblog.com/archives/2005/02/ind_govt_severa.html

[LiberalFighter]

1. The key... permission of governor and judge required

What I don't understand...

Why is it necessary when County Prosecutors already have the ability to prosecute those cases? Right???

Most likely since it is state employees that they say is the intent... It was my understanding that the Marion County PA pursues cases involving state elected officials and employees.

That is why I think they are only attempting to prevent cases from being prosecuted.

[shesemsmom]

4. It is at the pleasure of the county Prosecutor to prosecute or

not..... been there and lived that one for myself. But this guy and his team are next to worthless. The only prosecution you will see is democrats caught up in some mess maybe of their own doing maybe not. The only justice you will see is when the Demo's get back in a prosecute the Inspector Himself

[descolada99]

2. Here's the bit that gets me...

So why not just give prosecutorial powers to the attorney general, a person elected by the state’s voters rather than appointed by the governor? “I wouldn’t be opposed to it,” Daniels said. “To us this seemed like a more direct way to get where we wanted to go.”

Why is it a "more direct way to go" to create a governor appointed, political office which means bigger government (thought the GOP hated that) and a bigger payroll (the guy's gotta earn a salary)? Wouldn't it be cheaper and more direct, as well as more democratic (small d) to give these desired powers to the elected Attorney General instead of creating a whole new office?

This is the thing that, to me, highlights that this is just another Indiana GOP power grab to silence Hoosier Voters (like HB1703 was, the "merit judges for Marion County" bill)

[shesemsmom]

5. The ATG

is way yo busy....... he has to stay up on what plannened parenthood is doing and yes you are right. He should be taking care of such likes but as I said he is tooooo busy nibbing into our personal affairs

[shesemsmom]

3. This is my take on it

I personally believe the inspector is a waste of taxpayers dollars I handed them an employee who defiantly needed fired after abuse of employees and they Pooh poohed me real quick after a supposed investigation. I am gonna give them one month and then all the paper work is gonna go some where that will bit them right in the BUTT. Lets see how they cover that up. I'm tired of messing with these folks already.