PRESS RELEASE
LYNN TO INTRO BILL KEEPING EXECUTIVE BRANCH ETHICS COMPLAINTS CONFIDENTIAL UNTIL INVESTIGATED
South Anchorage Rep.’s intent is to make the complaint process more fair
Thursday, June 18, 2009, Anchorage, Alaska – House State Affairs Committee Chair Bob Lynn, R-Anchorage, plans to file legislation in January to revise procedures for ethics complaints filed against the Executive Branch of state government. “Ethics complaints should be ethical,” Lynn said.
“An ethics complaint filed against a legislator is confidential until it’s determined to have merit,” Lynn said. “If the complainant breeches confidentiality, then the case is dismissed.
“In contrast, if someone goes public with an ethics complaint against the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General or anyone in the Executive Branch before it’s determined to have merit, it is not dismissed. As a result, an unsubstantiated complaint can be all over the newspaper, TV, and talk radio before it’s even investigated. That’s not fair. It invites frivolous complaints by people with a political agenda, wasting public money and the time of everybody involved.”
If Lynn’s legislation passes, a complaint filed against someone in the Executive Branch would be as fair as it is in the Legislative Branch. Rep. Lynn drafted the bill independently of the Executive Branch.
The draft legislation awaits introduction in the coming second session of the 26th Legislature, set to convene January 19 in Juneau.
posted by Blogs by Rep Bob Lynn | 4:05 PM
62 Comments:
Mr. Lynn, I strongly disagree with your bill to make complaints against the Executive Branch of state government secret.
The People wouldn't have to file complaints if the legislature would hold the Executive Branch accountable.
I would be REAL careful about what you do right now young man...
The DOJ, Dept of Treasury, IRS,
Harvard University and others are watching Palin and Alaska...
I initiated these observations...
I will initiate much more young man..
FDIC means the trust fund Palin embezzled on is insured young man.
Meaning no matter what laws you pass to get Palin covered - it's just TOO LATE...
Tell Palin I am coming and the law is here with me...
It is time...
I love God...
I love my Country...
I love my peoples....
Proved it in 2003...
Ask FRANK about that....
Regarding comments from "Anonymous," I'm irritated that he labeled me - twice - "young man." I've worked very hard to attained my senior age, and don't appreciate my age being misrepresented. If Anonymous can't be accurate about my age, how accurate might he be on his other observations? Bob Lynn
Mr. Lynn, I understand that Sarah Palin testified against a bill similar to yours a couple of years ago. Do you think she will testify against yours too, also?
As Americans, we have First Amendment rights to free speech. Our country is the land of the free and we will not be repressed and shut up to appease any elected individual. We don't have to.
You are called what you behave like.
It is absurd to protect someone who will throw you under the bus soon.
Ask Frank about that one, 2006.
Now everyone wishes he was back.
Oh well too late...
Too late for Palin too...
When I file my ethics complaints it will make history...
Just like when Frank reversed the Statutes of Limitations in 2003.
I refused to sue my peoples...
What did they have to do with it?
Then it rocked the Catholic Church.
What did you do for your country?
Young man?
"I will do whatever I want until a court tells me I can't"
S. Palin re: $50,000 unapproved monies spent to redo her mayor's office.
Mr. Lynn, I think both of us know how unethical this woman is. What you do not understand is that anyone who supports her, or in your case, tries to help her to continue to be unethical, will sooner or later be punished as she will be.
Please look at ALL who are under her bus. They are not democrats, liberals etc. They are her past mentors, her past AG, her daughters, and ANYONE who she "thinks" is against her.
If Sarah don't get you, the law will.
NO ONE, not even your own party, is going to stand for bills that silence the American people and you know that.
Are you just trying to cash in on her infamy?
"Young man" you are going down the wrong road.
Oh, and furthermore:
"If Anonymous can't be accurate about my age, how accurate might he be on his other observations? Bob Lynn"
We KNOW how old you are Bob. So yes, we can be accurate on our other observations. The term "young man" is a patronizing term when used in reference to someone who is obviously not young.
A subtle way of showing disrespect.
Surely you understood that, right?
I don't understand why you would even consider passing this law!! Do you honestly believe that Gov Palim has not bent many rules just because she knows she can? Do you really think these are all politically motivated? Other states don't have this problem and they have people of various political parties??
Clearly many people are filing complaints because they are totally frustrated with Governor Palin and they have no other recourse. She berates Alaskan citizens by name in the state website! She hires all of her friends whether they are qualified or not. She dies not practice the morals she speaks of!? She acts like shebis above the law! These are only a few of the reasons there are all these complaints!
Trying to legally stop people from talking is an ineffective way to solve the problem. Also Alaskans have a right to know about these things and to talk about them. An attempt to squelch people from talking will escalate the problem if the SOURCE of the problem is not dealt with.
Ask the question why are so many people so frustrated with the Governor? She doesn't need protection, she needs to look in the mirror and for once be honest and stop playing the victim! If you truly want to support her, din't enable her by shutting people up!! There is NO WAY all of these complaints are frivilous! The complaitants don't seem to all know each other and consist of Republicans and Democrats!! My God, face the truth! I don't think the Alaska legislature has been honest or firm enough with Governor Palin.
Passing this law his a huge mistake. It is not in concert with our constitution, it will not solve the source of the problem! It will more likely increase the amount of complaints and frustration. You should instead be passing legislation to have a less biased method of evaluating ethics comments. The current system is highly suspect because almost every complaint has been dismissed and they all shouldn't have been. Some do have merit.
Thank you for reading.
Anon with all the scary predictions has taken too long and his ethics complaint will be mute just like all the other ones. Palin has gotten around you already
I say Bring it on "young man"
She is ready and waiting
Don't worry though, I think your ego will take a hit, but you'll be fine after a while.
Palin and her ilk have made a mockery of this state, its laws and its citizens. Whatever shred of decency or respect that Alaska once held has been wantonly decimated by the “leadership” of this “governor”.
Open your eyes to this con artist who calls herself “governor”. Palin’s sole concern is for herself. Nobody else matters--unless she has the opportunity to use them for her own purposes.
She had no qualms about parading and exposing her own children to the world at large last year. None whatsoever. She used them, just like anybody else she uses. People are to be used by Palin according to her way of thinking. As a human being she is sorely lacking in any depth of intelligence or reasonable, critical thought processes.
Palin is an embarrassment to this state and its citizens. She wants what she wants and will do whatever she needs to do--unethically, criminally and without a second thought. Sounds like a class one sociopath operating scams and posing as governor.
Bring her down Anonymous, and let people see--really see who this vitriolic, vile vermin really is.
Political Blogs by Rep Bob Lynn said...
...I'm irritated that he labeled me - twice - "young man."
10:37 AM
------------
Actually, it was THREE times...
Please Mr. Lynn, Palin and her cohorts have covered up enough for her and her family. She is the most unethical politician America has seen for a long time. Don't you think she has gotten away with more than her fair share? It's time to put a stop to it and say no more, rather than to continue to give her more ways to get around ethics, truth, and responsibility. Just because she can find a loop hole does not make the things she does ethical. I know she has been able to abuse anyone and everyone and people need their jobs, but there comes a time when you have to say to yourself that you would rather do the right thing than continue on the path of destruction. That is if you have a shred of decency, maybe it doesn't apply, but if it does start letting your conscious be your guide. You can then feel good about yourself and be proud that you did not sell out for whatever gain you received at this time. A good reputation is worth much more than all the money and power in the world. Sarah Palin will be remembered for the horrible person she is, not for all the good decent things she could have done for people.
Amen to that, Jo.
I note that there is a sizable group viewing your website. I've been following Palin since she was first announced. I live in Florida and never heard of the woman before she was put forward for VP.
By nightfall on August 29th I knew about the fake pregnancy! I've followed her daily since then. the blog Palins Deceptions has demonstrated beyond a shadow of a doubt that she lied about her baby Trig. My own observation gathered through the last nine months is that she LIES ABOUT EVERYTHING.
Why then are you doing her bidding? What power does she hold over you? Please do some research and free yourself from this evil witch.
I will take her down folks...
Been patient about it for a long time...I mean a lifetime...
Murkowski is here to stay...
and say a few things by her recent actions...AWAIC...
Go Murkowski...they have honor...
Go Palin...to federal prision...
Grand Torino baby...
When Gov. Palin quit her position as Oil and Gas Commissioner, she said that it was because the ethics law forced her to be quiet about unethical behavior and it went against her nature to not tell the public what she thought was wrong. We should support Gov. Palin's previous belief that citizens should be encouraged to file and discuss ethics complaints.
Might a more open and transparent way to get rid of that darned disparity between the way executive branch and legislative ethics inquiries are handled be to open up the process for the legislature? Do away with secrecy.
What's good for the goose is good for the gander, and transparency has definitely been good for the goose.
Mr. Lynn,
The reason this is wrong is because it would "hide" things from the public, which is wrong. We have enough things hidden from us that then outrage us when we finally find them out.
Don't create a "black hole" for the executive branch to hide things, to make things go away.
This applies to any governor.
Mr. Lynn: With all due respect for you and Gov. Palin, this is a VERY BAD idea. You cannot take away the Constitutional rights of the citizens. AK, for now, is still part of the UNITED STATES, and is bound by its laws. If this bill should pass (doubtful), the AK Supreme Court would never uphold it. Please ask any Constitutional Law Professor or Comstitutional Lawyer for advice before you make a fool of yourself (believe me, I do not want that to happen).
If Alaska's Personnel Board was independent and actually investigated complaints, said complaints could be handled secretly, at least in the beginning. But this Board does not meet regularly, relies on private attorney's narrow opinions and does not discuss findings, won't take public testimony unless it feels like it-- how confident can Alaskan's be in the current process, let along it if was handled in secret?
It is obvious that the Palin administration advocates and promotes secrecy and does not want to be held accountable for what they do. It is certainly not based on the transparency and accountability that Palin promised.
You now want to censure citizens who have an issue with any unethical behavior of the governor and then follow through in filing an ethics complaint.
Your frivolous bill would readily dismiss a complaint if a citizen "goes public" with it. The burden of proof is upon the state and its own currently very questionable employees to investigate the matter, make a finding, and proceed as needed.
According to your bill, no one need ever know that an ethics complaint was even filed against Palin. Then--if a citizen discloses this complaint publicly, the complaint is summarily and immediately dismissed.
The governor is supposed to be accountable to Alaska's citizens and should welcome any criticism if she is without guilt. Her life should be an open book--unless she has a dark closet filled with illegal, unethical practices.
Again a Win-Win situation for the oh-so-ethical-and-transparent-Guv. Lose-Lose for the citizens--again,too, also there and a big you betcha!
If this bill were to pass Palin would find a way to leak every complaint to the press and make it look as though it came from the complainant.
I am a woman who would have been delighted to support a conservative woman during this last campaign, and when Sarah Palin gave her V.P. speech I was very impressed. Until I started to look into her background. Then my delight turned to dismay. I have never seen a person so confidently assert what is provably not so.
Every aspect of our government needs more transparency, not less. Accountability is the remedy for abuse of power. Please support the right of the people to inquire about the behavior of their elected representatives. Thank you.
I would be extremely disapponted in our government if this passed. Do you really think all of Governor Palin's critics are Democrats? Like the other poster above, I would have been thrilled for a moral ethical woman to be vice president. I started researching Sarah Palin and read about her for months from many sources before making a firm opinion. And now I do think she is one of the most self-serving, self-centered, shallow, phony and immoral politicians I have seen. On many an occasion, I have seen her look straight into a camera or persons face ald lie outright.
She also is an opportunist, using colleagues, friends, family and even her children for political gain. I am tired of the divisive negative politics and the lies of politicians-Sarah Palin in particulat. As a Christian who tries to live Jesus's word I am appalled at the way she talks about our elected President Obama. She shows her complete lack of study and knowledge of Americas political and economic history! Her lack of knowledge and her criticism of him (all for poltical show) should be an embarrassmen to all Alaskabs and Republicans.
Now you want a bill that quotes the voice of the people?! It appears as if the only purpose of this is to protect her AND to keep the general public from knowing about these complaints. Frankly, I am very disappointed and surprised that you would intoduce such a thing. You are telling us that all of our complaints and observations have no merit!! This isn't government on the side of the people. It is an attempt to stop negative discussion and that is wrong. People of all parties are tired of Sarah talking more to People magazine then she does her constituents. She now has spokespeople for everything. She often talks about what Alaskans but does she ever listen? Never. Is she ever wrong or humble? No, the world is against poor Palin! The media, those bloggers, everyone!. There is truth to all of thus yet she is never wrong.
This bill is incredibly wrong. Why don't you deal with the core underling problem honestly and openly . You are trying to cover for her. Please do not make that mistake. We, as voters, as citzens, as fellow human beings deserve much better from our elected officials , don't we?
In 1989 I had a cash value factor of 108.401500 dollars.
That is under a federal internal investigation now.
Check on Palin's Recorders Dept
"Ritcher Investments" and see what or where the money came from to start that venture...
Oh yeah - one more thing...
My identification to my blood background is BIGGER than anyone could imagine...
Like all the way back to the 1700's and in New York - I was named after my GGGGGmother...
Oh Palin - when the Church comes after her that will be "The End" for her..
But the intel has been passed on and now well...
Grand Torino baby...all will see..
You should be ashamed of yourself. As I recall at her inauguration she proudly proclaimed "Alaskans hold ME accountable" .. She ran on an "ethics reform/transparency in government" platform! If you hitch your trailer to this horse with no shame, you too will be looking for a real job, real soon
Anon writes in several places:
"The DOJ, Dept of Treasury, IRS,
Harvard University and others are watching Palin and Alaska"
Harvard, eh? A private university is "watching Palin"? For what purpose? And Treasury? Are you suggesting Palin prints her own money? When you include things like that, you sound like a moonbat from c4p land.
"In 1989 I had a cash value factor of 108.401500 dollars."
108 point 401500 dollars? Makes absolutely no sense. I've got over 10k pennies in my basement. What of it?
"That is under a federal internal investigation now. "
Oh, sweet baby. "internal." You obviously have no idea what you are going on about. Anyone with knowledge of an actual federal investigation would call it exactly that: a federal investigation.
An "internal" federal investigation would be the feds investigating themselves. But that's not happening, nor are you able to explain any such critter in a comprehensible or meaningful fashion.
Rep Lynn - some of the comments made here are valid. Secrecy in government is not a good thing. You would better serve the people of Alaska by not allowing the governor to appoint the very people who investigate ethics complaints against him/her instead of trying to keep secret any filed complaints. just my 2 cents.
A federal internal investigation is when who is in the Anchorage
office that is a fed employee breaks the rules - whistleblower...
Trying to reduce what has happened is so immature on your part...
You have not the evidence I do...
What do you think made Palin panic?
Troopergate?
Abuse of Power continues.
When Todd Palin's brother calls someone to "threaten" them?
A felony young man...
Oh but let's cover it up or say something that is too close for comfort hu???
Palin has already neutralized this threat. She is not afraid of you and your silly scare tactics. I know you think you have something huge, but Palin has been working behind the scenes to kill this and has effectively done it. You'll find out soon enough.
Epic Fail dude. Good try though.
Yeah she will see when the feds arrest her...
So go run and tell Sarah...
Just like you did for her before...
Embezzlement and falsification...
REMEMBER MY WORDS:
When one is worth alot of money - people will do anything to keep it...
To anon 9:19 you sound exactly like someone who has written on other blogs. Your comments basically say that Palin is guilty. If she is working behind the scenes to "neutralize" ?? If she is innocent she doesn't need to do anything. Hmmmm
if you are the person I think though. You ranted and raved and then when confronted admitted you didn't even know Palin.
Either way, you don't seem to realize how guilty you make Governor Palin look. It's quite striking. You are saying she knows she is in serious trouble and is therefore working behind the scenes to neutralize thus threat. You also are talking in a very threatening manner to this person. You post is far scarier than his/hers!
Yes I see what you are saying- I am seeing a guilty action on the part of your governor.why does this happen in your state?and where is a federal investigation on this? down here if a state official is guilty or even suspected of anything the next step is the federal government comes and does it's own investigation? who is your federal representatives and do they know about your governor?
Heres a clue...
The feds will give up cause there is no evidence to prove a certain someones claim.
Claiming something and actually proving it are two different things.
Palin doesn't look too scared to me
Now you are saying she destoyed evidence.
In a fire perhaps?
So you are admitting in writing that she has neutralized the threat by destroying evidence? Well I think you just actually provided evidence. The FBI can find out who you are now so keep the clus coming.
Ok now I see that you are a deranged lunatic. You come up with scenarios that no one even said, and pretend that they did.
Maybe you need kindergarten speak since grown up language seems too hard for you to understand. So let me spell it out for you slowly now.
She has nuetralized the threat just like all the other ethics complaints, with logic and facts. I know that is something that is hard for the bloggers to understand since they thrive on rumor and supposition.
Funny how the Alaska Report took down their claims of what the supposed iceberg is isn't. They just wanted to spread a rumor and presented no evidence or facts at all. But you all fall for it everytime, and everytime Palin gets out from under the accusations with truth and facts.
Maybe you guys should look those words up in the dictionary.
THIS IS A STUPID STATEMENT TO MAKE AND I AM AS ANTI-PALIN AS YOU CAN GET !
"Now you are saying she destoyed evidence.
In a fire perhaps?
So you are admitting in writing that she has neutralized the threat by destroying evidence? Well I think you just actually provided evidence. The FBI can find out who you are now so keep the clus coming."
Restating someone's words FALSELY AND IMPLYING SOMETHING THAT WAS DEFINITELY NOT SAID IS HOW YOU LOSE ANY DISCUSSION!
Please do not lower "our" (anti-Palin) bar by making such obviously false statements.
We CAN read and the post you are responding to SAID NOTHING about destroying evidence. YOU did.
In Lawyerland it is understood that what you DON'T say cannot be used to prove you DID say it.
Please engage critical thinking skills before posting.
You make the rest of us look bad when you attempt such cheap shots.
Thought experiment: pretend someone responded to YOU the way you responded this this fellow about something you did NOT say.
Get it now?
Onejrkitty you are the biggest witch. No one can stand you because you are constantly telling people what they should or should not say. Dovyou think you help your cause? You don't because you are the queen lunatic of the Palin haters. You drone on and on and you make things up constantly and now you are chastizing someone else about it? Lady get a grip or see a shrink. And stop your shrieking! You are the worst of the Palinhaters by far.
And to the moron saying Palin neutralized the threat. You don't know a damn thing. it's comical and pathetic for you to be telling someone Palin has neutralized a threat when in reality you have no idea. Your comments about that have already found their way around the net. You speak with an authority you don't have which makes you much more of a deranged lunatic then the person before you trying to put words in your mouth. If you don't have hand on personal knowledge of Palins actions, then shut up and stop harrassing the guy who said he has complaints to make and others.
You are a bully.
"Epic fail, dude?".
What kind of immature creep uses this expression.
"Palin has been working behind the scenes to kill this, and effectively she has."
Really dude? That's pretty darn interesting information.
Palin may not be looking scared, but she is acting scared. She seems in damage control mode.
Well what has the world come to when you cannot ask questions? It seems to me that way up there they really try to shut-up anyone asking the right questions and or statements? why? human rights?
sounds to me like someone took someone's trust account and they don't want to give it back. now your governor has a legal trust account? that does not look good.
I am way down here but I can smell the fish.and it stinks.that is too bad on your governors part. they will they boot her out like they did the Illinos governor. what has our country come to? well it's time to roll up my sleeves and go find my local agency and volunteer.
thought the young ones were ready to fly - yeah - right in the wall.
so much for retirement.
So funny how you all fall for the anonymous posters who never give you any evidence, just rumors, but you soak it up like little sponges.
Its amazing how critical thinking skills just go out the window when someone says something you desperately want to hear, even if it is completely absent of evidence.
Hey Sarah
Oh yeah - setting up folks to distract from the truth will only make other see you for who you are.
Actions and there of can be tracked.
And also too, there of.
You are anonymous too, and therefore.
so let me get this right? the governor of your state can threaten to fire someone who didn't do EXACTLY what she ordered? then she keeps on threatening people? but the cover ups begin and "damage" control?
A partner of mine read that and says for someone to file "intent of harm" against the Palin/SOA administration. since all they can do is threaten people and attempt to "remove them" from her cloud of reality.ouch. that was sharp. what is good for the goose is good for the gander he reads from another blog.the file is over there.gotta go.citizens of Alaska should file charges.someone should anyways.
Federal judge rules state Ethics Commission ban on discussing complaints against public officials violates free speech
by Pete Shellem, Of The Patriot-News Monday June 29, 2009, 4:47 PM
A federal judge has ruled that the state Ethics Act’s ban on publicizing filings against state officials is likely unconstitutional and has granted a temporary injunction to a local activist who was fined for violating it.
District Judge Christopher C. Conner granted the injunction to Middle Paxton Township activist Gene Stilp, who was charged with violating the act after he announced he filed a complaint against former House Majority Leader William DeWeese based upon a newspaper article that accused DeWeese of spending $290,000 in tax money on political polls.
Within a day, the State Ethics Commission ruled there was not enough evidence in Stilp’s complaint to conduct an investigation and instead charged Stilp with violating the act by publicizing the filing of his complaint. On Oct. 16, Stilp entered into an agreement with the commission in which he admitted violating the act and agreed to pay a $500 fine. Stilp then filed suit in federal court to enjoin the commission from enforcing that provision of the act, saying it was a violation of his right to free speech.
The people AND the law are both against this Mr. Lynn. If you knew anything about the constitution you would realize it was set up so people could keep an eye on government, NOT the other way around
Wow.. In the other 49 states Representatives are elected to represent the people. I guess in Alaska they are elected to represent the Governor?? Apparently you don't believe in free speech either Mr. Lynn, which is even more ironic considering you pal around with the likes of Michael Reagan and seem rather proud of it. That says a lot about you as person right there
So whats with all the rumor starting and nothing to back it up. Alaska Report and anon poster talk a big game but bring nothing to the table.
Bunch of fakes I think
when the federal government is involved in actions of correction, no one will be aware of it.you know just like they did with the other politicians.when they learned the
snake was not killed with the arrests, they are dropping them in the snake pit.just wait.
Yeah right... More crap from some over inflated ego who thinks he will get Palin this time. I'm quite sure its just more BS.
Its like the Wiley Coyote trying to get the roadrunner, but fails every time.
Really?
That is funny...
Grand Torino Baby...
Palin's gone - next stop...
Federal Prision...
GO MURKOWSKI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Takes "Old School" to take care of new school and teach some manners!
Palin gets indicted on criminal charges, gets convicted and then PARNELL PARDONS HER?
HAS SHE PADE A DEAL WITH PARNELL??
sounds like the DOJ is going to lead the investigations.heard from a REAL
reliable source that Palin is trying to squash a order to open records that have her "affair" friend went into business together.then she hired the wife and gave her a job at the SOA - PFD dept. computer glispe
made 38 billion dollars dissapear.
Anyone know about that? seems to me the more one digs - the more one finds out she was " money hungry".
No FBI? that doesn't make sense.oh I know the ones above them do that hu?
Wow.your governor is something else.
well almost to the rumor - it's worth 35 billion now. and in 2006 the Debbie Ricther was in the PFD dept and lost the data for checks for the 2006 year.facts help.
Mr. Lynn, Thank you. You are the only one in Juneau I know that uses common sense. This new bill to handle complaints shows how simple solutions can be. This should calm the waters of those who have nothing else to do but complain and want their name in the paper.
Keep up the good work.
Jackie M
Anon with all the wierd cryptic messages is an idiot. Hes got nothing, no FBI, no IRS or any other stupid scandal is out there.
Hes just a guy in his underwear, sitting in his basement drooling over Palins running photos. His mommy needs to take the computer away.
Palin couldn't take the heat so she got out of the kitchen plain and simple. She is not cut out for public office.
I believe, Mr. Lynn, that you need to add to your bill, The following: "Any ethics complaint that is filed and found to be baseless shall be paid for by the person or persons filing said complaint. Futhermore, all monetary cost to the State of Alaska and to the respondant of the complaint shall be paid for by the complaintant."
This little addition will stop all of the bullshit being filed against Sarah Palin. It should also be grandfathered in to the date of statehood so that all earlier complaints would have to be reimbursed to both the State of Alaska and to Sarah Palin.
It is absurd to protect someone who will throw you under the bus soon.
___________________
Smarry
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