Balfour Under Investigation by GBI, Unterman's Strategy for Ethics Reform Called Into Question
Today, it was announced that Balfour is under investigation by the GBI. Earlier, I called on Renee Unterman, our state senator who serves on the committee on assignments and rules committee, to call for Balfour to be removed as chairman - or to state her position regarding whether Balfour is fit for duty.
Balfour's ethics baggage has now become an example of Unterman's lack of accountability with regards to ethics and holding her peers accountable. And all she had to do to demonstrate this lack of accountability was ... nothing.
If I didn't want someone's baggage from whom I both work with, serve on two committees with, and represent the Gwinnett delegation with, I would probably have made some move to let my voters know this.
However, that's not how Renee Unterman has decided to express her opinion on the standards for Republican leadership. No, she hasn't called for Balfour's removal as Rules Chairman, she hasn't publicly stated ANY position recently, and as far as I can tell, she's running away from any controversy whatsoever.
See, this is exactly the kind of legislator I want working for me. One that will make sure that they are politically insulated by running away from issues which affect their constituents, and the ability for the General Assembly to actually solve problems in a meaningful way come next term.
So, what is Unterman's strategy for ethics reform and dealing with those in the senate who are not quite fit for duty?
Run Silent. Run Away. And hope that people will forget about it come 2014. Well ... she had a chance to make ethics an issue she could run on, but now, that's gone.
Andy
1:09 pm on Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Maybe she's just following Reagan's eleventh commandment.
George Wilson
4:26 pm on Thursday, September 13, 2012
@Andy
No profiles in courage will you find in the state Republican leadership.
George Wilson
4:25 pm on Thursday, September 13, 2012
Balfour is the best senator the right wing owner of Waffle House could buy. He should resign. He probably will not. So what Republican voters could do is vote for the Democrat running against him that sends a strong message to the Republican Party in Georgia to clean up its numerous ethic problems
lynchsales
7:47 am on Sunday, September 16, 2012
Perhaps in a rare courageous move for a politician Renee Unterman will actually wait for these ethics complaints to work through the system before possibly damaging a career, or bowing to pressure because of an ethics complaint. The problem with ethics complaints is that they have become a political strategy for so many "clicks" in politics in Georgia. Hundreds or maybe thousands of ethics complaints brought against elected officials that caused great damage to people only to be found false, politically motivated, or personal. A huge majority are later found false or nothing more than a bold lie. I like seeing nothing happen until these charges are investigated. Innocent until proven guilty should be what all Americans want no matter what party or candidate you are with. If the press would stop reporting these charges as if they are true and report them for what they are, (most likely politically motivated) this would stop happening.
R++ - One of the famous "Dacula Crew"
6:18 pm on Sunday, September 16, 2012
Well in this case it was proven true already, so the only thing really left to determine is when will he be removed from the chairmanship?
George Wilson
3:21 pm on Sunday, September 16, 2012
@lynchsales
Where have you been? Balfour has already admitted his guilt.Also the budget for this agency has been cut by the Republicans and so have the number of investigations that they can perform because of a lack of personnel. The Sunday AJC had a great story on this subject and Atlanta Unfiltered a wonderful website has even more information.
Otis The Town Drunk
3:38 pm on Sunday, September 16, 2012
The AJC? Who would waste brain cells on that garbage?
So GW, how do you feel about implanting GPS devices in kids? No really. Tell us how you feel before it gets dark outside.
George Wilson
4:08 pm on Sunday, September 16, 2012
@Otis The Town Drunk
Intelligent people who want to be informed read the AJC.Try the website AtlantaUnfiltered.com if you don't trust the first source.