The stopped clock
Sometimes even politicians with whom I mostly disagree say something sensible. Today I came across not one but two such instances.
“What was sold to the voting public was, ‘Yes, we will decriminalize some personal amounts of drugs,’” Wheeler said at a community meeting in Montavilla on Saturday. “But the main event was supposed to be the establishment of substance use disorder treatment statewide, including a lot of it right here in the metro area. And here we are two years later, and we’ve seen the decriminalization of hard drugs, but we’re not seeing the treatment.
“I’m not going to lie to you. I’m pissed about that,” Wheeler continued. “It needs to happen and it needs to happen urgently. And if it doesn’t happen, then we need to rethink the basic tenets of that ballot measure. If it’s not working, then let’s just admit it, and let’s move on to something that does.”
I still can't believe he thinks he has a future in politics, and I don't like the "if's," but for once he's saying something on target.
Then there is this from Trump Party regarding the state's corrupt liquor distribution operation:
Republican leaders asked Gov. Tina Kotek today to appoint an independent counsel to investigate not just booze distribution but also a far bigger-dollar issue, the agency’s purchase last year of extremely expensive land in Canby for a new warehouse and headquarters.
“We urge you to launch independent nonpartisan investigations into the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission’s potential favorable treatment of land acquisitions; and rare liquor distribution,” Senate Minority Leader Tim Knopp (R-Bend), House Minority Leader Vikki Breeze Iverson (R-Prineville) and state Sen. Brian Boquist (I-Dallas) wrote. “It is with an unwavering commitment to full transparency that we request these investigations be conducted by independent outside counsel.”
The chances of that happening seem nil, but they're darn straight. And I wouldn't just stop with the warehouse deal. There's too much money sloshing around down there, and too many ethically compromised people have been at the helm. It's time to shine a light into every hidey hole at the OLCC.
I don’t think the corruption is limited to the OLCC. I think there is a lot of cronyism in the mix of bureaucrats and elected officials.
ReplyDeleteBack in the day , this was red meat for journalists
What justifies the call for an independent special counsel though? That just seems like posturing for the camera. DOJ under Dems put at least one shady Dept. of Energy dude in jail for graft in sale of tax indulgences a little while back, why don't we let them do their job and put the liquor dudes in jail? We can't afford to have an extra DOJ created every time someone who gets a state paycheck gets their dick in a wringer.
ReplyDeleteWhen there are politicians involved (as there clearly are with the collector bourbon), it's different. Also, in the future could you watch your language? Thanks.
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