CA: Parra critics say they fear 'whitewash' (ShmelleyGate)

SACRAMENTO -- Kern County Assemblywoman Nicole Parra found herself at the center of a storm of controversy Friday over her handling of a hearing on allegations of wrongdoing by Secretary of State Kevin Shelley, a fellow Democrat.

Republicans and even one Democrat said it looks like a partisan "whitewash" may be under way.

A report by the state auditor last month found that Shelley mismanaged millions of dollars of federal voter education funds. The audit followed news reports of allegations that Shelley had used some of the money for self-promotion and partisan political activities.

As chairwoman of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, Parra scheduled a hearing on the report. She said she would "leave no stone unturned" in getting to the bottom of the issue.

But when the agenda was released this week, it indicated that Shelley might not have to testify personally. It also showed that the hearing had been rescheduled for Monday, the day Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will release his annual budget proposal. That is likely to diminish news coverage of the hearing, critics said.

Assembly Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield and his counterpart in the state Senate wrote a letter to Democratic legislative leaders saying they are concerned about the apparent superficiality of the hearing.

They said the format for the one-day hearing "appears all but fore-ordained to a particular timetable and outcome."

Democratic state Sen. Dean Florez of Shafter said, "If I were to judge right now, it very much looks like a whitewash."

Florez is a local political rival of Parra's. He is also a former chairman of the audit committee who made headlines two years ago with an investigation of a scandal involving former Democratic Gov. Gray Davis's purchase of unneeded software from Oracle Corp.

The agenda for the hearing released by Parra raised eyebrows by listing Shelly "or his designee" as one of the witnesses.

A "decision has not been made" on whether Shelley will testify, his spokeswoman, Caren Daniels-Meade, said Friday.

As the controversy mounted Friday, Parra issued a statement saying it is "her intention" to hear directly from Shelley. But she said the Legislature customarily invites elected officials to appear at hearings voluntarily.

If Shelley "chooses not to appear and those he sent in his place have not answered all the questions of the chair and members of the committee to our satisfaction, then obviously additional hearings and more serious means, including subpoenas, will be considered," she said.

In an interview Friday, she said the hearing was rescheduled from Tuesday to Monday because she learned belatedly that state senators have mandatory ethics training scheduled for Tuesday. The committee is made up of both Assembly and Senate members but the Senate members had not been appointed as of late Friday.

Florez has been a member of the committee for several years, and said he has asked to be appointed to the panel.

But even if he isn't, Florez said he plans to attend the hearing and ask questions as a citizen.

In addition to allegations about Shelley's use of the federal funds, he is also under investigation by the FBI for his ties to campaign contributors who got state funds arranged by Shelley.

Sac Bee ed. (excerpted)

http://www.sacbee.com/content/opinion/story/11966491p-12847441c.html

Editorial: Dems' double standard
Party shamelessly tries to protect Shelley

When a former insurance commissioner named Chuck Quackenbush was suspected of misusing funds for personal and political purposes, the California Legislature quickly held a series of hearings. They led to his resignation. The disgraced Quackenbush happened to be a Republican. The legislative leadership were - you guessed it - Democrats.

Now the Legislature, months after allegations first surfaced, is finally getting around to holding hearings on the alleged misuse of funds of another statewide officeholder, Secretary of State Kevin Shelley. The first hearing is scheduled for Monday. The agenda for this key meeting has been released, and it suggests that the Joint Legislative Audit Committee may not even require Shelley to show up.

Shelley is a Democrat. And so - you guessed it again - is the head of this audit committee, Assemblywoman Nicole Parra of Hanford. A double standard is emerging on how the Legislature wants to handle the Shelley scandal compared with how it dug through the dirt on Quackenbush. The double standard is revolting. And it reflects as poorly on Parra and every last Democrat in the Legislature.

It doesn't say anything flattering about Kevin Shelley, either. Here is his chance to clear his name. Here is a chance to explain convincingly that millions of dollars in federal funds meant to improve the state's voting system weren't really mismanaged. Or that funds were never used in a partisan way. Or that his temper has never gotten in the way of his constitutional duties.

But it is increasingly clear that the Democratic leadership in the Legislature wants to go easy on Shelley for simple partisan reasons.

--snip--

Thanks for posting this, pal. Nicole Parra - "Queen of Voter Fraud". I need a new nickname for her: "Queen of . . . " I'll keep working on it - not that "Queen of Voter Fraud" isn't still appropriate. Check your FReepMails. She should not be allowed to get away with this!!!!! Even the liberal media is pissed. Our paper - Fresno Bee - columnist John Ellis has a scathing attack on Parra in his column today.

Is Parra still heading up the Veterans Affairs Committee or did they fire her cute little rear end?

Keeping the pressure up . . . . I am Saundra Duffy "the destroyer"! Getting ready for the next round with Parra!!

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