Posted on 05/07/2002 5:07:39 PM PDT by ElkGroveDan
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SANTA BARBARA - Gubernatorial nominee Bill Simon today delivered the following remarks to reporters during a media availability in Santa Barbara:
"Thank you all for coming. I am traveling in Santa Barbara today on my campaign to unseat Gray Davis, and to restore leadership and integrity to the office of the Chief Executive of California. The needs of working Californians require that the incompetent and possibly corrupt administration of Gray Davis be voted out of office.
"The quality of our schools, roads, and cities has not kept pace with the economic boom that occurred in the mid and late 1990s. But the Davis Administration, from its inaugural celebration forward, has been one of "pay-to-play." And ladies and gentleman, the admission fee has been very steep. School children do not have $25,000 checks to buy admission to Gray Davis' California. Small towns do not have a spare $100,000 to buy entrance into Gray Davis' California. Hard-working community groups do not have a million dollars to buy into Gray Davis' California.
"The purpose of my press conference today is to discuss the disturbing and confusing issues that developed from yesterday's legislative hearings on the rapidly expanding Oracle scandal.
"Yesterday's hearings before the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, which went well into this morning, raised far more questions than credible answers. What is clear is that this scandal goes right into the governor's office and directly involves the governor's most senior advisors and appointees. What is equally clear is that additional hearings are necessary and that the Legislature and other law enforcement entities should leave no stone unturned.
"My observations during the Quackenbush scandal are that the Legislature acted in a bipartisan manner and conducted a most thorough and fair examination of all of the players, documents, and facts surrounding the scandal. What we have seen to date from the Davis Administration regarding this scandal is to serve up sacrificial staff members without going to the heart of the governor's decision makers. We have seen senior Davis Administration officials used as scapegoats to deflect attention away from the governor and his most senior political advisors. This is a tried and true practice, but the simple firing of a few low-level staffers and the canceling of this horrible contract are insufficient to end the necessary investigation of a governor whose administration has gone from one scandal to another nearly since the day he took office.
"We continue to see memos, documents, and testimony from the governor's most senior policy advisors that indicate a frantic pressing ahead and need to conclude a deal with Oracle. Not for the benefit of the state, but apparently for the strengthening of a campaign donors' business position immediately prior to a fiscal reporting period.
"The testimony from Cynthia Curry is very damning indeed and her comments need to be thoroughly examined. The fact that five cabinet officers and the governor's most senior policy advisor all signed a governor's action request on the same day, and the fact that a memorandum has come to light indicating the pressing need to push forward with the contract to meet a financial reporting period for the vendor is disturbing to say the least and should be subject to additional law enforcement scrutiny.
"This was occurring approximately the same time that money was changing hands between the company and the governor's hand-picked, state-employed technology representative. When one looks at the background of Mr. Baheti one should question why in the world this individual was ever entrusted with his position in the first place? Was he simply a political operative put in a position to maximize the governor's ability to tap campaign resources from California's wealthy technology sector?
"This question and many others like it should be raised as we continue the investigation process. Let me add that the governor's press secretary has stated that there is no connection between contributions and state contracts and he added that the people involved in negotiations would never be in a position to know about contributions to the governor.
"We now know that this statement is a lie. Let me also remind you that these comments are coming from the same individual who was caught up in his own conflict of interest scandal and the Los Angeles Times called upon the governor to remove him from his position.
"Now, we have come to find out that the governor's chief political advisor, Garry South, told the press that he and others were aware for over 10 months that Mr. Baheti acted as a bagman for the governor's re-election campaign.
"The governor's administration is littered with firings, fines and those who have been under a cloud of suspicion of scandal. How much more can California tolerate when we are hemorrhaging billions of dollars due to the governor's fiscal mismanagement? How many of our children will have to suffer due to Gray Davis' greed and incompetence?
"When asked by reporters to comment on the growing scandal yesterday, the governor simply stated, 'they asked me to come by... I go by and see lots and companies.'
"We need to see what phone logs, e-mail, memos, and other communication from Oracle, the governor's staff and the governor himself exist to substantiate the governor's claim. During the testimony yesterday, it appears that some communication occurred at the highest level of government to push this flawed $100 million contract into action.
"The governor went on to predict that the Oracle scandal will ultimately 'be like a storm that rained on us heavily, and then passes on.'
"Governor, your continuous and repeated ethical lapses are the storm that has rained down and raged upon California's taxpayers during your inept administration.
"This rain is now a torrent and flood of incompetence and conflicts of interest that has cost Californians dearly. During the energy crisis, the governor hired dozens of consultants, some grossly under qualified, some very well connected. Many of these people had blatant conflicts of interest. Davis' stewardship of the energy crisis has bled the state of billions of dollars that will not be going to our most needed programs. Someone needs to inform Governor Davis, a career politician, that money simply does not grow on trees. It is created by small businesses and workers who expect their tax dollars not to be wasted or used to line the pockets of Davis' own campaign and his political cronies.
"The similarities of the Davis Administration's handling of the energy conflict of interest scandal and the Oracle scandal are starting to come forward: secret deals done behind closed doors. And regulatory and oversight responsibilities thrown out the window for political expediency. The governor's personal and political gain is always agenda item number one.
"There are no less than five separate investigations - some criminal - going on with Governor Davis and the energy crisis. How many investigations will this new scandal generate?
"I have stated before, and do so again today, that it is essential that we hear from the governor's most senior advisors including Susan Kennedy, Tim Gage, and Garry South. If necessary, they should be subpoenaed to testify if they are reluctant witnesses.
"Finally, after observing Mr. Cortez's gross incompetence and possible corrupt activities, it is time that the state fires him and save the $120,000 we pay this gentleman.
"To conclude, it is my hope that California, the land of Hiram Johnson, political sunshine laws, and open government sends a signal to the world that we are determined to restore our integrity. We can and must act in a non-partisan manner. I believe that Governor Davis, through the series of ethical lapses and crises in his administration, has become an embarrassment and he is dragging California's political integrity through the mud.
"Let the investigation proceed both broad and deep, and let the truth come to light. Our citizens deserve no less."
My only complaint is that the statement is much, much too long for the average attention span. He should have taken a few of the most succinct paragraphs and let that suffice. This is the era of the sound bite and Simon needs to learn that.
But he has time to learn what is most effective !
But we have anexcellent candidate who seems willing to get after it which is fantastic!
calgov2002:
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And Simon will win the Central Valley by 21% -- prediciton, write it down.
Dan
Now That's takin' the noose by the coil and pulling hard!!!
The Pencil Necked Geek is gonna GO DOWN.
Add .50 cents to the gas tax, charge a two-cent tax on every mile driven, add extra fees of $3500 on minivans, light duty trucks, and sport utility vehicles, reduce the speed limit to 55mph
How quiet this has been? Your chance to be a hero Simon.
I own a Honda CRV, this is a SUV, am I going to be charged $3500.
As we say in America " TORO KAKA "
The 'real estate' formerly known as California.
GW AND DICK CHENEY DID IT!
SIMON DID IT!
I'M INNOCENT! I'VE BEEN FRAMED!
GSA/LOGICON DID IT!
I KNOW NOTHING! I SAW NOTHING! I HEARD NOTHING!
IF I DID IT, I DID IT FOR THE CHILRUN, THE GAY AGENDAS, AND FOR ABORTION!
THIS IS OLD NEWS!
BEATING ON ME WILL NOT FEED A SINGLE HUNGRY CHILRUN!
Wouldn't it be refreshing if, when elected, Gov Simon and his AG start prosecuting people for this instead of giving the Davis administration a pass like Bush/Ashcroft gave to Clinton(s).
Bill Simon Bump.
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