Sac Bee/Brian Baer
Use of federal funds by Secretary of State Kevin Shelley is under scrutiny. His own office admits lax controls.
Posted on 09/17/2004 6:27:27 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
Federally funded consultants hired by Secretary of State Kevin Shelley spent time registering voters for largely Democratic constituency groups and at partisan rallies, including one to "take back the White House," according to staff activity reports released Thursday.
Other contractors, paid thousands of dollars through federal funds from the 2002 Help America Vote Act, described outreach efforts at, among other things, the NBA All-Star week festivities, a reggae festival, a Janet Jackson "salute" and a community event on behalf of Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez, D-Los Angeles.
In several cases, consultants delivered "letters of commendation" from the Democratic secretary of state to business leaders at community events, including one to billionaire Los Angeles businessman Eli Broad, a longtime contributor to Democratic candidates. At other events, consultants distributed "My Vote Counts" buttons bearing Shelley's name.
The documents, released after a public records act request by The Bee, for the first time offer details of the activities of the outreach program - one that Congress requires be nonpartisan - overseen by Shelley. Former Secretary of State Bill Jones, who is running for the U.S. Senate, said Congress should audit the Help America Vote Act funds and conduct hearings.
Former Secretary of State Bill Jones, who is running for the U.S. Senate, said Congress should audit the Help America Vote Act funds and conduct hearings.
"They have an obligation not to have the HAVA money used in a partisan fashion," said Jones, a Republican.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
Use of federal funds by Secretary of State Kevin Shelley is under scrutiny. His own office admits lax controls.
They assume that all money is their money and breaking the law is permissible to elect their candidate.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5869532/
There are more indepth articles than this, just can't find them right now.
Bill Lockyer's narrowing the field for his upcoming gubernatorial run.
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