CA: 'Democrats, May I'? (Partisan Nicole Parra and ShmelleyGate)

Bakersfield Californian ^ | 1/13/05 | Op/Ed

[NormsRevenge]

Kern's Democrat Assemblywoman Nicole Parra is playing the game "Democrats, May I?" instead of getting tough with scandal-plagued Secretary of State Kevin Shelley.

Being polite is one thing. Being just plain partisan is another.

Parra, who heads the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, scheduled a Monday hearing on the state auditor's findings that Democrat Shelley mismanaged federal election funds and used some of the money to further his party's political efforts.

Parra asked Shelley to testify before her committee, but allowed him to send a representative if he wished. Parra explained that it is the Legislature's custom to seek a voluntary commitment before getting tough. Shelley sent his aide, Tony Miller.

Responding to outrage over her polite and gentle treatment of Shelley who also is being investigated by the FBI for his involvement in a scheme that may have channeled state funds into Shelley's 2002 campaign for Secretary of State Parra puffed herself up at Monday's hearing.

She threatened to subpoena Shelley's appearance on Feb. 3 unless he volunteered by high noon Tuesday to appear.

Parra's toughness melted when Shelley responded that he would have to consult with his lawyers before agreeing to appear.

OK. How about by Thursday? (That's today. That's the new deadline Parra gave Shelley.)

We will see what Shelley says and how tough Parra will be.

But Parra's handling of the Shelley inquiry, so far, is drastically different than past legislative investigations, such as into the state's purchase of Oracle software and into Republican Insurance Commissioner Chuck Quackenbush's use of public money to further his political career and interests.

After many aggressive public hearings and the grilling of witnesses, the state's contract with Oracle was canceled and Quackenbush resigned.

In a letter to the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, Bakersfield Assemblyman Kevin McCarthy and Sen. Dick Ackerman of Fullerton, Republican Assembly and Senate leaders, pressed to have the Shelley inquiry handled in the same thorough, aggressive manner.

So far, we have seen a committee headed by our very own assemblywoman bobbing and weaving around Shelley, showering him with the politeness not afforded to those in the past.

It smacks of partisan circling of the wagons, with Parra seeming to need clearance for every step she takes: "Democrats, May I?"