Posted on 10/12/2010 9:16:48 AM PDT by DCBryan1
A state grant from the Arkansas Minority Health Commission (AMHC) received a bit of unfavorable attention in Legislative Joint Audit Committee on Friday morning. The Division of Legislative Audit presenting their findings that revealed issues with the grant’s finances but many are questioning whether the grant should have been awarded in the first place.
The Tolbert Report obtained a copy of the grant application late Friday which reveals startling details. A non-profit organization called “Brotha’s and Sistah’s Inc.” (B&S) applied for and received a $50,000 grant as part of an overall $340,419 in grant awarded by the AMHC for HIV/AIDS prevention. The targeted population listed in the application is “Arkansas’ Black LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) Community’s MSM (Men having Sex with Men).”
The B&S grant funded the organization’s operation inside a gay nightclub called Club Good Times on 3910 Asher Avenue in Little Rock that according to the application “caters to the Black SGL (Same Gender Loving) population in Arkansas.” In fact, B&S lists their address as the same address as Club Good Times on their application. The funding was requested mainly for the salaries of three individuals, for the distribution of materials inside the club such as condoms and lubricants, and for renting space from Club Good Times.
You can read the full 19-page grant application HERE and HERE and evaluate it yourself but this was the subject of the audit presented the committee. The audit report found that many issues with the grant including the fact that about half of the funds were distributed in advance of the project beginning and that $7,952.83 went to unallowed or undocumented expenditures.
Legislators questioned executive director of the AMHC Idonia Trotter extensively during the committee meeting with many of the questions coming from Rep. John Burris (R-Harrison).
I spoke this morning with Trotter who is in the process of preparing documents I requested on the grant program. She assures me that the documents will shed on what she believes are “the great success of the program.”
She also informs me that the grant program has been moved under the direction of the Arkansas Department of Health and that while it is her understanding that the program will continue, the methods might be difficult in this year’s grant. I have contacted the ADH and look forward to reviewing the new grant from B&S to see what changes were made.
However, both departments fall under the jurisdiction of the executive branch. The AMHC is made up of ten commissioners appointed by the governor’s office while the ADH is a state agency whose director reports directly to the governor.
“The governor appoints members to the Arkansas Minority Health Commission. The commission acts independently and decides the grants and initiatives it will pursue,” said spokesman for Gov. Beebe’s office Matt DeCample. “We understand that part of its mission is to target at-risk groups in the state without making moral judgments in order to curb the spread of disease.”
I imagine this story will develop further as the week unfolds. The documents from the AMHC will indicate in greater detail how this program operated and the ADH will let us know if this program is expected to continue.
UPDATE – AMHC send me this timeline documenting some step they took to improve accounting controls. It appears they have experience turnout in the accounting position
Club Good Times, a black, liberal, homosexual bar in Little Rock, AR who received funds for condoms and lubricants.
This kind of thing can sink moderate Dems in Arkansas.
Will this pull Gov. Beebe (D) down and let us pick up a Republican Gov. (Jim Keet-R)???
Hold on! Hold the phone! Just one moment!
These are the same people who are clammoring for equal rights and all that, but they don’t want to pay the same price for condoms and lube?! They want us taxpayers to pay for their condoms and lube?!
AYFKM?!!
I can’t imagine who would NOT be offended by this!
Even gays should be offended by this! You can’t project the image of successful stable otherwise inobtrusive - what we do in our bedroom is our business - if you are compelling other people to pay for that business.
Who ever signed off on this idea needs a whippin, now.
Can someone email this to Dave Elswick at KARN. He needs to be made aware of this.
so BB brain want to distribute free gays in a condom bar—I’d
bet he’s big on medical MaryJane —kiddie porn- and social just us. all the preversions for R Kansas -eh- screw it up while you can The Republicans knows who is under dem sheets.
That would be for the bar tab for the homosexuals handing out condoms and lubricants to the other homosexuals, and buying them drinks. Certainly you can't pay them to be in a bar and not pay for their drinks?
Why should government fund condoms for anyone? Are they THAT expensive?
lol
Since when do gay men use condoms??
The B&S grant funded the organization's operation inside a gay nightclub called Club Good Times on 3910 Asher Avenue in Little Rock that according to the application "caters to the Black SGL (Same Gender Loving) population in Arkansas." In fact, B&S lists their address as the same address as Club Good Times on their application. The funding was requested mainly for the salaries of three individuals, for the distribution of materials inside the club such as condoms and lubricants, and for renting space from Club Good Times.
As long as the lube and condoms are mint flavored. Who wants to be stuck on a city bus next to a person whose breath smells like A$$?
LOL!
You’re on FIRE tonight!
whoa fred, that was some kinda LOLOLOL...
1) Let any man that wants to marry another man, go ahead and get married.
2) Let any woman that wants to marry another woman, go ahead and get married.
3) Let any woman that wants to have abortion have one.
.....in 3 generations there will be no liberals.
LOL!!
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