Paul Bateman Must Go
Ahhh, the Marion County Democrats. God’s gift to Marion County Republicans.
GOP CHAIR: PAUL BATEMAN SHOULD RESIGN FROM ETHICS COMMITTEE
John says Councillor under investigation has conflict of interest
INDIANAPOLIS-Marion County Republican Central Committee Chairman Tom John today called for City-County Councilor Paul Bateman (D-District 11) to recuse himself from the Council’s Investigative Committee on Ethics.
“Elected Officials who serve on Committees reviewing the actions of their peers must be free from ethical investigations themselves,” said John. “Since it has now become clear that Councilor Bateman is under such an investigation, it is improper for him to continue serving on the Investigative Committee on Ethics.”
Several news organizations have reported within the last week that Councilor Bateman is under investigation for his involvement in a charity that allegedly misappropriated millions of dollars in funds.
Here’s what I love. When almost 1 out of every 4 Democrats on the Indianapolis City-County Council are under investigation, it’s gotta be hard to find people to fill those Democrat spots on the ethics committee to keep it bi-partisan.
(Read more of the press release after the leap)
Presser continues…..
The Investigative Committee on Ethics was established in October of 2007 by Proposal 182, with the specific purpose of investigating then-Council President Monroe Gray [D-District 8] for a variety of ethical lapses, including ghost employment from the Indianapolis Fire Department, receiving questionable city contracts for his private business, and allegedly claiming improper tax credits. The committee is expected to meet this evening and discuss a possible report on those charges.
“I have grave concerns that Councilor Bateman’s judgment will be clouded by the situation in which he is involved,” John said. “No elected official should be in a position to pass judgment on a peer when it is possible that same elected official will be in a similar situation in the very near future.”
Bateman is the latest in a series of Democrat City-County Councilors’ under investigation for unethical behavior. Besides Gray, Councilors Doris Minton-McNeill was arrested in June for allegedly assaulting an IMPD officer while intoxicated.
“It is unfortunate the Democrat Caucus refuses to handle its own problems,” said John. “Republicans last year fought tooth and nail to investigate Councilor Monroe Gray and were obstructed by majority Democrats. It is a shame that Democrats always seem to refuse to do the honorable thing unless pressure is put on them by the public and the media.”
July 24th, 2008 at 11:50 am
“It is a shame that Democrats always seem to refuse to do the honorable thing unless pressure is put on them by the public and the media.”
Got news for ya’ - the MSM ain’t doing s*** either. Starting with the Indianapolis Star and continuing to Democrat sycophant Jim Shella.
Just like with Sweet Pea, this will be dismissed as a “racist witchhunt” and like most Democrats no matter how corrupt you are or how much of a thief you are, your voters still vote for you. It seems the more of a criminal you are, the higher regard you are held in the Democrat party.
July 24th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
I have little doubt that these people aren’t corrupt and that the investigations aren’t warranted–just look at what the Democratic Party in Pennsylvania has been up to–however I think we should embrace the American way of “innocent until proven guilty” and see where these investigations end up before demanding resignations and such.
July 25th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
People of questionable character being called out by an imbecile. Thanks Tom John for asking for people to resign. Now do it yourself and make us all happy. By the way, thanks for attacking our Mayor in the Indy Star. We are being patient while they learn the ropes and you attack him? Mr. John, your quote was as stupid as usual and every time you talk you make people cringe. When you wade into something, a person needs to be careful because you might drown or maybe get eaten by a shark. Indians typically do not appear and shoot arrows at you. That makes no sense but when you open mouth, weird things just follow. John Hammond I am sure is proud of you. Thanks for attacking our mayor and helping democrats.