BCT Editorial – 3/9/07

This page was last updated on March 10, 2007.

Listen up; Editorial; Beaver County Times; March 9, 2007.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject editorial.

“State Rep. Greg Vitali has long been one of the few lawmakers who have consistently pushed for legislative and governmental reforms.

“So when the Delaware County Democrat talks about the distribution of more than $180 million in state grant money for community and economic development being controlled by the Legislature, people should listen.

“These funds are supposed to be administered and controlled by the executive branch.

“Vitali claims he has seen in internal Department of Community and Economic Development document showing that this money is earmarked for distribution at the discretion of the Legislature.

“If his charge is true, this $180-plus million would dwarf the $43 million in the so-called walking-round-money slush fund doled out under the Community Revitalization Program, which is used by Democratic and Republican leaders in the House and Senate to punish or reward their legislative serfs.”

[RWC] Note the editorial appears unconcerned about $223 million in walking around money. The concern appears to be only which branch of government uses it “to punish or reward their legislative serfs.” A responsible position would have been to call for the elimination of WAM money regardless of which branch of government uses it as a “slush fund.”

“Given Vitali’s credentials on reform, this matter bears looking into.”

[RWC] Twice this editorial told us what a great guy Mr. Vitali is regarding “legislative and governmental reforms.” What the editorial didn’t provide was any proof to support the claim.

I don’t know if the Times is right or wrong about Mr. Vitali, but it’s not helping its case when it doesn’t tell us what Mr. Vitali has allegedly accomplished in this area.