John Ehinger, Times editor, said in his endorsement of Bob Riley for governor of Alabama that “Not everything good that has happened in this state should be credited to Gov. Bob Riley.” Well, he certainly got that right. How about “almost nothing can be attributed to Bob Riley.” “Cleaning up corruption” is a moot issue since the ethics of Riley himself is questionable.

According to the Huntsville Times (4/14/06)) in 2002, Michael Scanlon, a Washington lobbyist convicted of bribery, gave $100,000 to four political action committees in Alabama that contributed heavily to Bob Riley’s campaign for governor that year. These PACS run by Joe Fine and Bob Geddie, contributed more than $625,000 to Riley’s 2002 campaign, making them among his largest campaign contributors. Scanlon, who was Riley’s press secretary when Riley was in Congress, was co-hort and partner with convicted lobbyist, Jack Abramoff. When Scanlon contributed the money to the four PACS, he was representing an Indian tribe in Mississippi that operated casinos. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy and fraud charges, including bilking his tribal clients.

Jack Giles, head of the Alabama Christian Coalition, and a supporter and contributor of Governor Riley, denied that the ACC accepted Mississippi gambling money.

The Tuscaloosa News ( l/18/06) reported that Texas Republican Tom DeLay created a political action committee in Alabama called Americans for a Republican Majority that transferred $25,000 in October 2002 to a suspect fund in his home state of Texas. This fund was the center of the indictment that led DeLay to step down as House Majority Leader.

DeLay’s Americans for a Republican Majority PACs under a slightly different name, gave then U.S. Rep. Bob Riley $11,000 in May 2002 for his Alabama gubernatorial nomination. In a highly questionable vote count , the Republican District Attorney refused to follow the law and allow a simple recount of the votes in Baldwin County, which were mysteriously re-tabulated after midnight to give the slim victory - less than 3500 votes out of l.3 million cast - to Riley.

Charges against Siegelman were started by Bush appointee, U.S. Attorney Leura Canary. Canary is married to William Canary, Riley’s campaign manager.

Mr. Ehinger might also have mentioned that Governor Riley had been charged with not paying his taxes on two separate occasions, and that he had the poorest attendance record of ANY member of Congress during his tenure as Alabama Congressman to the U. S. House of Representatives.

Riley is now seeking another term as governor.

What Ehinger didn’t say about Governor Don Siegelman

By omitting the true story of the nationally touted Reading Initiative Program, John Ehinger gave Riley credit for its inception. It was Governor Siegelman who (1) began and developed the Reading Initiative Program - and he did it on a shoe string. It was his brain-child and he got it into as many schools as he possibly could with the limited money he had.

Ehinger failed to mention that Siegelman had (2) eliminated thousands of portable classrooms; (3) built l,000 new schools, (4) signed the bill raising teachers’ salaries to the national average, (5) that during his administration, Alabama ranked eighth in the nation with the most National Board Certified teachers, that he (6) implemented the stiffest and highest high school graduation requirements in the United States, (7) that Alabama students entered college with SAT scores often above those the surrounding states’ scores, and often above the national average.

Ehinger didn’t mention that Siegelman (8) had the biggest road and bridge program in the state’s history, (9) that he was the driving force behind Alabama’s “cop killer” bill, guaranteeing the death penalty for anyone murdering a policeman, (10) that he pushed through tough drunk driving laws, (11) found the money for modernized communications equipment for local law enforcement, (12) signed into law bills making domestic violence a crime in Alabama, (13) that he rammed through laws requiring drivers to carry automobile liability insurance. Ehinger gave Siegelman no credit for (14) enacting tort reform (frivolous lawsuits and runaway jury verdicts) - even though the Governor himself was a trial lawyer!

Ehinger didn’t mention that it was Siegelman who (15) appointed the state’s first children’s commissioner and created a Childrens Cabinet (16) that he created the Office of School Readiness to begin providing early learning opportunities to four-year olds throughout the state or that (17) he established the country’s first state-run health insurance program for children in poverty-stricken families, (18) that he had the largest road and bridges program in the state’s history, (19) that he funded the Medicaid trust fund and that he (20) strengthen nursing home regulations across the state.

Ehinger never mentioned that (21) area leaders proclaimed economic development a Siegelman strong suit, nor that (22) it was Siegelman, not Riley, who brought FIVE automobile plants to Alabama , (23) 150 supplier plants, or (24) that 150,000 jobs were created during his term. Nor did he mention that there was almost universal praise for Siegelman’s effort to get skilled, high-paying jobs for the state.

Don Siegelman tells every audience that he is focused on more jobs for all Alabamians, fairer taxes, prison reform, poverty among children, health care for all Alabamians, and a new constitution. He blames Alabama’s financial woes on “greedy out-of-state corporations” that use Enron-style accounting games to cheat Alabamians out of hundreds of millions in taxes. ”

Brian Hilson, President of Huntsville-Madison County Chamber of Commerce said: “Siegelman was everything someone from a local economic standpoint could ask for.”

David Bronner, Head of Retirement Systems of Alabama said: “He’s one of the hardest workers I’ve ever seen.”

David Bronner also said, “Who else was able to push tort reform laws and get us off the front pages for being the haven for lawsuit abuse?”

Dr. Paul Hubbert, endorsing Siegelman over Riley in 2002, said: “My personal vote will go to Don Siegelman for Governor because education is our most important issue.”

Floyd Bowman, United Auto Workers Screening Committee member upon endorsing Siegelman for governor 2006, said: “Our endorsement is based on Governor Siegelman’s record of results for the working men and women of Alabama. He is the only candidate who is talking about the concerns of working families and he is the only candidate with a plan for substantial job creation.”

Leslie Hinshaw, Vice President UAW, noted that during his administration, Siegelman secured the economic incentives which saved the Delphi facility located in Athens. “Governor Siegelman was the only candidate who reached out to the workers with assistance and support. It’s a question of loyalty. You don’t leave old friends to make new friends.”

samesther(at)bellsouth(dot)net