‘Transparency commission’ all too transparent
Here’s how such things go down and get done in Georgia:
The state ethics commission, formally known as the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission, was scheduled to meet at 9 a.m. this morning in its offices across from the Capitol.
The meeting took place in a sparse, cramped, 10-foot-by-20-foot office with barely enough room for a conference table. (The commission, you see, is not exactly popular with the politicians who control its budget.)
At 9:10, 9:15, and 9:20, the meeting had still not begun. The transparency commission’s embattled executive secretary, Stacey Kalberman, was in her office conferring privately with transparency commission member Kent Alexander, a former King and Spalding partner and former U.S. attorney. Apparently, certain things had to be explained and arranged before the transparency commission could meet.
At 9:25, their discussion ended, Kalberman and Alexander walked into the small room, the public meeting was formally called into order and the transparency commission immediately voted to go into executive session.
All members of the media and public were escorted out of the transparency commission’s meeting.
An hour later, the executive session ended. The transparency commission reconvened its public session and announced that Kalberman had agreed to resign, but would remain executive secretary during an unspecified period of transition. Her deputy, investigator Sherilyn Streicker, would lose her job due to budget cuts.
All members of the transparency commission lauded the excellent work done by Kalberman.
Kalberman in turn lauded the excellent work done by members of the transparency commission. Somewhere, faint strains of “Kumbaya” could be heard in the room. Or maybe that part was just my imagination. But all was certainly peace and harmony, the tight expressions on certain faces nothwithstanding.
But then the meeting ended.
Kalberman, who had alleged in an internal email that she was being forced out of her job at the transparency commission in order to thwart an ethics investigation of Gov. Nathan Deal, refused to answer media questions, retreated immediately into her office and closed the door.
However, transparency commission members Josh Belinfante and Kevin Abernethy were unable to flee quickly because of the cramped space, and reporters began to ask questions.
Did the commission refuse to approve subpoenas dealing with the Deal investigation at your May 3rd meeting?
“It was never on the agenda,” they responded.
That wasn’t the question. The question was whether the transparency commission had refused to approve those subpoenas as requested by Kalberman.
“The request was never on the agenda.”
With all due respect, you’re not answering the question, and you know it. Did you refuse to approve the subpoenas?
“There was no official request on the agenda.”
You’re not answering the question.
“No such request was on the agenda.”
The members of the transparency commission then left the room, still refusing to answer questions.
That’s how things get done at the transparency commission.
– Jay Bookman
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Guides
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2012 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
271 comments Add your comment
Soothsayer
June 17th, 2011
12:31 pm
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, there is only one job for every five college graduate applicants in America today. And with most jobs in the US being off-shored to the Far East and Latin America, it’s a safe bet that stat is not changing anytime soon, at least for the next 10 years, unless of course you are going for a position under the Golden Arches.
For those fortunate sons and daughters, the Degree may hold some potential value, but for most its value is purely vestigial. In days gone by, this parchment represented the pinnacle in academic achievement and was your passport to career liberation. In a Darwinian race to land that 1 out of 5 jobs, you will need more than “a well-rounded CV”. This remains the case- only for 20% of the graduate herd, the lucky ones, and the ones with the best connections. The other 80% will unfortunately be disappointed, and will opt for a less glamorous career path like waiting tables, making cocktails or capucinos, lifeguarding, ‘delivering’ things, ‘guarding’ things, lap dancing and/or other forms of prostitution.
[O]ne can only feel sorry for all those bright young American students who have been sold the perpetual lie that a college education is somehow worth its weight in gold. If you are still a student, you should really be asking your elders and teachers why the last four US Administrations sold out the economy- aka your future jobs, off-shore to China and the like. And then go ask your Professor or Career Guidance Councilor if they themselves would pay $80,000, or $120,000 for a college degree with no job prospects at the end of the line.
josef
June 17th, 2011
12:32 pm
Why am I not at all surprised…and, BTW, it ain’t just Georgia…as soon as somebody says “transparency,” you can bet there’s a lead shield raised thick enough to block a nuclear attack…
Oh, she resigned? Did she take the job offered?
Don't Tread
June 17th, 2011
12:33 pm
…the opaque commission?
Peadawg
June 17th, 2011
12:33 pm
“transparency”
Like the transparency of Obama’s administration? J/K That one’s for you, Bosch.
ByteMe
June 17th, 2011
12:36 pm
I’m uncomfortable with all this government “transparency”. Can’t we just outsource it?
Keep Up the Good Fight!
June 17th, 2011
12:37 pm
“Executive session” is used by many state boards to conduct discussions which should be part of the open session. It is regularly abused. Almost as badly abused as the open meeting law which allows a notice to be posted on a bulletin board in the state offices in Macon 2 hours before a board meeting is called…and that is considered sufficient “public notice” in this day and age.
larry
June 17th, 2011
12:38 pm
I hope the FBI and the justice department starts digging into this . And they could look at the last adminstration too.
There is no telling what they will find.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
June 17th, 2011
12:38 pm
Why Pea…do be consistent. That deflection s/b “like the transparency of the Barnes’ administration?”
Bosch
June 17th, 2011
12:38 pm
Peadawg,
I was thinking…”looks like my clones were at the Capitol” trying to get someone to ANSWER THE FREAKING QUESTION!!!!
poison pen
June 17th, 2011
12:39 pm
Kinda puts a bite on your earlier blog.
blue_unicorn
June 17th, 2011
12:40 pm
They went to the same seminar on transparency that Obama attended.
Bosch
June 17th, 2011
12:41 pm
Jay,
Did I ever explain to you that I’m psychic (see thread below in my relentless pursuit of trying, yet in vain, to get Peadawg to answer a question?)
Peadawg
June 17th, 2011
12:41 pm
“I was thinking…”looks like my clones were at the Capitol” trying to get someone to ANSWER THE FREAKING QUESTION!!!! ”
They gave an answer. Obviously the reporter didn’t like the answers.
USinUK
June 17th, 2011
12:42 pm
Pdiddy – ah, yes … the “do you have any questions for my answers” gambit
Peadawg
June 17th, 2011
12:42 pm
Did I ever explain to you that I’m psychi..err…psycho.
Fixed your typo, Bosch.
Be back in an hour or so…y’all be good while I’m gone.
Quick
June 17th, 2011
12:42 pm
Transparent = Nothing to see here?
Don't Tread
June 17th, 2011
12:43 pm
Next, we’ll have “The Weiner Commission on Eliminating Sexting”.
Bosch
June 17th, 2011
12:43 pm
“err…psycho”
Meh, who’s keeping score?
md
June 17th, 2011
12:45 pm
IF there is something to this, it seems Ms Kalberman could seek whistleblower status……but will she??
And if not, why not??
Dusty
June 17th, 2011
12:47 pm
Oh oh, the poor lady who resigned when her salary dropped from one hundred ten thousand to eighty five thousand! Now how could anyone exist on a measly eighty five thousand a year? No wonder she resigned.
But but the investigation continues. What’s the fuss? Not enough fireworks to make a big todo?
Aint it awful? Deal just keeps on cutting expenses to match budget and people are meeting in small rooms with NO redecoration? I tell you, life aint fair!!
WOODSTOCK MIKE
June 17th, 2011
12:48 pm
The “ethics” violation is regarding campaign funds used for air travel. Who cares??
Bookman’s must be so upset, hoping this would blow up for Deal. LOL
getalife
June 17th, 2011
12:53 pm
“Bookman’s must be so upset, hoping this would blow up for Deal. LOL”
So Mike, do you care about ethics for politicians?
It is not funny.
getalife
June 17th, 2011
12:54 pm
I think we should test their pee and call it freedom.
Thyra
June 17th, 2011
12:56 pm
I we wonder why voter turnout is so low. Nothing EVER changes.
book 'em dano
June 17th, 2011
12:56 pm
what does the commission know and when did they know it?
USinUK
June 17th, 2011
12:57 pm
getalife – is that part of the peeance and freeance thing we’ve all heard about?
getalife
June 17th, 2011
1:02 pm
USinUK ,
Scott in Florida reversed course on testing pee.
I guess somebody proposed you first.
Dusty
June 17th, 2011
1:05 pm
How can you travel for campaigning if you don’t use campaign funds to travel? What are you supposed to do? Walk?
Will Obama use campaign funds to travel or will he use American taxpayer money on Airforce One?
This transparency thing gets foggier by the minute. I’m glad Weiner was not into tranparency. Transparent underwear! OOPS! Sorry I mentioned that. Yeah, forget it. Just be glad that Bookman is into transparency and revealing all problems instantaneously. I bet Bosch is into transparency too. Well, you know, any one with a herd of capricorns!
carlosgvv
June 17th, 2011
1:06 pm
Asking politicians to support any kind of ethics commission is like asking foxes to guard the henhouses. Republican politics is rottern to the core but you can be sure their simple brainwashed supporters will never be able to see it. Georgia usually ranks in last place but in the dumbing down of America, we are definitely in first place..
RB from Gwinnett
June 17th, 2011
1:07 pm
The question was answered, Jay, you just didn’t like the answer.
Does it make ANY sense to ANYBODY that the woman resigned in this case if it was because she was pushing for an investigation against Deal? Why resign if you have a valid case? Why not make them terminate you and sue for wrongful termination? Why resign? She can’t even get unemployment if she resigns….
There is obviously more to this story than Jay is telling us (shocker there!!!!!!), but he’s going to do is best to make this out to be an “R’s bad” story regardless of the facts, cause that’s just what Jay does.
Normal
June 17th, 2011
1:08 pm
I think Gov. Deal could give lessons to Mafia Don’s…
Normal
June 17th, 2011
1:09 pm
RB, The GOP apologist…
getalife
June 17th, 2011
1:09 pm
I think law enforcement should cover ethics Dusty.
They can’t police themselves.
That is silly.
jconservative
June 17th, 2011
1:10 pm
As I said earlier Dean has been ethically challenged but was elected anyway by the voters of Georgia in their wisdom.
Brad Steel
June 17th, 2011
1:10 pm
As an Emory grad, I think the university administration should demand Kent Alexander resignation from this advisory role. Emory does not need to be associated with this disaster in any way.
Any other Emory grads that have an opinion on the university’s position in this matter?
Dave R.
June 17th, 2011
1:12 pm
To be fair here, there are likely rules in place for placing items on an agenda, and different and more stringent rules in place for trying to do so after an agenda is publicized or approved. We had them when I was county commissioner.
So not knowing the rules, nor the sequence of events regarding the agenda, the commission may have had their hands tied in adding an item that wasn’t there beforehand. If that was the case, they certainly could have better informed the snarling hordes that the way they did.
USinUK
June 17th, 2011
1:14 pm
getalife – 1:02 –
nothing like an “after you, sir” to make people rethink their stance!
saywhat?
June 17th, 2011
1:15 pm
Kalberman will receive a sweetheart employment deal from somebody connected to the Governor, as long as she agress to just keep quiet.
DebbieDoRight
June 17th, 2011
1:15 pm
RB: Why resign if you have a valid case? Why not make them terminate you and sue for wrongful termination? Why resign? She can’t even get unemployment if she resigns….
She was probably forced out because they found some photos of her in her college sweater, (circa Jenny). Or they have some pictures of her and some underage buck naked black female kissing in a parked car at Denny’s. Either of those will make you shut your mouth and “resign” with the quickness.
saywhat?
June 17th, 2011
1:16 pm
“agrees”
getalife
June 17th, 2011
1:17 pm
“when I was county commissioner.”
What county?
Dave R.
June 17th, 2011
1:18 pm
Forsyth.
md
June 17th, 2011
1:18 pm
“Kalberman will receive a sweetheart employment deal from somebody connected to the Governor, as long as she agress to just keep quiet”
Wouldn’t that make her complicit in the perceived corruption??
DebbieDoRight
June 17th, 2011
1:19 pm
Dusty: Just be glad that Bookman is into transparency and revealing all problems instantaneously
that way people like you can’t say “But, no one TOLD us!! We Didn’t know!!”
Now ya know.
josef
June 17th, 2011
1:22 pm
Brad Steel
“As an Emory grad…”
And you admit that in public…
getalife
June 17th, 2011
1:23 pm
Dave the Forsyth County commissioner.
Seriously?
Dave R.
June 17th, 2011
1:25 pm
Seriously. Unlike you, I don’t lie when I post.
deegee
June 17th, 2011
1:26 pm
Interesting that the Ethics Commission’s bank account is depleted yet Nathan Deal’s travel account is bulging. He and his family no more get back from a nice, springtime European vacation than they are packing their bags for a nice Fall vacation in China and Korea. We can’t have an Ethics Commission but the hillbilly Deals can travel the world on our dime. Trash.
book 'em dano
June 17th, 2011
1:27 pm
brad’s a school dropper, dave’s a job dropper, i’m a name dropper….my niece knows another girl who got bieber fever.
josef
June 17th, 2011
1:28 pm
DAVE R
“I don’t lie when I post…”
You sit up straight? Or are you a stand-up guy?