Indy Star article entitled Inspector general post irks county prosecutors, describes committee consideration of HB 1002 which does a number of things with regard to state ethics and the creation of an inspector general. However, the focus of the article, and apparently of the testimony before the House Government and Regulatory Reform Committee focused on:
a section of the bill that would give Daniels power to personally sign off on criminal investigations by the inspector general if local prosecutors fail to act. Prosecutors say the measure would give Daniels’ inspector general, David Thomas, the former Clay County prosecutor, more power than elected prosecutors. For instance, prosecutors must go through judges to subpoena records, compel testimony and impanel grand juries, but as the bill stands the inspector general would not. “In some ways, this creates a super prosecutor,” said Shelby County Prosecutor Kent Apsley, speaking on behalf of the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Association.
Seems to me that Indianapolis already has more power over the state than it really needs. I don’t mind the idea of having some kind of check and balance to a prosecutor’s discretion in appropriate circumstances (other than the already significant check & balance of the ballot box), but giving yet more power to the Governor’s office isn’t the answer. I think we’re seeing a pattern in Gov. Daniels’ actions of trying to gather more power to himself. Maybe it’s something he sees as a means to accomplish noble ends, but Daniels is apparently trying to run the government like one of his corporations. Getting rid of employees who might not be loyal to him. Wholesale disbanding of commissions and boards and making their power revert to the Governor’s office. Having a special prosecutor in his pocket. Perhaps the Governor doesn’t want to engage in the tedious bargaining and deal making that is the hallmark of democratic government. But, that’s the gig he signed up for. State government isn’t a corporation.
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