It’s not every day that a Republican Congressman is both less ethically challenged than my local State Representative and is, nonethless, facing ethics charges in the House, so I really must submit the facts to a candid world:
Texas Rep. Roger Williams is an auto dealer, and he has come under scrutiny by the House Ethics Committee over an amendment he offered to a wide-ranging transportation bill that would have allowed auto dealers to rent out vehicles even if they’re subject to recall. Williams has said the amendment was intended to address recalls aimed at trivial defects, but critics said it would apply more broadly.
The gravaman (look it up, it’s a word at least to lawyers) of the complaint is that Williams has a direct financial interest in the amendment.
Well, Williams is a piker, and his conflict of interest is remote, compared to that of Groton’s Republican representative, John Scott, about whom I’ve written before. Scott is an insurance agent, who is one of a few agents in the state who writes health insurance policies for UConn students. Here’s a summary of the bills John sponsored and co-sponsored as soon as he got elected:
Proposed H.B. No. 5062: “To require that the sale of a qualified health plan offered through the Connecticut Health Insurance Exchange be transacted by an insurance producer.”
Proposed H.B. No. 5255: “To study the potential benefits of applying Medicaid funds to the cost of health insurance for college students who are eligible for Medicaid.”
Proposed H.B. No. 5354 :“ AN ACT PREVENTING STUDENTS OF INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION FROM OPTING OUT OF A STUDENT HEALTH CARE PLAN FOR PURPOSES OF QUALIFYING FOR MEDICAID.
To prevent an over reliance on Medicaid when an affordable health insurance alternative is available.”Proposed H.B. No. 5497 : “AN ACT INCREASING THE MINIMUM FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY COVERAGE REQUIRED FOR PRIVATE PASSENGER MOTOR VEHICLES”
Maybe John should run for Congress. The New London Day, by the way, wrote one article about this blatant conflict, and then let the matter drop.
Speaking of John and the Day, faithful readers (if there are any) will recall that Dave Collins, a Republican touting columnist at the Day, recently made the mistake of saying that as far as he was concerned, any Republican running for office should be disqualified if he or she refused to denounce Donald Trump (the “Trump Test”). He hasn’t exactly walked that back; it’s more accurate to say that he has let the matter drop, since as it turns out, the Republicans he tried to contact avoided his calls or avoided the issue, and he let them get away with it. It’s apparently more important to elect Republicans than stop Donald Trump.
But the Groton Democrats haven’t forgotten, and they put up a post on their Facebook page demanding that Scott, and his fellow Republican candidates in the various Groton Districts, out themselves on the Trump test. Bizarrely, John chose to respond. Here’s what he had to say:
The President of the United States has no direct say over the day to day operations of the state of Connecticut. As the State Representative for the 40th district I will support the choice that my constituents make in this election and do my absolute best to serve their individual needs in Hartford. With respect to the Presidency, I see that there are three, perhaps four, choices that could be made. My decision will be made in the privacy of the voting booth as that is my right as a citizen of this country. If you want to know who I am supporting for state representative, state senate, or in future years governor; then that is fair game.
Well, it so happens I was listening to Randy Newman’s Faust, (a vastly under appreciated album, by the way) earlier today, and John’s comment brought to mind these lyrics Randy sings in his role as the Devil, as he calls out God:
In all my life
I don’t believe I’ve ever heard such bullshit
Even from You
A master of bullshit
You know it
I know it
It’s bullshit
Bullshit
In case I haven’t made myself clear, John’s comment was pure bullshit. I doubt that Dave Collins reads this blog, inasmuch as I’m a Democrat. But if he does, or if someone brings it to his attention, I believe it is fair to say that John has not passed the Trump test, and Dave should make that known, and should urge his readers to vote for Chris Conley, Scott’s very able opponent. I can assure Dave that Chris will willingly take and pass the Trump test. I’m not holding by breath on this though, as, like Randy’s God, Dave is a master too.
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