NORFOLK
Gov. Timothy M. Kaine said Wednesday he opposes shutting down a state ethics investigation of former legislator Phil Hamilton's financial ties to Old Dominion University.
Kaine said halting the investigation after Hamilton resigned Sunday would prevent Virginians from understanding what happened.
"Sunlight is the best disinfectant," Kaine said during a meeting with The Virginian-Pilot's editorial board.
Making public an ethics panel's findings about the scandal could prompt changes, such as raising legislative pay, to avoid such problems in the future, he said.
Kaine also suggested that if left unexplained, the episode could taint ODU's reputation at a time when the university's stature is on the rise.
"I haven't thought of what is the precise mechanism for effecting change, but I do think that this story needs to be made public," Kaine said. "We need to analyze whether we have the right rules or not."
The governor said he has spoken with members of ODU 's Board of Visitors about his concerns.
"I've said this is very serious. I think you need to be very transparent about what happened, for the good of the university," Kaine said.
The investigation centered on Hamilton's negotiation of a $40,000-a-year job for himself at an ODU teacher training center while using his position as a legislator to help secure startup funds for the facility in 2007.
The controversy arose after The Virginian-Pilot began reporting details of the arrangement in July. House Speaker William Howell, a Republican, asked for the investigation in August after a growing public outcry.
Before his resignation Sunday, Hamilton, a 21-year veteran of the General Assembly, had been chairman of the House Health, Welfare and Institutions Committee and an acknowledged expert on education and health-services issues. The Newport News Republican lost his bid for re-election on Nov. 3 by a 1,500-vote margin to a political newcomer, Robin Abbott, who made the ethics issue part of her campaign.
Hamilton's term was to expire in January. After he stepped down, Howell and other officials said the ethics panel could not continue its investigation, because it has jurisdiction only over incumbent legislators.
Members of the ethics panel are forbidden by law to discuss any of their activities. Only if they complete an investigation and find wrongdoing are they allowed to make a public report.
Howell said Hamilton has paid a heavy price for his actions and suggested that Democrats who want to continue the investigation "aren't going to be satisfied until he's hanging from the gallows."
Kaine said he has not spoken with Howell about his wishes but has talked with the speaker in the past about his concerns with relatively low legislative salaries. House members are paid $17,640 annually plus expenses.
"We're expecting people to work an awful lot of time. It's not just a 60-day session anymore," Kaine said.
Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell has declined to comment on whether the Hamilton investigation should continue, saying through his spokesman, Tucker Martin, that it is a "legal matter for the House of Delegates."
Martin also reiterated McDonnell's campaign pledge to push for an independent ethics commission.
"As governor, he will work with the General Assembly to ensure that this commission is created and given all the resources necessary to fully carry out its duties," he said.
Pilot writer Julian Walker contributed to this report.
Bill Bartel, (757) 446-2398, bill.bartel@pilotonline.com
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have no fear
Have no fear, in a few months little Bobby McD will be in office to solve all your conserative/Republican problems. What a glorious day that will be. Sure it will!
Kaine wants ethics probe of Hamilton
Virginian's want an ethics probe of kaine spending taxpayer dollars, collecting a taxpayer salary, and using taxpayer funding to run the DNC!
Tainted
Kaine also suggested that if left unexplained, the episode could taint ODU's reputation at a time when the university's stature is on the rise.
Someone tell Kaine it is too late -- ODU has already been tainted.
Raising Kaine
"Sunlight is the best disinfectant" is the best quote from this Governor. This is about as strong a statement as I have read/ heard so far. It reminds me of the "transparency" talk from our President. But that talk is only talk. Were this a Democrat in question, how interested would Mr. Kaine be in an ethics review? He is, after all, the head of the Democrat National Committee and there are large scale ethics issues enough in his own party. But within the Commonwealth the self serving Mr. Hamilton has brought disgrace on the Legislature and by misusing his position, does indeed require outing. I only wish the truth would win out over any party line(s) and that neither the Democrat nor the Republican parties would tolerate the wrong doings of the "lawmakers" who cross that ethical line. It is the protective nature of those elected to public office that allows the waste, graft and corruption which permeates the modern political system. Having "lawmakers" legislate laws, multiple laws and excluding the body politic from that same standard, exempting themselves and turning a blind eye to such misbehavior is unacceptable. Ah, Sunlight. We need more.
What's the point?
What's the point? Are they going to throw him out?? If there's valid criminal charges or a civil case then do that. If not then it's over.
The point is
that state ethics codes may have been violated and that Virginians should NOT rely on the Federal grand jury to do OUR business.
The ethics committee has jurisdiction and, now that Phil has resigned, a single disposition left. They may find that he acted knowingly and recommend that the case be given to the state's AG.
Keep America Beautiful; Prosecute the Trash.
Typical Partisan (Kaine)
BTW: good riddance. VA is losing nothing with your departure.
Why continure to spend the Old Dominion taxpayer's bucks when an investigation is/will be conducted at the federal level as I read will be the case? (I garontee the stealth guv would be in agreement were this a Dem.)
A bigger concern: what becomes of Hamilton'w seat in the interim (does Kaine get to appoint someone; does it remain empty until Jan; what)?
Good question!
The Dems can CHANGE the law like they did in Mass. so the Governor could appoint a replacement for Kennedy and they CHANGED the 90 day wait period. They made it an "emergency".
Even after being told that the election was not "certified" because of 10,000 absentee ballots not counted.......Pelosi STILL swore him in so that he could vote for Pelosi-Care!
Can you spell S.c.a.r.y?
Can you spell S.c.a.r.y?
I can!!!
o.b.a.m.a.p.e.l.o.s.i.r.e.i.d.
Can you spell S.c.a.r.y?
Bush in charge on the morning of 9-11.
The "rules," if they ever remake them,
should require legislators to APPLY and COMPETE for paying positions just like the rest of us working stiffs. They shouldn't just walk in the door and start receiving a pay check simply based on their political positions.
Submit a resume. Sit through an interview. If they are deemed best qualified for the position, then they should be hired. And this should all be done PUBLICLY. Full disclosure. No back door shenanigans.
yeah....
pity we didn't do this prior to the Nov 2008 presidential election. We're stuck with someone in the whitehouse who probably couldn't put a cheese sandwich together.
"stuck with someone in the whitehouse...?
We got a man of action instead of the spineless wimp we had from 2001-2009.
Pirates kidnap an American in April....... they get killed/captured in a few days.
Bin Ladin kills several thousand Americans on 9-11..... Bush says: "I don't know where he is.You know, I just don't spend that much time on him. I truly am not that concerned about him."
[President Bush, Press Conference, 3/13/02]
It's no longer an ethics
It's no longer an ethics committee concern. We have a states attorney and that is who should pick up the reins and determine if any crime was committed. If so he should be prosecuted. Why would Kaine even suggest that a body with no jurisdiction continue the investigation? His efforts would be better put to nudging the Prosecuting Attorney to continue the investigation.
I AGREE
that the Hamilton investigation should proceed, if nothing else to serve as an example to any elected official. While we're at it-let's investigate the Kaine administration for their misuse of taxpayer money and complicity in ignoring transportation issues in favor of liberal boondoggles.
Lets forget about Hamilton
Lets forget about Hamilton and a measly 40k. Target the Washington thiefs who waste billions. Or how about the Wall Street thieves?
If you ask me, [and no one is] it's a bunch of camel crap.
Kaine should be investigated for being a part-time Gov.
Kaine should be investigated for being a part-time Gov. Remember it was "discovered" he owed Virginia money for his DNC activities.
"for being a part-time Gov"
Funny you republicans did not mind Gilmore being a part-time Gov.
LET US NOT FORGET
Kaine also needs to be investigated and prosecuted for the theft of taxpayer’s money from the transportation budget to fund his prekindergarten babysitting service rewarding the teachers unions for supporting him. We do not need to have state sponsored (indoctrination) I mean babysitting services paid for with my hard earned tax dollars which were in my humble opinion stolen by the Governor.
Preschool works
Johnbo, you are badly misinformed about the value of preschool, but if you want to argue that public education should not be paid for with your "hard earned tax dollars," that is your right. I probably paid for your education and should ask for a refund.