Tea-Publicans whine, AG Tom Horne launches an investigation based upon their conspiracy theory

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

An investigation based upon mere spec? A well organized Tea-Publican assault on the AIRC about a wild hair up their ass conspiracy theory that the Commission hired "Obama's mapping consultant" as opposed to hiring the most qualified and experienced mapping consultant firm to submit an RFP proposal to the Commission is all it takes? This strikes me as a politically motivated partisan witch hunt. Is that appropriate for the AG's office? I think not. Maybe that is what we should be investigating.

The AP reports Horne investigating Arizona redistricting panel:

An initial investigation into whether the state’s redistricting commission complied with the state’s open meeting and procurement laws in being conducted, Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne says.

The review concerns questions raised about the commission’s selection of Washington-based Strategic Telemetry as its mapping consultants, Horne’s announcement Thursday says.

Strategic Telemetry’s head has done campaign work for President Barack Obama and other Democrats, and Republicans have said its selection calls into question whether the commission’s drawing of new legislative and congressional districts will be impartial.

Procurement laws require confidentiality before selections are made, Commission Executive Director Ray Bladine says.

Bladine says he’s confident that the attorney general will conclude that the commission has adhered to state laws on open meetings and procurement.

The Arizona Republic reports Arizona AG investigating redistricting panel:

Attorney General Tom Horne is launching an initial investigation into the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission, based on suggestions that the board may have violated state procurement and open-meetings laws.

"We don't know that anything wrong was done," Horne said. "But there have been complaints."

The commission, which begins a series of public hearings this evening as it works to redraw the state's congressional and state legislative district boundaries, has been criticized by Republicans who feel the five-member board favors Democrats. The flash point was the board's 3-2 decision last month to hire Strategic Telemetry as its mapping consultant. The firm has a long list of Democratic clients, including president Ken Strasma's work in 2008 on the Obama presidential campaign.

Horne acknowledged the political storm swirling around the commission, but said he will focus on whether the group followed legal procedures in awarding the consultant contract.

* * *

He added he had yet to assign an investigator to handle the probe, which will include a review of documents as well as interviews. But he said the issue is a priority and he hopes to quickly conclude whether a full-blown investigation is needed.

Ray Bladine, the commission's executive director, said the commission will cooperate with Horne's office.

"The commission has followed legal advice, including (that from) the AG's office and the outside legal counsel," Bladine said.

Horne's office provided legal services as the commission was organizing earlier this year. It also provided the attorneys who advised the state Procurement Office, which worked with the commission on the consultant contract.

Ultimately, the commission opted to do the hiring directly, as the law allows it to do, and discontinued its work with the state-run office.

UPDATE: You just knew that it had to be him, didn't you? Senator Joe McCarthy Frank Antenori has evidence of communists in the government! Horne investigates redistricting commission over alleged procurement, open meeting violations – East Valley Tribune:

[S]tate Sen. Frank Antenori, R-Tucson, said he has proof that laws were broken.

"We have evidence of destruction of government documents subject to public record request, shredding, as a matter of fact," he said. He also said there is evidence of "bid-rigging."

Antenori said he is making what he has available to Horne. He said he was unable to immediately get copies to Capitol Media Services.

I'll bet.