Massachusetts Democrat Attorney General Martha Coakley has been remarkably silent on the constitutional issues raised by the Cornhusker Kickback. State attorney’s general across the country no doubt are hearing about this issue not only from their colleagues, but also from the taxpayers in their states. Since A.G. Coakley is running for the United States Senate, where this kickback was originally cut, shouldn’t she be stepping up and speaking out on this issue. Folks in Massachusetts should be asking candidate Coakley if elected, if she will let these type of deals happen on her watch in the U.S. Senate. And then they should ask A.G. Coakley if she thinks the Cornhusker Kickback is constitutional or even smells legally right.
And why we’re at it, why not pose the same questions to Connecticut Democrat A.G. Richard Blumenthal. He’s the guy who just announced today that he’ll be running for U.S. Senate in Connecticut to replace Chris Dodd. No doubt candidate Blumenthal will invoke words like ethics, transparency, and reform throughout his campaign. Those are words that A.G. Blumenthal has used through out his career as his state’s top cop.
If these two sitting state attorneys general want to be in the United States Senate – what do they think about the issue that is shining a bright light on the deal making that occurs in the United States Senate – the Cornhusker Kickback?
Saying it’s just politics isn’t going to get the job done.
A bipartisan effort is being made to all state A.G.s to completely address the Cornhusker Kickback. Martha Coakley and Richard Blumenthal need to let the citizens of their states know where they stand on this matter. From the Associated Press:
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – Two top state prosecutors are asking attorneys general across the country to let Washington know if they oppose the health care reform bill they say includes a political deal for Nebraska.
South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster and Oklahoma top prosecutor Drew Edmondson asked their colleagues Wednesday to call on U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to remove the provision.