Calif. Panel Slams Gov. for Contract

AP | 6/18/02 | STEVE LAWRENCE

[kattracks]

SACRAMENTO, Jun 18, 2002 (AP Online via COMTEX) -- A legislative committee wrapped up its hearing into a potentially costly state computer contract with scathing criticism of Gov. Gray Davis' administration for its handling of the deal.

"I think we got taken to the cleaners," Democratic Assemblyman Dean Florez said Monday night as the Joint Legislative Audit Committee completed more than 110 hours of testimony.

"Every agency head involved in this fiasco - as well as the governor's policy adviser, cabinet secretary and director of e-government - abdicated their duties to the detriment of taxpayers and to the benefit of the corporate interests."

Republicans pressed for more hearings on the $95 million, no-bid agreement with Oracle Corp., suggesting that the testimony had revealed corruption in state government.

"If we do adjourn we allow this creeping culture of corruption to take over state government," said Republican Assemblyman Bill Leonard.

A spokesman for the Democratic governor, Hilary McLean, said some former administration officials "did not perform due diligence" in verifying claims that the contract would save the state money.

But she said the administration has worked "with the highest ethical standards."

"The governor, throughout this review, wanted as much as anyone to know what happened and how we could avoid something like this from happening again," she said.

The contract was supposed to save the state more than $100 million through volume purchases and maintenance of database software, but the state auditor says it could end up costing up to $41 million more than if the state had stuck to other software supply arrangements.

State Attorney General Bill Lockyer is also looking into the contract.

"We have not made any determination about any cases yet," Lockyer spokesman Nathan Barankin said Monday night. "If there are any cases based on (violations of) the law we will bring them."

Two Davis aides have left their jobs and a third was put on paid leave since the audit was released earlier this year.

Oracle officials have disputed the auditor's conclusions and described the contract as a fabulous deal for the state.

But Florez, the committee's chairman, said the auditor had done "excellent work" and suggested that the contract would have died if it hadn't been for "improper influences - political or monetary."

"This contract was at a standstill before Oracle began pulling political strings," Florez said.

Former Oracle lobbyist Ravi Mehta gave a Davis aide a $25,000 check for the governor's re-election campaign five days after the contract was signed.

Both the governor and Oracle have denied any link between the money and the contract, but Davis has returned the donation and the state and Oracle are discussing how to rescind the agreement.

By STEVE LAWRENCE Associated Press Writer

Copyright 2002 Associated Press, All rights reserved

[kattracks]

ping

[eureka!]

It's still raining in California. ;^)

[NormsRevenge]

It Just Keeps Pouring !
DUMP DAVI$ & the Den of Socialists



GO SIMON

[Gophack]

I'm singing in the rain, I'm singing in the rain!

[07055]

But she said the administration has worked "with the highest ethical standards."

Yeah, sure. And the Clinton Administration was the most ethical administration in the history of the United States.