A Merited Change?

fletcher.jpg Things just keep getting worse better for Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher, who may be found guilty of a crime punishable by up to 6 months in prison a civil offense that carries a pesky fine.

Fletcher's administration has been mired in a merit hiring scandal for the past few months. Since the state began investigating the governor's allegedly politics-based hiring practices, some employees have been fired, some have quit, and some have been pardoned.

But now, a task force convened by Fletcher is entertaining a plan to downgrade violations of the state's merit law from a criminal offense to a civil one. The proposal is supported by a task force subcommittee, and---SURPRISE!---was immediately endorsed by the governor's office.

Does this remind anybody else of that invioable truth from the playground when you were a kid:  You can't change the rules in the middle of the game?

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