Throwing Your Client Under the Bus

On August 13th I questioned the legality of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality forcing Honeywell to contribute $1 million to fund a Climate Change study at the Western Governor's Association.  The study was part of the Western Climate Initiative which was one of Governor Napolitano's pet projects. 

I pointed out that the Contribution didn't meet any of the requirements for this type of program and that DEQ had a conflict since its Director chaired one of the WCI Committees.

Corporation Commissioner Gary Pierce  of the program as well.  He also asked the Attorney General to review the contribution to see if it was legal.  Goddard's office responded via the tribune.   

The Attorney General's Office declined to comment on the letter and referred calls to Owens.

Frankly, that response is exactly what you would expect.  After all, DEQ is the Attorney General's client and Attorney General Goddard and DEQ Director Steve Owens are both prominent Democrats.  You wouldn't expect Terry Goddard to proclaim that there was a problem with the DEQ's actions.

But last week, the Arizona Capitol Times interviewed Terry Goddard and printed this astonishing exchange.

A recent Department of Environmental Quality pollution settlement included a $1 million payout to the Western Governors’ climate initiative. This rankled some people…

Me included.

How so?

Well, I speak as the lawyer for DEQ, so ultimately what they negotiated is what we put into the written judgment. The client felt very strongly about it so that’s where it went.

Ouch.  That's known in the business as throwing your client under the bus. 

Comments

[Thane Eichenauer]

"Corporation Commissioner Gary Pierce of the program as well." doesn't seem like a valid English sentence (maybe I am missing something).

[Nick S.]

If this rankles Goddard, why doesn't his office look into it?

Couldn't be because Owens is a Democrat, could it?

Maybe Andy Thomas could look into it? He's as non-partisan, stick to the law as it gets.