Something Hinky about this
Perry’s health chief under fire:
Gov. Rick Perry’s health and human services chief, already under fire for problems with a major contract for welfare programs, is considering resigning from the board of a nonprofit organization that has received more than $2 million in state contracts.
Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Albert Hawkins, who joined the board of the Texas Health Institute when he became commissioner in January 2003, said Friday that he’s had no involvement with the institute, hasn’t attended a single board meeting and considers himself an unpaid, honorary member.
The nonprofit’s president, Camille D. Miller, said having Hawkins, who is a friend of hers, associated with the organization is helpful when she tries to get help or information from state agencies. She denied dropping Hawkins’ name to get contracts from the state health department, which answers to Hawkins. Only about half of the $2 million was competitively bid.
So Albert Hawkins has never attended a single board meeting and has no involvement with them and Camille D. Miller says she has never dropped his name but it is “helpful” to have him on the board. That just makes absolutely no sense. What am I missing? It sure seems that someone is lying because an absentee board member is never helpful unless his clout provides something even in his absence.
Filed under: Albert Hawkins, Camille D. Miller, Governor, Rick Perry, Texas Health Institute, republican, texas, texas politics
