A select committee will begin its work to help whether state Representatives Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat will keep their jobs following a just-released internal investigation that says the two are guilty of misconduct.
The report by the non-partisan House Business Office says the two tea party lawmakers used state computers, staff and other resources for a variety of political and personal purposes, including efforts to cover up their extra-marital affair.
“He would like to see these two resign, but given that they clearly won’t do so, we’re going to have to convene a committee and examine their qualifications,” said Gideon D’Assandro, the spokesman for House Speaker Kevin Cotter. He says the Speaker felt there was no choice but to convene the special committee that will decide on expulsion or some other disciplinary action.
“There’s a lot of evidence here of misconduct that is simply wrong for a state lawmaker.”
The select committee will be chaired by state Rep. Ed McBroom, R-Vulcan, and has four Republicans and two Democrats. The Legislature is on its summer break, but the committee could have its recommendations ready by the time the House re-convenes next week.
