ETHICS COMMISSION FINDS NO FAULT WITH SEN. BILLY WAYNE BAILEY

(12/23/2005)

The WV Ethics Commission has dropped the investigation against Senator Billy Wayne Bailey-D Wyoming for funneling nearly $500,000 to the Wyoming County senior citizens center where he is an employee. Bailey told a Charleston reporter "This is something to celebrate. This is a Christmas present. I thank God for helping me get through this." Wanda Carney, who heads West Virginia Wants To Know, claims that Bailey violated state ethics laws when he requested state money for the Wyoming center, saying state law prohibits legislators from using their office for private gain. Legal charges were recently brought against Gilmer County commissioner Larry Chapman on similar grounds. Carney attacked the Ethics Commission, saying it is funded by the very people they're supposed to be investigating, the West Virginia Legislature. The Wyoming senior center has been under the microscope since 2003 when its director Bob Graham was paid $460,000 a year. Sen. Bailey, who is paid $25,000 by the center, told Charleston Newspapers that he will continue to seek funding for his employer. Bailey said, "Whoever requests Budget Digest money will be put on the list. Just because I work at the center doesn't mean they should have to suffer and not get the extra things that they need."

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