Shrill

Felcher's apparently pissed at the AG's office to the benefit of welfare queens everywhere. Though I'm sure this has been "planned" for a long time, the Felcher administration's every move seems to support the assertion that it is vindictive and cronyistic. I've always been told, when you're in hole, the first step to getting out is to STOP DIGGING!

But Pierce Whites, deputy attorney general, said the move is a reprisal against his office for its investigation of wrongdoing by personnel in the Health and Family Services Cabinet. He called the decision an "attempt to gut" the office's welfare investigation unit.

This spring, the attorney general's office launched an investigation into widespread employee embezzlement and lackadaisical checks-and-balances at the cabinet that has cost the state hundreds of thousands of dollars. A special grand jury is currently hearing evidence on that matter.

One welfare case worker, for instance, pleaded guilty last summer to writing roughly $430,000 worth of checks to himself and his then-girlfriend, mostly to fund a $1,000-a-day OxyContin habit.

"This is obviously retaliation against the attorney general's investigation into widespread graft and corruption within the cabinet itself," Whites said. "We've uncovered a number of instances where cabinet employees were stealing funds that were supposed to go help Kentucky's neediest citizens."

Felcher needs to resign. Then he can play golf with Ohio's Taft after he resigns.