Julia Vaughan with Common Cause Indiana is quoted as saying the fine "amounts to a slap on the wrist. Five Hundred Dollars is not going to put fear into anybody. It's not significant enough punishment to get anybody's attention or to make them take these laws seriously."
It's interesting that the article points out that the ethics case in question did not address Walters part in the multi million dollar overcharges to Hoosier motorists. Neither Shawn Walters or his attorney Debra Minott (who strangely was Walters employer when she was in charge of FSSA) were present at the hearing today. Some readers may recall that Debra Minott was appointed by Governor Pence to run FSSA shortly after he took office and was then mysteriously removed from her position at FSSA for reasons that are still not clear. Before her 18 month tenure as head of FSSA Minott was in charge of the State Personnel Department (SPD) during the first term of former Governor Mitch Daniels and also left that position for unspecified reasons. Minott's appointment as FSSA Secretary was a move that angered many Indiana Republicans who were left asking ourselves Why in the world is Mike Pence stupid enough to appoint a Mitch Daniels crony to run FSSA after the mess she caused at SPD? Gary Welsh pointed out that Mike Pence did not cause the overcharging problems at the BMV that occurred under the administration of Mitch Daniels. But apparently neither the Indianapolis Star or Matt Tully's Circle Jerk Club as Gary Welsh so affectionately refereed to him and his clique as. Would trouble themselves enough to hold Daniels feet to the fire! They all were probably admiring themselves too much in the mirror or social climbing!
But for all the trouble that "Napoleon Mitch" Daniels caused at the BMV. Mike Pence deserves as much blame for his refusal to fire every Daniels holdover and heed the advice of Real Republicans Gary Welsh, Paul Ogden, and Charlie White. Men who tried to do the right thing and try to root out corruption, sin and vice. But the Uber-Christian Mike Pence seems to be so convinced of his own moral righteousness that he cannot or will not see the corruption going on in front of his face or do anything to root it out! No doubt the scandals at the BMV have been archived away by Indiana Democrats for use against Pence in the upcoming Governor's race where he is being challenged by former Indiana State House Speaker John Gregg. For the simple reason that Mike Pence has repeatedly kept Mitch Daniels hacks and parasites in his administration is enough cause for all of us at Indy Republican to refuse to endorse him for reelection as Governor of for election to any other office whatsoever! The staff will not vote for Pence or Gregg and at this point are probably just going to refuse to vote for any candidate running for Governor! To Governor Mike Pence if there is any awareness left in your brain at all could you please for your own sake and what remains of your reputation start actually doing your job! For those of you who wish to peruse the story that most of the Indianapolis Press will not tell you about the BMV the staff refers you to the following articles, post's and podcasts for the truth! Strangely some of these articles are from the Indianapolis Star and are mostly if not all written by Tony Cook!
Gary Welsh's Postings:
Debra Minott gets the Heave Ho from Pence!:
http://advanceindiana.blogspot.com/2014/06/pence-fires-fssa-secretary.html
Pence appoints Mitch Daniels Holdover to run the BMV:
http://advanceindiana.blogspot.com/2015/02/yet-more-bmv-overcharges-brings-new.html
Surprise, Surprise, Surprise! Patronage Alive and Well at the BMV!:
http://advanceindiana.blogspot.com/2015/05/star-bmv-fee-overcharging-problem-may.html
Shawn Walters, BMV, and Shady Deals:
http://advanceindiana.blogspot.com/2015/07/more-bmv-shady-dealings.html
Pence Does Something Right Cancels Bad BMV Contract:
http://advanceindiana.blogspot.com/2015/08/pence-cancels-sweetheart-bmv-contract.html
Former BMV Chief of Staff on Unpaid Leave from New Employer Pending Ethics Investigation:
http://advanceindiana.blogspot.com/2015/08/express-mva-places-former-bmv-employees.html
BMV CFO Demoted:
http://advanceindiana.blogspot.com/2015/08/bmvs-unqualified-political-hack-cfo.html
Indystar articles:
Ex BMV Officals fine:
http://www.indystar.com/story/news/2016/06/09/former-top-bmv-official-fined-500-ethics-violation/85641756/
Former BMV Offical to face ethics complaint:
http://www.indystar.com/story/news/politics/2016/06/07/former-top-bmv-official-faces-ethics-complaint-thursday/85557192/
BMV Offical took Job with Express MVA:
http://www.indystar.com/story/news/politics/2015/07/24/bmv-boss-pushed-fee-took-job-company-benefited/30632873/
Overcharges ignored by BMV:
http://www.indystar.com/story/money/2015/03/22/bmv-officials-knew-overcharges-let-ride/25177557/
BMV and Patronage:
http://www.indystar.com/story/news/2015/05/23/patronage-lead-bmv-overcharges/27797473/
FSSA Chief's Ouster:
http://www.indystar.com/story/news/politics/2014/06/19/concerns-pences-obamacare-alternative-preceded-fssa-chiefs-ouster/11006829/
Paul Ogden's posts:
Pence Cancels BMV Contract:
http://www.ogdenonpolitics.com/2015/08/governor-pence-end-questionable-bmv.html
Charlie White's Podcast:
Charlie White's Discussion of BMV Troubles:
http://indianatalks.com/site/2015/05/the-charlie-white-show-5-26-15-podcast/