Arkansas Blog

This is a second go-round for James... bolting for a better gig. Yet this time, it appears he may have feathered his nest with state money, then rewarded with a job at that same company? This kind of inside deal-making qualifies him for a politician turned lobyist award!
It stinks to high heaven!
Thanks again, Arkansas Times, for for nabbing an interesting story.

I thought that a state/Federal employee was prohibited from accepting employment with a private firm that had peviously received funds from their agency where they had been in a position to influence the awarding of those funds. I thought that there was a 3 year wait period to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest but for the life of me I can't find it written any where. Maybe it was just common sense.

Tocqueville was right.

Looked at in the larger frame of elitism at work, no surprise there. You will note the millions
funneled to his future employer was based upon under-performing school districts:

"In Arkansas, the firm works with academically troubled schools through a contract with the state Department of Education."

Thus again riding upon the back of the state's downtrodden Mr James catches elitism fever and cashes in waiting for the next gubbermint-funded opportunity to cash in and join up with MoMoney.

Here's a couple of things I found that question whther or not this passes the smell test:

2202.11(c)
Section 208, in general, prohibits a Government employee in his official capacity from participating personally and substantially through decision, approval, disapproval, recommendation, the rendering of advice, or otherwise in any particular matter in which, to his knowledge, he, his spouse, minor child, partner, organization in which he is serving as officer, director, trustee, partner, or employee or any person or organization with whom he is negotiating or has any arrangement concerning prospective employment has a financial interest.

Conflict of Interest is identified as any action or decision in which an employee is substantially involved that will have a direct and predictable effect on a financial interest of the employee, spouse, minor child, or organization in which the employee serves as an officer, trustee, partner or employee.