Ethics Hearing on Clel Baudler, Albert Pujols Contract

Third Time's a Charm: For the third time, we await the state ethics hearing against Greenfield Republican State Rep. Clel Baudler. He admitted that he lied about having physical problems when he applied to get medical marijuana in California. Baudler said he got the prescription but never got it filled. And he only did this, he said, to show how easy it is to get medical pot. A local activist who wants to legalize medical marijuana filed the ethics complaint against Baudler for lying. The hearing takes place Wednesday. Well, we think it will. It's already been delayed two other times. The hearing is set for 12:30pm. We will be there. Unless it gets delayed.

Speaking of Waiting...: Albert Pujols is already one of the greatest players the St. Louis Cardinals have ever had. He is scheduled to be a free agent at the end of the upcoming baseball season. He and his agent gave the Cardinals until Wednesday at 11am to either get a new contract or shut down talks until after the season. If it's true Pujols is demanding an unheard of 10-year, $300 million contract and won't budge from that, then, Albert, it was good knowing you. There is NO way the Cards will pay that much, especially since that would make Pujols 41 years old when the contract ends. No sane fan thinks he will still be this good that far from now. Even the Yankees and Red Sox, two teams that seem to print money at will, can't think Pujols should get a 10-year contract, at least I don't think they will.

Having said all of this, the Cardinals sold fans that if they helped finance a new stadium for 2006 with millions of taxpayer dollars, then the Cards could be more financially competitive. Well, gentlemen, taxpayers gave you what you wanted and kept showing up 3-million-a-year strong in the seats. So now, it's your turn to make something happen with Pujols. And, Albert, how about being a little more reasonable? 7 years, $200 plus million? Would that really stop you from keeping food on the dinner table for your family? No, it won't. And, hopefully, your devoted fans, many of whom ARE struggling to keep food on the table, will keep paying too much money to see you play in the only the way you can.

Baudler Hearing Delayed Again

Still Waiting: We thought we would find out this past Thursday if a state ethics committee thought retired state trooper-turned State Rep. Clel Baudler could get into some trouble. Baudler doesn't hide the fact he lied about his health when he applied to try to get a prescription for medical marijuana in California (it's legal there). Baudler said he never actually tried to fill the prescription to help the hemorrhoids (which he says he doesn't really have). Mike Pesce, of Des Moines, a legalize marijuana activist, filed the complaint with the ethics committee saying Baudler should get punished for breaking California law by lying on his application.

Lawmakers ended up delaying the ethics hearing Thursday and rescheduled it for Valentine's Day Monday. Today, House Chief Clerk Charlie Smithson sent out this message letting us know the meeting won't address the Baudler complaint Monday either. Here's his message:

Due to scheduling logistics for some of the House Ethics Committee members:

1. The meeting on February 14 at noon for the House Ethics Committee will be a discussion on the proposed House Rules Governing Lobbyists ONLY.

2. There will be NO discussion on the Pesce v. Baudler Ethics Complaint. This issue will be the focal point of the next Ethics Committee meeting (not yet scheduled).

Thank you all.

Charlie Smithson

Chief Clerk of the House