Today, WV intervenor Ali Haverty filed her second motion to compel discovery. Her first motion, filed in September, was granted in December and brought us all the list of PATH's "donations" and "certain civic and political activities. As a follow-up, Ali asked to see invoices for certain of PATH's vendors. PATH counsel Phil Melick and Randy Palmer tipped their collective hand by going a little nutty-cuckoo in their response. Hey, fellas, next time you poke a stick in the lion's cage, make sure the door is securely latched first... just sayin' ;-)
Ali's motion of today not only thoroughly trounces their legal "arguments" (someone was really reaching there, weren't they?), but questions PATH counsel's vicious, unfounded, libelous attacks on her character.
Ali has been more than patient with these incredibly caustic, nasty little children and their juvenile character assassinations. Now it's time for them to get reprimanded and sent to their rooms without supper, as only the mother of 4 children under the age of 12 can do so well. Ali has remained cheerful and pleasant throughout, she's even polite when she rakes them over the coals. However, it's about time the PSC assert a little authority here and give PATH the slap upside the head they so well deserve. Wasn't the PSC worried about the citizen intervenors turning the case into an unprofessional, name-calling cesspool? Funny that the ones actually responsible for that are PATH themselves. Grow up, PATH!! And now that I'm done giving the "Mom Lecture", please turn your attention to Ali's reasons for compelling this information.
It seems that some of the PATH lobbyists that were on the list of "Certain civic and political activity" payments are up to no good on PATH's behalf. Ali included a copy of a State of Maryland Lobbyist Registration form for one of these paid lobbyists. On the registration, this lobbyist has listed the matters upon which he will be acting during the registration period in the State of Maryland. First on his list is "Certificate of Need". You know, that approval PATH needs from the impartial Maryland Public Service Commission? Why would PATH need a lobbyist acting on that? I thought PATH was "needed" to prevent brownouts and blackouts in Maryland? If it was truly needed, I don't think a lobbyist would need to persuade the PSC to approve it. Are you paying attention, citizens of Maryland? Ali just handed you a big, gift-wrapped present.
Nice work, PATH counsel. I can always count on you to screw things up when push comes to shove. :-)