Spring Break
Impeachment filed against USG comptroller Ortiz
Christopher Duray
Issue date: 3/2/09 Section: News
A USG senator has filed for impeachment against USG comptroller Jason Ortiz. The impeachment was filed on the grounds that his recent attempt to veto about $12,000 of funding for the paintball team was biased.
The veto was overturned at a USG meeting Feb. 18, that same night, Multicultural and Diversity senator Mary Lorenz sent an e-mail to Chief Justice John Ernst petitioning for an impeachment hearing.
USG procedure says that once impeachment has been filed, the judiciary committee has to vote on whether or not to pass it along to the senate, which then votes on the matter. It takes a two-thirds majority of present senators to approve an impeachment.
Ernst did not respond to several attempts to contact him regarding when the judiciary would convene for a vote.
In accordance with USG policy concerning open matters, Lorenz declined to comment on her position. But according to a copy of her impeachment request, obtained by The Daily Campus from Ortiz, Lorenz says that, in separating and vetoing one group over all the others, Ortiz was making an unfair judgment about the value of that club.
"By comparing the value of the applications of the groups, there is no longer a sense of fairness," Lorenz's e-mail reads. "He is no longer following our policies in applying funding and applications for all groups."
Article nine, section three of the USG Constitution gives the comptroller the ability to veto a funding request, but outside of requiring notification to the rejected party, places no limits on when the officer can exercise that right.
Ortiz defended his veto, saying that the action was an attempt to reduce what he described as non-restricted USG spending.
"I have to make a comparison somewhere, otherwise I'm just a rubber stamp," he said. "If there is no need for discretion, then there's no need for a comptroller."
In her e-mail, Lorenz makes specific mention of a Feb. 4 incident where Ortiz opposed denying funding for alternative break volunteer trips. She writes that he said denying volunteer trips financing was wrong while groups "with not as good of a cause in comparison," like paintball, still received large amounts of funding.
The veto was overturned at a USG meeting Feb. 18, that same night, Multicultural and Diversity senator Mary Lorenz sent an e-mail to Chief Justice John Ernst petitioning for an impeachment hearing.
USG procedure says that once impeachment has been filed, the judiciary committee has to vote on whether or not to pass it along to the senate, which then votes on the matter. It takes a two-thirds majority of present senators to approve an impeachment.
Ernst did not respond to several attempts to contact him regarding when the judiciary would convene for a vote.
In accordance with USG policy concerning open matters, Lorenz declined to comment on her position. But according to a copy of her impeachment request, obtained by The Daily Campus from Ortiz, Lorenz says that, in separating and vetoing one group over all the others, Ortiz was making an unfair judgment about the value of that club.
"By comparing the value of the applications of the groups, there is no longer a sense of fairness," Lorenz's e-mail reads. "He is no longer following our policies in applying funding and applications for all groups."
Article nine, section three of the USG Constitution gives the comptroller the ability to veto a funding request, but outside of requiring notification to the rejected party, places no limits on when the officer can exercise that right.
Ortiz defended his veto, saying that the action was an attempt to reduce what he described as non-restricted USG spending.
"I have to make a comparison somewhere, otherwise I'm just a rubber stamp," he said. "If there is no need for discretion, then there's no need for a comptroller."
In her e-mail, Lorenz makes specific mention of a Feb. 4 incident where Ortiz opposed denying funding for alternative break volunteer trips. She writes that he said denying volunteer trips financing was wrong while groups "with not as good of a cause in comparison," like paintball, still received large amounts of funding.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 14
Webby
posted 3/02/09 @ 10:47 AM EST
What is unfair about denying a small group $12000+ while some larger groups get denied $100+?? They should be giving the guy a medal and a promotion!!
The only thing biased here is USG megalomaniacs trying to sweep this thing under the rug and being biased against Ortiz for making a stand. (Continued…)
bob
posted 3/02/09 @ 11:17 AM EST
Seems like someone has a grudge and they are trying to get back via a procedural filing through USG impeachment process. I remember the last article Ortiz gave sound reasoning for denying the funding request which was subsequently overturned. (Continued…)
G
posted 3/02/09 @ 12:01 PM EST
Seriously? They're impeaching the one guy with any sense? Obviously USG wants him out of the way so they can refurnish that $10,000 room again.
Ivan
posted 3/02/09 @ 12:10 PM EST
Is there any doubt that this motion is being filed out of spite and vindictiveness? Pretty ironic that someone is claiming Ortiz is biased when they themselves are filing the complaint out of bias and a desire for revenge. (Continued…)
Joe
posted 3/02/09 @ 12:20 PM EST
Two words: ludicrous and petty.
Could Lorenz be any less professional? She should be the one impeached, not Ortiz. He's just trying to do his job, but she's trying to turn it into a moment for personal gain and personal vengeance. (Continued…)
JP
posted 3/02/09 @ 1:30 PM EST
This is getting ridiculous. The man rightly denies the paintball team a crazy amount of money, and then a childish senator takes it as an opportunity to act like a baby and carry out a grudge because she didn't fulfill her duties in another club? Get over it. (Continued…)
Alum
posted 3/02/09 @ 2:10 PM EST
I'm glad to see someone stand up to the USG funding process. With such limited resources and so many organizations, the funding of a single organization with $12,000 is absurd. (Continued…)
Bryan Murphy
posted 3/02/09 @ 2:13 PM EST
"I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of power-tripping voices suddenly cried out, 'I'm spurting here.' I fear something terrible has happened. (Continued…)
Robbo
posted 3/02/09 @ 3:00 PM EST
Ortiz you legend!!!
We support you!!!!!!!
Petey
posted 3/02/09 @ 5:57 PM EST
Really? The members of USG love this stuff because it makes them feel important like real politicians. They love trivial matters like impeachments and elections as if any of it really mattered. (Continued…)
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