Stimulating Your Friends

It pays to be friends with Colorado governor Bill Ritter.

Ritter hired his former law firm, the Washington-based Hogan & Hartson, in a no-bid contract to review stimulus spending, The Denver Post reported Friday. It said the firm was paid $40,000 in stimulus money through June.

Aides to the governor insisted the contract was properly awarded. The state attorney general's office deemed the contract necessary to allow the state to have speedy legal advice about stimulus money. The contract is too small to require competitive bidding.

I can't spend $3000 without putting it out for competitive bid.

This might be clean, but Republicans are required to avoid even the appearance of impropriety. Democrats aren't held to so high a standard.

Hat tip: Hot Air