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CORRUPTION UPDATES 13 August 31 to September 8, 2006: The CORRUPTION UPDATES reviews corruption in the news. News Stories from California, the Nation and the World are abstracted below, and followed by commentary and references. |
CORRUPTION UPDATE 13
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Cable TV, Drug Bills Signed
“One law will let phone companies compete to sell pay television services. The other aims to cut medication costs for the uninsured.”
By Nancy Vogel, Times
Staff Writer
September 30, 2006
“SACRAMENTO — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed two sweeping consumer bills Friday that seek to cut the cost of prescription drugs and cable television service for millions of Californians, embracing key issues championed by Democratic lawmakers.”
“The new laws will create a medicine discount program for about 6 million uninsured people and unleash AT&T and Verizon to begin competing next year with cable companies to sell pay television service.”
“The drug and
telecommunications industries spent enormous sums trying to
influence policymakers during the debate over the two bills.”
“AT&T
spent $18 million through June”
“Drug makers, who are loath to see other states replicate California's new law, spent $80 million last year to defeat a ballot measure much like the bill Schwarzenegger signed Friday. Drug makers have made at least $360,000 in donations this year to the governor.”
“Under the new law, drug companies must offer the discounts within three years or risk punishment by the state...”
“Jamie
Court, president of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights
in Santa Monica, predicted that the law would lead to higher pay TV
bills and poor service, because it gives the PUC little leverage
over the phone or cable companies. He called it a gift to AT&T
and Verizon.”
"This bill was wired by millions in
campaign contributions," he said, "and lobbying from AT&T
and Verizon and tens of millions of dollars in aggressive media
[ads] to thank Speaker Nuñez and others."
THE COMMITTEE SAYS:
POLITICAL INCOMPENTENCE AND CORRUPTION SOFT PEDALED BY THIS ARTICE ON DRUG AND TELECOM BILL SIGNINGS:
Liar. Well, half a liar. The Cable bill has unknown impact, except that the telecom companies spent millions on bribes to get it passed. So I would say that the merits of the Cable bill were never honestly debated, they were purchased. The bill they purchased was not designed to benefit “consumers” it was designed to benefit themselves. Remember the “deregulation” of telecom in '87? We're still paying for that one.
The drug bill is a different story. The drug bill is what happens when politicians have let your Pharmaceutical corporations get out from being responsibly regulated for decades. Big Pharm has bought and sold politicians at every level of American Government for decades. The result is prices for medication that are as astronomical as the profits of the pharmaceutical industry. But their reign of pricing terror is almost over.
There is a whole country full of ticked-off senior and disabled citizens who are being impoverished by their drug bills. They almost passed a drug initiative last year. The full wealth and might of big pharm and the politicians barley stopped them.
This bill was crafted because the politicians saw the handwriting on the wall, and they are very afraid that if they do not put themselves at the head of the parade, it will march over them. And if Mr. Nunez wants to be Governor, (he does) he has to stay in front of the parade.
Bill passage is dependent on two factors in California politics: The first is the money spent by special interests. The second is the political currency that politicians gain by taking a side on the Bill. Political Currency translates into special interest money. Arnie and Ronnie are prime examples of the translation of political currency into real financial support.
Quick note on future “leaders:” Did anyone else interpret Colin Powell's letter to Senator McCain, against torture, which was read on the floor of the Senate, as Powell's acceptance of the VP position on McCain's Presidential Bid?
I
did. If true, watch Powell carefully. He will be emerging from his
exile, and he may have some interesting things to say...
Report Details Abramoff Ties to White House
“The convicted lobbyist and his associates had hundreds of contacts with the executive branch, a bipartisan House probe finds.”
By Peter Wallsten and
Walter F. Roche Jr., Times Staff Writers
September 29, 2006
“The report documents hundreds of direct contacts between the White House and the now-disgraced Abramoff and his colleagues, including 82 with Rove's office; nine of those were with President Bush's chief strategist himself.”
“Capping a months-long investigation by the Republican-controlled House Government Reform Committee, the report said its findings provided "an unusually detailed glimpse into a sordid subculture of fraud and attempted influence peddling.".”
“...between January 2001 and March 2004, the lobbyist and his associates had more than 400 contacts with White House officials. Many came in official meetings, and others involved pricey restaurants and sporting events such as the NCAA basketball playoffs.”
“Abramoff's
team secured $16.3 million in public money for a key client —
the Choctaw Indian tribe — after a meeting with then-White
House political director Ken Mehlman. The Department of
Justice was resisting release of the funds, which were intended to
finance a new jail for the tribe. But Abramoff partner Tony Rudy
recounted in e-mails that he reminded Mehlman during their meeting
of the Choctaws' contributions to Republicans.”
"Mehlman
said he would take care of this," Rudy wrote. "He's a rock
star."
“Rudy, a onetime aide to
former Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas), has pleaded guilty to conspiracy.
He admitted accepting favors, cash and other gifts while working in
DeLay's House leadership office and after leaving to become a
lobbyist.”
“The
House committee's ranking Democrat, Rep. Henry A. Waxman of Los
Angeles, said Thursday that the report portrays a "much closer
relationship between Mr. Abramoff and White House officials than the
White House has previously acknowledged."
"The
documents reviewed by the committee, if accurate, contain evidence
that White House officials at the most senior levels of government
repeatedly took actions requested by Mr. Abramoff," Waxman
said. "And they raise serious questions about the legality
and ethics of the actions of multiple White House officials.".”
“The
committee's Republican chairman, Rep. Thomas M. Davis III of
Virginia, said Thursday that the report raised questions about
activities in the White House — rare criticism from a member
of the GOP leadership.”
“A news release from Davis'
office said the 95-page report revealed only scant and
circumstantial evidence that Abramoff's encounters and entreaties
had a dispositive impact on administration policy or personnel
decisions." But it singled out Ralston — Rove's
assistant and Abramoff's former employee — who was lobbied 69
times, the most contacts with any individual named in the report.
She also received numerous tickets to concerts and sporting events.”
“The
(Abramoff) lobbyist later e-mailed an associate that Rove was "set
to help us when we need it…. He's a great guy. Told me
anytime we need something just let him know through Susan.".”
“The
report also cited a number of e-mails discussing Rove's visits to
Signatures, a Washington restaurant owned by Abramoff.”
THE COMMITTEE SAYS:
ABRAMOFF, DELAY, ROVE, WHITE HOUSE, & ECT SCANDAL PROVES DEMOCRATIC REFORM REQUIRED. NOW:
We have all the evidence necessary to prove that a through reform of our campaign financing practices is required. The real dilemma is what to base this reform on, and how to guide this reform through our system.
Our reform must be based on democracy, and all special interest financing of our candidates and officeholders must be terminated.
Also see:
U.S.
firm botching jobs, Congress told
Bipartisan criticism for
builder of police academy that had human waste dripping from the
ceilings
Griff Witte, Washington Post
Friday, September 29, 2006
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/09/29/MNG4VLEUHK1.DTL
(09-29) 04:00 PDT “Washington -- The same contractor that botched construction of a $75 million police academy in Baghdad so badly that human waste dripped from the ceilings has produced shoddy work on 13 out of 14 projects reviewed by federal auditors...”
“Iraq's most important moneymaker -- its oil industry -- lost $16 billion in potential foreign sales over two years to insurgent attacks, criminals and bad equipment, a secret U.S. audit says.”
“The academy was intended as a showcase for U.S. efforts to train Iraqi recruits who eventually are expected to take control of the nation's security from the U.S. military. But lawmakers said Thursday that they fear it will become a symbol of a different sort.”
“"This is the lens through which Iraqis will now see America," said Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Los Angeles. "Incompetence. Profiteering. Arrogance. And human waste oozing out of ceilings as a result."
THE COMMITTEE SAYS:
RAQ “RECONSTRUCTION” AS DAMAGING TO IRAQ AS INVASION AND OCCUPATION: WashPost. What we didn't destroy with our weapons, we will destroy with our reconstruction:
American attempts to control, “privatize,” and profit, from the Iraq invasion went down in flames before the plan left the minds of Wolfawitz and Cheny. Unless you are Haliburton, KBR, or Parsons, or are among the group of war profiteers tied to the Administration.
Corruption
Updates 25, 9th article on page; “Nominee
for Pentagon watchdog withdraws” Pentagon starts second year
without oversight.
Gingrich urges overriding Supreme Court
The Associated Press
Last Updated 2:10 pm PDT Friday, September 29, 2006
http://dwb.sacbee.com/24hour/politics/story/3384712p-12447788c.html
“WASHINGTON (AP) - Supreme Court decisions that are "so clearly at variance with the national will" should be overridden by the other branches of government, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich says.”
“Newt said that, “overwhelming majorities in Congress had reaffirmed the Pledge of Allegiance, and most of the public believes in its right to recite it.”
As such, he said, "It would be a violation of the social compact of this country for the Supreme Court to decide otherwise and would lead, I hope, the two other branches to correct the court."
THE COMMITTEE SAYS:
NEWT DECLARES HIMSELF A TRAITOR AGAINST CONSTITUTION
Newt finds weird powers sufficient to make Supreme Court disappear:
Mr. Gingrich has finally lost it. Our Constitution does mention the Supreme Court. It nowhere mentions the “national will,” whatever the heck that is. How do we determine the “National Will?” How do we impose it on the Supreme Court? And on everyone else? (What if the “national will” is Mexican? What do we do then? Does a “national will” need elections? Can the “national will” change its mind, be indecisive, or even contradictory? What happens then, NEWT?) These questions require that we must put somebody like Newt in charge of a brand newt and necessary “Department of the Homeland Will.” Newt can interpret the national will and pass its' command on to us..
Newt goes on to identify how the Supreme Court is violating the “Social Compact of this country.” Now, I'm not a big fan of the politics that brought our Judges to the bench, but hell Newt, you're confusing something weird, some type of foggy notion of a “social compact,” with our Constitution. Newt, our Constitution is the “social Compact” of this country.
Newt's weird notions of a “national will,” and “social compact” have absolutely no legitimacy, and are, in fact, TRAITOR TALK. Newt is not just attacking the remnants of the very basis of our (almost lost) freedoms, Our Constitution, but he is attacking the notion of having any constitutional restraints on the Executive and Legislative powers. Newt is attacking the principals the Supreme Court is charged with enforcing. Newt is a threat to our Constitution, and our Country.
What this really looks like, is that Newt is trying to outdo the Executive Branch in ripping up the Constitution to find new authorities and powers. The powers of the Newt! Newt's running for president on the NEW AUTHORITY ticket.
Or maybe we should call this new (newt) authority the “Dorthy” power: If you really, really believe in America, and close your eyes, and say the Pledge of Allegiance, while clicking your heels like a NAZI, then you can make Our Constitutional Rights, and the Supreme Court's protection of unpopular Speech, and the protections against the Tyranny of the Majority, disappear.
The Special Interests will really flock to this if they think Newt has a chance of victory. Newt has the trends of recent history on his side.
Bush has made our most important Constitutional Protections disappear, and his is a Presidency of “expanded” authorities. The Next Step in the evolution of these “expanded” presidential authorities are being mapped out by Newt. So Newt might as well shoot for making a whole branch of our government disappear. I can see the headline:
“Newt holding Constitution in secret prison in Afghanistan (or maybe Guantanamo) as an enemy combatant against the “social compact” of our “national will”. Supreme Court does not dare to intervene, Congress refuses to do oversight.” That's not the future. It's happening right now.
Doolittle, rival duel on alleged abuses
By David Whitney - Bee Washington Bureau
Published 12:00 am PDT
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Story appeared in MAIN NEWS section,
Page A1
http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/30590.html
“WASHINGTON -- Rep. John Doolittle of Roseville and his Democratic challenger, former Air Force officer Charles Brown, are fighting an open battle over what the eight-term Republican lawmaker knew about the sex trade in distant lands -- and when he knew it.”
“the Brown campaign went on the attack with radio ads accusing Doolittle of tolerating forced abortion and sex slavery by supporting disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff in his defense of the garment industry in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.”
“The Doolittle campaign responded...brand(ing) Brown as desperate and shameful.”
“At issue is Doolittle's work in 1999 to help Abramoff secure a contract with the Saipan government to stop Congress from enacting reforms that would have stopped what many said were rampant abuses in the garment industry. Abramoff pleaded guilty in January to three felony charges in connection with his lobbying of House members.”
“The plants were lucrative because they could sell their products in the United States under the "made in the USA" label but without having to comply with U.S. minimum-wage laws.”
“Doolittle's office said the congressman never saw any of the alleged abuses when he was in the territory in early 1999. The Bee also reported that Doolittle received $14,000 in political contributions from Abramoff during the period he was helping Abramoff, with the last one arriving just as the contract was expiring at the end of 2001.”
“The Brown campaign put up at one of its Web sites, www.doolittlefacts.org, a registered letter sent to Doolittle's office on April 7, 1997, from Wendy L. Doromal, who had taught on the islands and said she had witnessed the abuses.”
“At the time, former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, regarded the Northern Mariana Islands and the garment industry as "a petri dish for capitalism." Doolittle was a loyal lieutenant of DeLay's. A former aide to the Roseville congressman, Kevin Ring, worked for Abramoff heading up the Northern Mariana Islands contract in 2001.”
THE COMMITTEE SAYS:
DOOLITTLE DEFENDS CORRUPTION AND IGNORANCE, NEW RECIPE FOR POLITICAL SUCCESS.
Doolittle's corruption unquestionable: Race boils down to question of ignorance:
Somebody's “shameful,” and it's not the messenger, it's the message. The message is that our politicians are for sale. What Mr. Doolittle knew is less important than the fact his influence was for sale. Knowledge, or lack of knowledge (was Doolittle ignorant of what was going on?) does not create or eliminate ethics. It gives ethics, or the lack of ethics, a basis to act upon. Mr. Doolittle has no ethical basis, and no amount of knowledge, or lack of knowledge, is going to change this internal, moral fact about his character.
I suppose it made it worse if he knew of the specific
abuses, which he probably did. The sale of influence alone is
sufficient to exclude this person from any public office.
Also See:
Corporate Gifts Help Governor Fund Bill-Signing Ceremonies
“His use of private money saves tax dollars, but critics say it lets him circumvent campaign finance rules.”
By Peter
Nicholas and Dan Morain, Times Staff Writers
September
29, 2006
“SACRAMENTO —
A tax-exempt group set up to create jobs is being used by
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to bankroll a pair of splashy
bill-signing events designed to attract publicity as he runs for
reelection.”
“Unlike contributions to
Schwarzenegger's campaign account, donations to the nonprofit are
not subject to caps or disclosure requirements.”
“Schwarzenegger
this week staged carefully choreographed ceremonies against the
picturesque backdrops of Malibu and San Francisco Bay's Treasure
Island, signing legislation to curb emissions that contribute to
global warming.”
“the
cost is being picked up by the Commission for Jobs and Economic
Growth, a nonprofit panel that Schwarzenegger launched in 2004 to
lure business to California. The commission is planning to raise
about $25,000 to help pay for the events, according to executive
director Mark Mosher.”
“Among the
commission's donors are major California companies with business
before the state, including PG&E and Southern California
Edison.”
“Watchdog groups said that when the
governor takes official actions, taxpayers should foot the bill —
not companies with business in Sacramento.”
“PG&E
spokeswoman Jann Taber said the company donated $100,000 to the
governor's nonprofit group in March. Although a Schwarzenegger
aide raised the subject of an additional contribution to help cover
bill-signing costs, the company has not given more, she said.”
“...Schwarzenegger praised PG&E and other companies for supporting the global warming bill, calling them "farsighted.".”
“Schwarzenegger
has set some limits on who may contribute to his campaigns, but the
jobs panel operates by different rules.”
“For
example, Schwarzenegger aides once refused to accept direct campaign
contributions from PG&E, hoping to avoid the appearance of a
conflict of interest as the governor crafted a state energy policy.
But there were no such restrictions for the jobs commission.”
“Both PG&E and Southern California Edison maintain an active lobbying presence in Sacramento and are regulated by the state Public Utilities Commission. A majority of the PUC's five commissioners have been appointed by Schwarzenegger.”
“Asked
why the governor is using private money to underwrite public
functions, the governor's press secretary, Margita Thompson, said:
"We've always done everything we can to minimize the cost to
taxpayers. She added that the bill
signings amounted to a "historic event" that
called for more than routine treatment. Mosher said his group is
paying part of the tab "because we have a number of companies
that have expressed interest in environmental technology as a growth
area for the economy."
“He (Mosher) said the jobs
commission is a "nonpartisan, completely nonpolitical
organization. More than a year ago, Mosher told The Times that the
jobs commission had raised about $1 million in contributions. He has
not responded to repeated Times requests for an updated amount."
“Aides to Schwarzenegger's Democratic challenger, state Treasurer Phil Angelides, sharply criticized the governor's use of corporate money that is not publicly disclosed. “
“Schwarzenegger has set some limits on who may contribute to his campaigns, but the jobs panel operates by different rules. For example, Schwarzenegger aides once refused to accept direct campaign contributions from PG&E, hoping to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest as the governor crafted a state energy policy. But there were no such restrictions for the jobs commission.”
THE COMMITTEE SAYS:
GOVERNOR, PGE, SET UP POLITICAL SLUSH FUND
Arnie pulls a play from the Abramoff playbook, and sets up a front org. slush fund:
Arnie has a front group to channel funds for his political usage. This is the same system DeLay and Abramoff used. It is the same system the Democrats use. It is part of a system that must be outlawed.
Angelides criticism is funny coming from a guy who used the Teachers Fund to extort contributions from corporations it does business with.
Arnie is doing what Phil dreams about: Playing both sides of the game. Arnie has set up a slush fund to challenge the Democrats slush funds: control of Cal-Pers and the union retirement funds as “contribution machines”.
Later Article on PG&E Slush Fund
Most in U.S. say Congress short-sighted
By DEVLIN BARRETT, Associated Press Writer
Last Updated 10:13 am PDT Friday, September 29, 2006
http://dwb.sacbee.com/24hour/politics/story/3384556p-12447144c.html
“WASHINGTON (AP) - Americans are very worried about the long-term future of the country, and they don't think Congress is paying attention to big issues on the horizon...”
“"What we found is there is tremendous demand for answers. They may not know exactly what to do but they're very, very worried.".“
THE COMMITTEE SAYS:
AMERICANS IDENTIFY CONGRESSIONAL STUPIDITY
Narrow questions by media try to limit impact of citizens discontent:
This is typical of how the mass media asks narrow questions, and finds no real answers to their questions. Thus article explores our citizens insecurities by posing questions that always move respondents away from sources of the problems, the real issues that trouble our citizens.
The questions are tailored for “consumers” concerns, rather than the issues that would trouble citizens. Are you worried about Social Security, or are you really worried about the ability of our leaders to honestly address the security of our elderly. Our real concern is about how we value things in our country. Are you worried about roads and bridges and global warming, or are you worried about how, the very way, we approach and address these problems?
Our citizens are showing a fundamental insecurity, a lack of faith in our leaders and the direction they are taking our nation. The mass media cannot ignore this widespread insecurity, but they can redirect peoples' concerns away from any meaningful questions about why and how we have gotten ourselves into this situation.
We have a series of Corruption Updates that review articles about our insecurity, about our loss of political and spiritual faith, but not one of them addresses the issue more than superficially. Not one of the gages used to measure our psyche, delves deeper into our quavering faith than superficially addressing the symptoms of our deeper problems. So let's ask the real question: What is the root of the widespread insecurity that the people are manifesting? (Hint: It's not the bad roads. bridges, and schools that we plague ourselves with.) It's the bad, undemocratic spirit that we create and guide our policies by.
People are nervous, the press tells us, because the superficial, the material, the infrastructure is falling apart. The Committee for Democracy in California tells you that this material breakdown is product of the meltdown of our political ethics and values. Our ethical meltdown assures that our society, its economy, its infrastructure, and most importantly, its citizens will be drained of their assets.
People are nervous about our infrastructure, not because it is breaking down, but because it is being used to drain them, rather than maintain them.
The failure of medicade, social security, our schools, hospitals, bridges and roads, while the greatest fortunes in history are being assembled here, is a product of our present regime of corruption. And our citizens are feeling the insecurity of a system that has been corrupted to work against its own people. The press is reporting the superficial manifestations of our political malaise, but turns a blind eye to the causes, the abuses of our democracy, that have made our people insecure.
(THIS IS A SECOND ARTICLE ON THE ROVE-WHITE HOUSE CONNECTION. IT HAS MORE INFORMATION)
Convicted lobbyist had
several direct contacts with Rove
Report details White House
links to Jack Abramoff
Philip Shenon, New York Times IN CHRON
Friday, September 29, 2006
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/09/29/MNGLOLF6T31.DTL
09-29) 04:00 PDT “Washington -- A bipartisan congressional report documents hundreds of contacts between White House officials and corrupt lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his partners, including at least 10 direct contacts between Abramoff and Karl Rove, President Bush's chief political strategist.
The report by the House Government Reform Committee, based on e-mail messages and other records subpoenaed from Abramoff's lobbying firm, found 485 contacts between Abramoff's lobbying team and White House officials from 2001 to 2004, including 82 with Rove's office.
The lobbyists spent almost $25,000 in meals and drinks for the White House officials and also provided them with tickets to numerous sporting events and concerts, according to the report, scheduled for release today.“
“...the report also suggests that Abramoff's lobbying resulted in Bush administration actions that benefited Abramoff clients, including decisions to distribute millions of dollars in federal funds to Indian tribes with large gambling operations.”
“After an especially aggressive lobbying campaign in 2001 and 2002, involving 73 contacts with White House officials, Abramoff claimed credit for a Bush administration decision to release $16.3 million to a Mississippi tribe for jail construction, despite opposition from the Justice Department, the report found.”
“Rove has described
Abramoff as a casual acquaintance, but the records obtained by the
House committee show that Rove and his aides sought Abramoff's
help in obtaining seats at sporting events and sat with Abramoff in
the lobbyist's box seats for an NCAA playoff basketball game in
2002.”
“Susan Ralston, Abramoff's former secretary, who joined the White House in February 2001 as Rove's executive assistant”
“Ralston,
who did not return phone calls seeking comment Thursday, was lobbied
scores of times by Abramoff and his partners, the report found, and
was instrumental in passing messages between Abramoff and senior
officials at the White House, including Rove and Kenneth Mehlman.”
THE COMMITTEE SAYS:
AMERICAN POLITICAL LEADERS DEVOID OF DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPAL: TANGLED WEB OF CORRUPTION AT CENTERS OF POWER.
These criminals must be throughly investigated and prosecuted as necessary:
Both articles on the Rove-Abramoff story, reviewed on this page, are good reporting. I find it interesting that Susan Ralston switched from being Abramoff's exec sec, to being Rove's exec sec. That, my friends, is a smoking gun, in the land of the revolving door. A direct link between two poles of corruption. One inside of government, the other outside.
The Republican plans to turn K street into Republican territory, combined with military-style organization, and coordination of special interest money, is a crime against our democratic principals. Staffers moving between the special interests and government jobs shines a light on the putrid web of corruption tying Rove, Delay, and Abramoff together at the center of power. They shared staffers like drug addicts share needles. This is the loftiest heights a web of corruption can reach.
Oh, yeah. And they spent $25,000 on drinks and meals. I doubt that I've eaten and drank $25,000 during my whole life.
Also
See: Rove Links Abramoff Links
Monday, 2 October 2006, 08:18 GMT 09:18 UK BBC
Peerage probe police quiz Tories
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/uk_news/politics/5397856.stm
“Four major donors to the Conservative Party have been questioned by police investigating "cash for peerages" claims, it has emerged.
They include a businessman whose nomination for a peerage last autumn was blocked by the body which vets appointments to the House of Lords. “
THE COMMITTEE SAYS:
WANT TO BE A “LORD?” BRITISH TORIES SELLING PEERAGES
British find common basis, and link between wealth and aristocracy: corruption.
The Committee deplores the sale of political power, or privilege, anywhere, by anyone. But there is a weird quality of equality between the Tories and Labor; they both offer peerages for profit.
Read articles on Peerage Scandal
Florida: Priests Accused of Stealing Millions
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: September 29, 2006
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/29/us/29brfs-004.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
“Two Roman Catholic priests stole millions of dollars in offerings and gifts made to their parish as far back as 40 years ago, prosecutors said. One of the priests, Msgr. John Skehan,...who was pastor at St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church in Delray Beach for four decades, was arrested Wednesday night on charges that he stole $8.6 million from the church, using the money to buy property and other assets...”
THE COMMITTEE SAYS:
IS EVERYONE CORRUPT? FLORIDA CHARGES PRIESTS WITH MULTI-MILLION SCAM OF CHURCH
Churches-evangelicals prove corruption is everywhere:
The Committee believes that democracy will bring good people into government, and drive the bad into the shadows. But, as this article shows, you cannot eliminate corruption.
We must therefore create a political system with rules that make it difficult to conduct or maintain corrupt practices and relationships. But as the example of the Church, and Ralph Reed, demonstrates, corruption is virtually impossible to eliminate. But that does not excuse us from giving it our best effort.
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