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CORRUPTION UPDATES 5 September 1 and 2, 2006 The CORRUPTION UPDATES posts corruption news stories from California, the Nation and the World, and gives you the straight story. |
CORRUPTION UPDATE 5
Previous Corruption Updates: Page 4
Next Corruption Updates: Page 6
The
Article Says:
Not All Ethics Clouds Darken Election Day
“Some incumbents facing scrutiny are favored to return to Congress anyway, undercutting Democrats' 'culture of corruption' attack.
By Richard Simon,
LATimes Staff Writer”
September 2, 2006
The Committee Says:
CORRUPTION FAILS AS CAMPAIGN ISSUE: BOTH PARTIES EQUALLY CORRUPT:
Dems unable and unwilling to make corruption an issue: they would have too much too lose.
This article explores the impact of Corruption on Democratic political chances this November, stating that, “Ethics scandals cast a shadow over the last session of Congress”, and that the "culture of corruption" under the Republican majority was expected to be a major Democratic theme in the midterm campaign. But it hasn't turned out that way.” What this article fails to mention is that both parties are participating in EXACTLY the same environment of BRIBERY and INFLUENCE PEDDLING.
The Democrats' have no degree of separation from Republican Corruption. Democrats take all the money they can get, from the same system of Corruption, and the voters know it. Mr. Simon says, “Polls have shown that most Americans see the two parties as equally prone to corruption. “ Excellent word choice. “Equally prone”? Both parties ARE EQUALLY CORRUPT, but only one can be the most corrupt at one time. The Democrats have no problem with corruption. They just want to be the ones getting the biggest share. BUT WHAT ABOUT CORRUPTION REFORM?
Simon quotes a history prof. as saying, "There (the parties have)...not as much to gain by investing the entire campaign on that theme." Both parties would have to totally reinvent themselves if their special interest sponsors were removed from the funding picture. Neither party has any interest in becoming democratic.
Interested in the Pombo and Dolittle races? Apparently big time corruption is not a problem for their chances of reelection. Both are expected to get reelected. As is about every incumbent in the country. Anybody think it's time for a change?
11th-Hour Bills Receive Little Scrutiny
In the hectic final hours of the legislative session, lawmakers may introduce significant changes. Watchdog groups don't have time to counter them.
By Evan Halper, Times
Staff Writer
September 2, 2006
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-me-jam2sep02,1,6414682,full.story?coll=la-headlines-politics
The Committee Says: We've the time to counter them!!
SPECIAL INTERESTS/DEMS RUSH LAST MINUTE BILLS THROUGH ASSEMBLY:
This article soft pedals
the rush of last minute corruption that just ended any pretense
of ethics in our Assembly.
This
story describes the ability of political influence peddlers to
to serve their special interest masters by slipping
irresponsible, dishonorable, legislation through the legislature
at the end of the session. With the consent of the leadership of
BOTH PARTIES.
Mr. Halper introduces us to a political
innovation, one of the “accomplishments” of our
political system, the passing of “bills that, by design,
are dashed through the Legislature so quickly that even their
authors may not know what's hidden in them. Often, they involve
goodies for various interest groups.” Oh, BULl.
Everyone in the legislature knows whats going on. They sit
silent, waiting for their turn to do the same thing. But the
most important interest group for our politicians is themselves.
Mr. Halper states that, “ Legislative leaders suddenly fast-tracked the measure, skipping committee votes on SB 145 by Kevin Murray (D-Culver City). The bill would lift the ban on sitting officeholders' accepting contributions when they are no longer running for reelection or for another seat. The money raised could be used for such things as meals and travel.” OUR POLITICIANS ARE STEALING UNTIL THE VERY END OF THEIR CAREERS.
Look forward to seeing us publish a list of the offensive politicians who voted for this stinker, and the leaders who sponsored this disreputable bill. The most troubling aspect is that the “lawmakers knew exactly what they were doing ,” and that their goal was even more ominous than personal greed, 'cause, "This bill allows them to create personal slush funds...” The “Supporters of the bill, including legislative leaders from both parties, say they need such funds for traveling to events and for paying the lawyers who file their campaign finance reports.” We will pay the full expenses to ride them out of the state on a rail, with pleasure, and no expectation of return. Want to help?
The end of the article posts a list of the dishonorable bills presented at the end of the session. Read it and weep for your lost democracy.
It is time to end the arrogance of our politicians, and make them dependent on the voters for their jobs and money. Support the initiative.
FBI probes office of Sen. Stevens' son
By MATT VOLZ, Associated Press Writer
Last Updated 8:40 pm PDT Friday, September 1, 2006
http://www.sacbee.com/24hour/politics/story/3363672p-12379644c.html
The Committee Says:
POLITICS IN ALASKA UNDER INVESTIGATION:
The ownership of Alaskan politics by the oil industry has an unusual challenger:
The FBI
This 20 search warrants executed on the political leaders of Alaska are described in this article. Apparently, legal political contributions were mistaken for influence peddling and bribery linked to a new production tax law, and a draft natural gas pipeline contract Little solid information about corruption is offered in this article, but since corporate contributions legally buy favorable contracts, policies, laws, it's hard to see how any law was broken.
Whatever anyone says about Alberto Gonzales, his corruption attorneys are prosecuting corruption, and they have plenty of corruption to prosecute. You can't turn around without stepping into a pile of corruption. Except there is one minor problem. Corruption is legal, under our Campaign Finance laws.
The Alaskan warrants, if productive, indicate a particularly intense greed. George Bush was put into the presidency by a special interest coalition led by the oil companies. Enron's internal abuses are now legendary, but the external economic and political power of Enron, and the whole energy industry has been so profitable, and the money spread so widely among the political parties, that it would take an extremely voracious greed to break the law, and threaten their legally sanctioned corrupt profits.
This article cites six of the that warrants were served on the offices of:
“Republican Senate President Ben Stevens, whose father is Alaska's senior senator, who has reported collecting more than $240,000 in consulting fees.”
State Sen. John Cowdery, the Senate Rules chairman.
Republican state Rep. Vic Kohring.
Republican state Rep. Bruce Weyhrauch.
Democratic state Sen. Donald Olson.
Republican state Rep. Pete Kott.
The rest of the warrants were served on a “Republican pollster,” and VECO Corp, apparently a powerful force in Alaskan Oil Politics.
The problem was that Bill Allen and Richard Smith, executives of “oil field services giant” VECO Corp. may have been a little too enthusiastic with their political participation. And the politicians a little too enthusiastic about about pursuing careers in Big Oil after their terms expired. Mr. Volz reported that, “Agents also looked for documents about contracts, agreements or employment of legislators provided by VECO, Allen, Smith and company president Peter Leathard. This must be stopped.
We'll keep you posted.
Latest: Corruption Updates 55 , 1st article on the Page, "FBI Gets Bribers, But Misses the Corporate Sponsors and Political Tools"
Big Oil Owns our Government: Big Oil
Casino compacts blocked
Democrats halt 22,000 new slot machines
By Clea Benson -- Bee Capitol Bureau
Published 12:01 am PDT Friday, September 1, 2006
http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/ca/story/14314426p-15222714c.html
“Democrats on Thursday blocked new compacts that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger negotiated with five of the state's richest casino tribes, stalling action on more than 22,000 new slot machines until next year.”
“Democratic leaders refused to vote on one bill ratifying the agreements, saying the governor sent details of the compacts too late for proper scrutiny before the end of the legislative session at midnight Thursday.”
The Committee Says:
ASSEMBLY DEMS BLOCK CASINO DEAL:
Dems bribed better by big labor than Indians, and reject Gov's deal.
The Democrats have sent a clear message to the Indians: You must pay, and play, on both sides of the political divide. The Indians, if they are smart, will respond by bribing the Democrats more throughly. The Democrats apologized to the Indians, keeping the door open for a reconsideration, if the big checks come in. The Unions, who the Indians want to keep out of their casinos, give significant BRIBES to the Democrats. This will not be a problem if the Indians respond with a similar level of BRIBERY. This will provide an important lesson to the Indians: If you bribe just one side, the other becomes more expensive. BRIBE BOTH SIDES AT ONCE. GIVE THE DOMINANT PARTY A LARGER PERCENTAGE. TELL THE MINORITY PARTY YOU WILL CHANGE THE SPLIT WHEN, AND IF, THEY GET IN POWER. Job done.
But this mistake is going to cost the Indians dearly. The public interest in all this? Their “policy making” does not take the welfare of the State into consideration.
Next Article: Indians take Revenge on Dems
The
Article Says:
Yearlong fight for safety measures ends in defeat.
By Jim Sanders -- Bee Capitol Bureau
Published 12:01 am PDT Friday, September 1, 2006
http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/ca/story/14314424p-15222709c.html
“The California Legislature's last-gasp attempt to pass a package of flood-control proposals designed to lessen disaster risk and increase public safety died Thursday night in an Assembly committee. “
The Committee Says:
GREED DEFEATS RESPONSIBILITY: FLOOD BILLS DIE:
Perata's fake revival of flood bills dies a predictable death: Developers gave him a Half-Mil.
Shame on the whole California Legislature. Let's sum the whole thing up: GREED Vs. RESPONSIBILITY. Look what won in our Legislature: Greed. We're not surprised, but embarrassed. But we predicted that Greed would triumph in our legislature.
Throughout the arguments presented in this article, between the developers wealth and power, and the need for safe growth in the flood-prone delta, we are confronted with a fundamental issue: California's massive growth rate. This itself is a product of generational irresponsibility, and the cost of our irresponsibility, of underfunded growth and development, are now coming due. Our politicians' response is to speed up irresponsible growth, to take bribes from developers, and kill any bills that get in the way of the massive profits of the developers. The state will pay dearly to clean up the mess while the developers reap huge profits.
We believe the Legislature could have crafted responsible flood-plain legislation, if it was not bribed by the developers. Not bribed, that's too harsh. Let's say “funded.”
More on articles Flood Control
Schwarzenegger on a big-time roll with voters and legislators
By Dan Walters -- Bee Columnist
Published 12:01 am PDT Friday, September 1, 2006
http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/ca/story/14314428p-15222704c.html
The Article Says:
“...as the traditional Labor Day kickoff for formal campaigning arrives, Schwarzenegger continues to gain momentum -- with Democratic lawmakers playing no small role in his recovery -- while the Democratic candidate for governor, Phil Angelides, continues to languish.“
The laughable numbers
Mr. Walters provides here, are that “Angelides is being
supported by a dismal 58 percent of Democratic voters” The
totals are even worse for Angelides overall, with Arnie having a
“45 percent to 32 percent lead over Angelides, which puts
the governor very close to having the race locked up...”
The Committee Says:
ARNIES AND DEMS MORE ALIKE THAN DIFFERENT: Neither party sees Angelides in its future. Both sides protect big special interests.
We are offered few better examples of how the basis of the parties are more similar than different, than the marriage of the Democrats with Arnie. This is a marriage of MONEY and POLITICAL POWER.
Arnie telegraphed that he would respect the Democrats main funders, the developers, the unions, the oil companies and the corporate minorities. The Democrats assured Arnie that they respected and desired wealth, on any terms. (That's Arnie's base) Angelides is not worth upsetting this applecart. Now we can all hold hands, sing kum-by-ah, and maintain our respective bases of power. Until the next governor's election. That's why all the Dems are so well behaved. See, We all can get along, Rodney. But on terms that you, and the public, will suffer by.
Search the Corruption Database under
Arnie
SACRAMENTO
Assembly ends session in flurry of bills
Flood
protection, prison expansion measures go down
G.lucas, T. Chorneau, M.Yi, SF Chron.
Friday, September 1, 2006
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/09/01/BAGKPKTJIT1.DTL
The Article Says:
“With Capitol hallways choked with often frantic lobbyists trying to kill or pass legislation affecting their clients, lawmakers pushed through more than 100 measures...”
END OF ASSEMBLY SESSION FRENZY OF POLITICAL-SPECIAL INTEREST GREED:
Citizens unable to ascertain if any bill was passed or rejected on its merits.
This article implies, correctly, that both the Gov, and the Dems, were playing fast and loose with our welfare, and their credibility, by trying to embarrass each other with political measures that could not be refused gracefully, but were never expected to pass. While playing this public game they were really serving their special interest masters.
The massive expenditures of the PHONE GIANTS, bribing politicians to break local control of cable services, passed due to this massive bribery, rather than its merits. The expenditure by special interests at the end of the session was staggering.
The prison problem continues, with inhumane conditions persisting, because legislators bowed to the infamous power of the prison guards' union. The flood bills were drowned in a flood of developer money. Because of this money, and our bribed politicians, it is impossible to ascertain if any legislation is killed or passed on its merits.
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