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CORRUPTION UPDATES 9 September 7 to 13, 2006: The CORRUPTION UPDATES posts corruption news stories from California, the Nation and the World, and gives you the straight story. |
CORRUPTION UPDATE 9
Previous Corruption Updates: Page 8
Next Corruption Updates: Page 10
McPherson takes aim at late-season fund raising
“The incumbent secretary of state calls for a ban during key legislative periods.”
By Jim Sanders - Bee Capitol Bureau
Last Updated 1:07 pm PDT Thursday, September 7, 2006
http://www.sacbee.com/102/story/19580.html
“Secretary of State Bruce McPherson vowed Thursday to sponsor legislation banning fund raising by lawmakers and the governor during key periods when decisions are made on pending legislation.”
"I think the people, part of the reason they've lost some trust in the political process is that people take big money at the close of the session, or during the signature time for the governor," McPherson said.”
“McPherson said he will target fund raising by lawmakers during the last 30 days of their annual session and by the governor during the bill-signing period that begins once lawmakers adjourn for the year and lasts for up to a month.”
THE COMMITTEE SAYS:
SS McPherson focuses on part of the corruption problem:
This forum has presented a series of articles highlighting the increase of corruption that occurred at the end of the last legislative session:
Archive I: update page #4, 8-31, “Checks in, laws out”
Archive II update page #5, 9-6, “Frenzy of greed at end of session”
Archive II Updates page #5, 9-2: “Bills rushed”
Mr. McPherson is reading the political situation somewhat clearly. But people have lost much more that just “some trust in the political process.” A clear perspective reveals that the people are fully aware that politicians are legally bribed by the special interests.
SS McPherson is pointing us in the right direction by proposing to limit the unseemly festival of bribery that encompasses our politicians and the governor at the end of the session. But his “reform” does not go far enough. To be anything more than lipstick on a pig, any ban on special interest contributions must cover all of our politicians all the time.
Our initiative stops the purchase of politicians at any time, not just during the end of the legislative session.
Prosecutors: GOP fundraiser sought perks
By JOHN SEEWER, Associated Press Writer Bee
Last Updated 6:02 am PDT Monday, September 11, 2006
http://dwb.sacbee.com/24hour/politics/story/3370158p-12399567c.html
“TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) - A prominent GOP fundraiser funneled $45,000 to President Bush's re-election campaign because he wanted perks that can come along with being among an elite group of the president's fundraisers, court papers said. “
“Tom Noe had pleaded guilty in May to arranging a contribution scheme to fulfill his promise to generate $50,000 for a Bush fundraiser in 2003.”
“Prosecutors first suggested a prison sentence of at least two years, but last week said Noe should get a longer sentence because he schemed to corrupt the election process. “
THE COMMITTEE SAYS:
More jail for more corruption: Ohio fundraiser goes down:
Mr. Noe was trading Money for influence. It is hard to see how the lobbyists and special interests who contribute “legally” are doing anything different. They are trading money for influence with our politicians. Mr. Noe was trying to get to the level of influence of, say, Ken Lay. If you can bribe your way to this lofty level, you will be virtually immune from regulation. Hell, the politicians will craft legislation that makes you rich. They will ignore science in the FDA and EPA. They will damn the public interest at the FCC. And at the FERC, the Federal Energy Regulator Commission, they will ignore your huge manipulations of the nation's energy market.
We have no idea from this article exactly what Mr. Noe would have done with this influence. I suspect he would have made himself, and his friends, rich.
Anti-incumbent sentiment is widespread
By LIZ SIDOTI, Associated Press Writer, bee
Last Updated 10:37 am PDT Monday, September 11, 2006
http://dwb.sacbee.com/24hour/politics/story/3370291p-12401505c.html
“NEW CASTLE, Ky. (AP) - Dissatisfied with Congress, voters would probably hang a "Help Wanted" sign on the U.S. Capitol if given the chance. "They're not doing their job," says Scott Newland, 39, an independent voter who backed President Bush in 2004.
The factory worker had harsh words for congressional Republicans and Democrats as he helped close his sister's New Castle deli one recent evening. "You need people that care. They don't care.".”
“It's a general disgust that may lead to firings of some politicians on Nov. 7. “
THE COMMITTEE SAYS:
Voters sick of corrupt parties, parties don't care:
The public knows that we need to fire these corrupted politicians. But changing all the politicians would not help, (they multiply like insects) unless we remove the putrid source of this putrid political corruption. Without a food source, these insects will die.
Before we can enjoy honest elections and politicians, WE MUST STOP SPECIAL INTERESTS FROM BRIBING OUR POLITICIANS. Everyone is more or less aware of this fact, but their profits, positions and personal prestige are more important to them than their ethics, or our democracy. We must end this unholy marriage of wealth and power that has made a mockery of our democracy. The mood of the people is receptive to honest reform.
Our citizens are angry. We have been betrayed. But the system that has betrayed us is incapable of fixing itself. Political hacks, when you talk to them, express disdain at the thought their positions can be threatened: “politics are local, and we've got the districts tied down” they will tell you. They will tell you they are “the lesser evil.”
It is time to make our government legitimate again. It is time to restore our democratic institutions, even if we have to throw every politician out of office. It is time to put our political principals before profits, and force the politicians to accept this, or get out of our government.
CalPERS Invokes State Law to Keep Dealings With Venture Capital Firms Secret
“Officials say disclosing details of the fund's work with venture capital firms could risk business in California.”
By Evan Halper and
Dan Morain, Times Staff Writers
September 12, 2006
“SACRAMENTO —
In a move that could avert embarrassing disclosures about its
influential board members, California's state pension fund is
invoking a recent law that allows it to keep most of its
dealings with venture capital firms secret.”
“Officials
of the California Public Employees' Retirement System are citing
the law in refusing to disclose several documents related to
International Technology University. ITU's principals and
several start-up companies it fostered made contributions to the
failed gubernatorial campaign of state Controller Steve Westly,
a CalPERS board member.”
“Locking information
away from the taxpaying public encourages trouble, especially in
an era when venture capitalists get business with the help of
politicians who solicit campaign cash from them, said Donald B.
Trone, president of the nonprofit Foundation for Fiduciary
Studies in Pittsburgh.”
THE COMMITTEE SAYS:
Cal-pers working to hide corrupt political-economic deals:
Wow. This is a great article. But where's the OUTRAGE? The press continues to report these corruptions with a tone of detachment. OK, detachment is required to analyze the elements of an issue. But the media never can finish the job, and draw honest conclusions from the facts presented. They seem afraid, at best, and display approval, at their worse. Outrage would be an acceptable response to the corruption described in this article. But do we see ethical indignation? Outrage? An open, incisive condemnation of the corruption the article exposed? No, an appropriate conclusion is missing from this article. Let me help.
Calpers, a powerful special interest, is using its wealth in conjunction with corrupt politicians and special interests to advance its profits and power at the expense of the public, and our democratic institutions. There!
These secret quid pro quo political “contribution” deals are distorting our elections, politicians, and our public policies. The obvious solution is to address the core problem of special interest corruption: limit contributions to citizens qualified to vote in the election. Make it a crime for the special interests-or anybody or thing-to bribe our politicians. Read our Initiative.
SUPPORT DEMOCRACY: SUPPORT THE COMMITTEE!
L.A. Councilman Tony Cardenas Is Fined $3,500 by Ethics Panel
From a Times Staff Writer
September 13, 2006
“The
city Ethics Commission unanimously agreed Tuesday to fine Los
Angeles Councilman Tony Cardenas $3,500 for violating the city's
campaign-finance laws by accepting seven contributions above the
$500 limit.”
“The seven excess contributions,
totaling $1,000 each, came from the Official Police Garage Assn.
of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles City Fire Department Chief
Officers Assn., William M. Lasher, Gene A. Lucero, Funes
Architecture and Architect Manuel Funes, ACS State & Local
Solutions, and AMG & Associates. “
THE COMMITTEE SAYS:
Lack of ethics at every level of politics: LA councilman fined for selling too much influence:
At every level of our democracy, national, state and local, we see the hand of corruption, influence peddling, and bribery in action. It's so deeply ingrained in our political practices, that only a through reform will drive the corruption, and the corrupt politicians, out of our government.
Democracy vests the voters with the right to elect their representatives. Democracy vests all the interests, be they voters or not, with the right to speak to the people and politicians. We must end the confusion between the rights of speech and petition, and the rights of the voters. We must end the confusion between a legitimate contribution and a bribe. Our initiative will prohibit non voters from contributing, while preserving their right to assemble and petition. Our initiative will rebalanced the rights of the voter with the special interests, putting the voters back in charge of their politicians. NO MORE BRIBERY!
Previous Corruption Updates: Page 8
Next Corruption Updates: Page 10
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