Campaign Finance

One of the best descriptions of an unethical environment in a
government agency can be found in <a href="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/opinion/LOGLISCI_FINAL.pdf&qu…; target="”_blank”">the
two-page statement that followed the guilty plea of David Loglisci</a>,
the former chief investment officer for the New York state pension fund.<br>
<br>

It's worth noting two <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/17/AR20100…; target="”_blank”">Washington
Post-ABC News poll</a> questions concerning the Citizens United decision
on corporate-funded independent expenditures. Most notable is the fact
that the reaction was roughly the same across the political spectrum.
The ruling was opposed by 85% of Democrats polled, 76% of Republicans,

The <a href="http://www.scotusblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/citizens-opinion.p…; target="”_blank”">Citizens
United
decision</a> from the Supreme Court this week says that, for the
purpose of First Amendment free speech rights in a political context,
corporations are persons. Until now, they were considered fictional
persons, since they lack such things as arms, brains, and the right to
vote.<br>
<br>

"You can buy Supreme Court races" under the current system, said Rep.
Pedro Colón (D-Milwaukee). "The sign is outside: 'This court is
for
sale.'" (from <a href="http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/69304827.html&quot; target="”_blank”">an
article in the Milwaukee <i>Journal Sentinel</i></a> last week)<br>
<br>
Nobody wants this to be said, at least nobody but four of the seven

Blago watchers will be interested in the news in <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-monk-guilty-plea-21-oct21,0,8750…
Chicago <i>Tribune</i></a> about his former chief of staff and campaign
manager pleading guilty and providing detailed testimony about the
schemes of Blagojevich and three of his friends to make money off
Blago's position, "such as through operating businesses that would get

<b>“Unless
you out-and-out stick it in your pocket and walk away, everything’s
legal.”</b><br>
--Spokesman for the New York State Board of Elections<br>
<br>

<b>Update</b>: October 21, 2009 (see below)<br>
Two interesting issues come out of a long, detailed <a href="http://www.kansascity.com/772/story/1513951.html">Kansas City
<i>Star</i>
article</a> yesterday about Missouri political consultant, and recent
house speaker,
Ron Jetton.<br>
<br>

<big>"In my view, the suggestion [by Judge Sotomayor] that [campaign]
contributions are tantamount to
bribery should offend anyone who’s ever contributed to a political
campaign — including the millions of Americans who donated money in
small and large amounts to the Presidential campaign of the man who
nominated Judge Sotomayor to the Supreme Court."</big><br>
<br>

Money rarely speaks as loudly and personally as it did for Tom
Golisano, a billionaire who appears to have been the principal force in pushing the Democrats out
of power in Albany, after he was snubbed by the party to which he has
been a principal patron. And rarely has a good government advocate
shown so clearly that he doesn't even know what government ethics is.<br>
<br>

I am always fascinated at the ways in which even the most reform-minded
politicians can kill ethics reform proposals that might cause them some
embarrassment. Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana has done a great deal for
ethics reform, but at least one reform bill, which on its face seems
pretty minor, has apparently gotten in his craw.<br>
<br>