GO BUCKS....an update
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Categories: Honest and Ethical Government, Election Reform, Media Accountability, Front Page
Categories: Honest and Ethical Government, Election Reform, Media Accountability, Front Page
It turns out this writer was completely wrong this past week in criticizing Rep. Jay Hottinger and other unnamed state legislators, past and present, for tapping into their campaign funds for football tickets and other personal entertainment purchases. (see GO BUCKS...., 7/30/08, below)
On Saturday, the Dispatch editorial board, the "Supreme Court" when it comes to political ethics, handed down its ruling on this subject, ignoring pretty much the WBNS expose published on their own pages the previous Monday (7/28/08). The newspaper's decision reads as follows:
"Common Cause/Ohio plans to file complaints with the Ohio Elections Commission against officials who've used campaign funds for items such as country club memberships, out-of-state travel and tickets to sporting events.
"But elected officials' work often involves meeting with people at the places where they gather, including country clubs, out-of-state conventions and sporting events. Using campaign funds to attend such functions for political purposes is legitimate."
Remember this "ruling" by the Big D before you make any further contributions to political candidates this season. Can your guy or gal be trusted not to divert your $25 or $50 bucks to OSU game tickets or country club dues instead of using it as intended, to get themselves elected and hopefully do some good for the state and country?
Of course, the editorial goes on to say that campaign contributions shouldn't be used for "personal benefit," whatever that means. Bad examples given are non-work related computer "gadgets," home utility bills, home remodeling jobs, personal car payments. Presumably none of these examples involve "meeting with people at the places where they gather," unless you count the clerks at Best Buy or the payment windows at AEP, Columbia Gas and the local banks.
Under the new Dispatch ethics guideline, it would seem, it's permissible for our state legislators to use campaign contributions to pay golf fees at local country clubs or mingle with the voters at strip clubs and dog fights. And hey, how about tapping your contributors to take in the Olympics this week in China?
The editorial headline Is "Reins with some slack."
Seems we've had too much slack in the reins lately, given the mortgage mess, the energy speculators, the obscene profits by Big Oil and the demise of safety and environmental regulation. Isn't it time for somebody to crack the whip?
On Saturday, the Dispatch editorial board, the "Supreme Court" when it comes to political ethics, handed down its ruling on this subject, ignoring pretty much the WBNS expose published on their own pages the previous Monday (7/28/08). The newspaper's decision reads as follows:
"Common Cause/Ohio plans to file complaints with the Ohio Elections Commission against officials who've used campaign funds for items such as country club memberships, out-of-state travel and tickets to sporting events.
"But elected officials' work often involves meeting with people at the places where they gather, including country clubs, out-of-state conventions and sporting events. Using campaign funds to attend such functions for political purposes is legitimate."
Remember this "ruling" by the Big D before you make any further contributions to political candidates this season. Can your guy or gal be trusted not to divert your $25 or $50 bucks to OSU game tickets or country club dues instead of using it as intended, to get themselves elected and hopefully do some good for the state and country?
Of course, the editorial goes on to say that campaign contributions shouldn't be used for "personal benefit," whatever that means. Bad examples given are non-work related computer "gadgets," home utility bills, home remodeling jobs, personal car payments. Presumably none of these examples involve "meeting with people at the places where they gather," unless you count the clerks at Best Buy or the payment windows at AEP, Columbia Gas and the local banks.
Under the new Dispatch ethics guideline, it would seem, it's permissible for our state legislators to use campaign contributions to pay golf fees at local country clubs or mingle with the voters at strip clubs and dog fights. And hey, how about tapping your contributors to take in the Olympics this week in China?
The editorial headline Is "Reins with some slack."
Seems we've had too much slack in the reins lately, given the mortgage mess, the energy speculators, the obscene profits by Big Oil and the demise of safety and environmental regulation. Isn't it time for somebody to crack the whip?
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