RE: Choice 1 Starting Questions

[Vivian Tenney <teny@telepath.com>]

The type of reforms mentioned in Choice 1 do have drawbacks, but are better than nothing!  The drawbacks that I have encountered are:  the enforcement agency is underfunded and/or does not have the authority to give meaningful penalties for non-compliance with the rules.  Since many states rely on laws passed by legislators, that is asking the "fox to guard the henhouse."  The rules, penalties and financing are deliberately non-threatening.

Our governor received gifts of $240,000 from a wealthy individual.  Coincidentally, he also arranged for this individual to approach prison officials with the intent to sell them a drug to be used to calm prisoners.  (So far, no sale.)  The appearance is that of bribery.  To date, no penalties have been assessed because the rules of the legislature do not include rules against gifts from individuals!  Amazing!  Still more amazing was that the governor did not disclose this gift to state authorities, but did to federal authorities.  It was finally revealed by reporters searching federal disclosures.  The resulting furore caused the governor to "return the gift."  So, even though there were no "real" penalties, there has been a penalty of sorts.  Now, the governor's wife says she may run for Congress.  Will the money now be "regifted"?  Stay tuned!