Chap's Take on The Homestead

Republican "schmoozefests" (0.00 / 0)

are hailed as evidence of achievement. The new gold standard in Virginia is becoming a lobbyist. Just look at Terri Suit who climbed that ladder through the General Assembly to a position of real influence.

---

by: Dan Sullivan @ Fri Jul 09, 2010 at 10:38:26 AM UTC

Say No To Government In The Shadows! (4.00 / 1)

A retreat for an entire branch of our state legislature from which the press and the public are barred is wrong. Regrettably, these retreats have become a habit for our Democratic legislators. These retreats are symbols of the "old Virginia". Kudos to Chap Petersen for his call to end these cultural artifacts of an era best left behind.

---

by: Peter 2010 @ Fri Jul 09, 2010 at 10:55:38 AM UTC

Exactly. (0.00 / 0)

Chap nailed it. Democrats AND Republicans are wrong on this, we need campaign finance reform in Virginia - preferably, public finance with events like this outlawed - ASAP!

Follow me on Twitter.

---

by: lowkell @ Fri Jul 09, 2010 at 11:04:17 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Problem (0.00 / 0)

The problem with simply enacting a system of public financing is that ridiculous Supreme Court ruling in 1976, Buckley v Valeo, that equated money with free speech. Now, we have the latest ruling that corporations can spend endless amounts of money to affect the outcome of elections.

In states that have enacted a system of public financing, the system is voluntary. A politician can opt to receive public financing or not.

The only answer that would give mandatory public financing a constitutional basis would be amending the Constitution to state that corporations are NOT the equivalent of persons and perhaps that all elections have to be funding with public money. Good luck with that.

The least we could do in Virginia would be to ban personal gifts to legislators. However, on a bipartisan basis the members of the General Assembly are so addicted to those "gifts" that bring "access" that I don't think that is possible.  

---

by: Elaine in Roanoke @ Fri Jul 09, 2010 at 12:37:50 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

But here, as Chap notes, is the real political "bottom line" in Virginia campaign financing today: (0.00 / 0)

"Afterwards, I caught a ride home with my law partner, Delegate Scott Surovell.  No checks requested or received.  The two-day stay cost me about $1K.  

Here's the larger point ....

A lot of folks criticize Virginia for having laws that permit unlimited donations, both personal and corporate.  I agree with the criticisms and have sponsored legislation to cap "super-size" donations.  I'll do so again in 2011.  Until that law changes, I'll continue to raise money and attend events for myself and the Caucus under the existing laws.  Mom didn't raise an idiot.  

Some day, a new regime will come along and there will be a change in this state in terms of corporate access or influence. It doesn't mean that the current way is corrupt or illegal.  It's neither.  But there will be a change."

In other words, Chap is not willing to unilaterally disarm until the Republicans also agree to do so.

---

by: TomPaine @ Fri Jul 09, 2010 at 15:49:15 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Finally, (0.00 / 0)

some sanity about the political realities of campaign financing!

Sometimes one has to consider the source of political muckraking, particularly when the source is a well-know dsiaffected Democrat whose financial supporter in the muckraking venture is a far right-wing organization.

---

by: TomPaine @ Fri Jul 09, 2010 at 13:53:06 PM UTC

These things always seem mundane... (0.00 / 0)

...when you're in the system of which they are a part. That's how it works -- the lobbyist becomes your buddy, offers you a ride, goes out drinking with you and suddenly he's not the paid representative of the payday lending industry anymore -- he's my pal Joe!

And that's when it's most effective for the lobbyists -- when the lines become so blurred that the special interests and the pols just become one big happy family.

The way VA politics is currently structured, it's almost unavoidable. You need a thoroughly uncorruptible reformer to get in there and change this system, until which time it's just a hopeless swamp.  But as I said before, such a reformer would really stand out and could be a force to reckon with -- if and when we find such a person.  

Impeachinelli! Now on Twitter.

---

by: kindler @ Fri Jul 09, 2010 at 23:13:44 PM UTC

" . . . . need a reformer?" (0.00 / 0)

No, we need a miracle!

There are a lot of good ethical legislators in Virginia, even a few Republicans, but there are not a majority in either house!  

Nothing will ever be done to solve this problem until Santa Clara, Buckley v. Valeo and Citizen's United are overruled by the Supreme Court or by a constitutional amendment. The die has been cast by those decisions.  

---

by: TomPaine @ Sat Jul 10, 2010 at 03:57:38 AM UTC

End It, Don't Mend It (4.00 / 1)

The U.S. Supreme Court's ill-considered campaign finance decisions, and the difficulty in overturning them, actually make the case stronger for doing away with the Democratic legislative retreats at the Homestead. Virginia'a Democratic leadership doesn't need a federal Constitutional amendment to end this vestigial practice. Just say STOP!

---

by: Peter 2010 @ Sat Jul 10, 2010 at 11:35:47 AM UTC

Well said. (0.00 / 0)

n/t  

Follow me on Twitter.

---

by: lowkell @ Sat Jul 10, 2010 at 14:19:44 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Great political advice! (0.00 / 0)

"Virginia'a Democratic leadership doesn't need a federal Constitutional amendment to end this vestigial practice."

Unilaterally disarming during a battle! Set an example! Shame them!

All great winning strategies. NOT! Had we pursued these well-meaning, but ultimately futile and self-defeating gestures, during World War II, we would all be speaking Japanese or German today! Remind me not to be in the same army with you guys in the next war.

As Chap said: "My mother did not raise an idiot".

---

by: TomPaine @ Sat Jul 10, 2010 at 15:11:12 PM UTC

[ Parent ]