NeySaying the bribers' payday...

[IdesOfOctober]

I propose a law, requiring all PAC money for convicted Members of Congress/Senators to be forfeited to the public campaign finance fund.

That way, when companies like State Street pay Ney, we can naysay their heyday at the earmark trough:

http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/can_com/H4OH18079

http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/can_give/H4OH18079

Ides

[DoYouEverWonder]

1. Beats letting them give it

to their favorite faith based charity.

[IdesOfOctober]

2. And helps Corporate America finally...

... get behind public campaign financing, albeit indirectly!

; )

Ides

[CorpGovActivist]

3. Kind of Like Winning...

... the Monopoly "free parking" loot.

: )

- Dave

[SoCalDem]

4. and pensions should be forfeited too

The pensions they 'earn" are for doing their job.. NOT for cheating the pepople they are sent to represent.. They should forfeit all pensions when they are convicted.

[CorpGovActivist]

7. Congress Could Write a Pension Penalty...

... into the rules for the Congressional pension plans - I agree.

- Dave

[KharmaTrain]

5. How About Foley's $2.8 million?

I agree on scum like Ney & Cunningham...who either copped a plea or were found guilty. I'll go to say all of DeLay's funds be frozen pending his trial and any other Congresscritter past or present that is under any indictment must freeze those funds pending their verdict...and if found guilty, the money in those campaign warchests are forfeited.

But how about a slimeball like Foley? At this point there's no crime...and let's assume there may not be one. He bailed before the hammer came down and he still has access to this large amount of cash. There's no law that says he can't turn it over to the RNC or cash out himself (which I have a feeling has or is being done right now)...and also that he will collect a full pension along with benefits.

What also needs to be done is to highlight where this money comes from. What we've learned so far from Abramoff is there were elaborate money laundering systems using PAC money...and a lot of it was surely done with the knowledge of corporates who knew this was the direct way to get a nice earmark or other piece of pork. Many of these companies earned millions and billions in profits this way and the light should be thrown on them as well.

Cheers...

[CorpGovActivist]

8. FEC Records Online for Abramoff & Co.

Just type in Abramoff in the first box, and Jack in the second, to see all the Members of Congress and Senators who have an Abramoff Problem:

http://www.fec.gov/finance/disclosure/norindsea.shtml

Abramoff was one of the "Friends of George Allen," for example:

http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/com_detail/C00344853

- Dave

[KharmaTrain]

10. This Could Take A While...

Just calling up Felix Allen I got the following:

The query you have chosen matched 19818 individual contributions.

As someone profound once said, it's so boggling, it boggles the mind. Great stuff here...thank-you.

:toast:

[CorpGovActivist]

11. You're Very, Very Welcome!

; )

Ain't the Freedom of Information Act - coupled with the Internet - grand?

- Dave

[IdesOfOctober]

12. If there is a database with useful data...

... he'll find it.

[CorpGovActivist]

13. Chronic Illness + Internet =

... learning to bring the library to yourself, when you cannot go to the library.

: )

- Dave

[Gabi Hayes]

6. how come none of the companies/lobbyists, aside from JA, are

looking at serious jail time, or any at all?

when are the investos of THEM going to begin?

[CorpGovActivist]

9. Already Well Under Way...

http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/oct2006/db20061011_184367.htm?chan=search

This task force means serious business.

- Dave

[conscious evolution]

14. when does that hammer drop?

[IdesOfOctober]

15. My guess would be...

... no later than January 3, 2007: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congress_of_the_United_States

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twentieth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution

; )

Ides