Sen. Jim Hendren, the new leader of the Arkansas Senate, commanded a swath of newsprint in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette this morning for his opening speech exhorting an end to the era of "greed and corruption" in the Arkansas legislature. A few thoughts about that, with more to come as events warrant.
Credit to Blue Hog Report for select looks at state legislative fund-raising that invit4e a broader examination at some point: It's about how incumbent legislators rely on corporate cash for campaigns, not money from people who live in their districts.
More details have been released on a package of ethics bills proposed by legislative Democrats. They expect bipartisan support, but the emphasis on disclosure and reducing the impact of corporate and anonymous contributions seem problematic for the majority Republicans.
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's Michael Wickline reported this morning that, for the second time in four years, Republican Rep. Mark Lowery had been cited by the state Ethics Commission for failing to comply with campaign finance reporting law. The minor penalty won't discourage similar in the future.
Again: Evidence that the so-called "ethics amendment" did little to stop the flow of corporate money to candidates for legislature. One guy controls seven PACs, each giving near the limit to the same candidate. Apparently it's legal. Clearly, the law should change.
A karaoke night for the House Republican Caucus raises anew just where the ethics law draws the line on corporate and lobbyist payments that benefit legislators.
Mother Jones reports on California's effort to further clamp down on "dark money" — the unattributed millions flowing into political races through nonprofits that shield the source of the money. If Arkansas lawmakers believed in open, accountable government, they'd do the same.
Common Cause and other good government groups have challenged a Walmart scheme to increase employee giving to its PAC by making a 2-for-1 charitable match.
U.S. Rep. Tim Griffin, a Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, accepted $6,000 in prohibited political action committee contributions in February and March, but returned the money in April, his campaign said.
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette today reported on the coincidence of timing of an extraordinary ruling in a nursing home case by Circuit Judge Mike Maggio and the establishment of PACs for contributions to Maggio by the owner of that nursing home. The article did not mention that Blue Hog Report broke this story, a significant omission.