Free Cars
2009-04-07 - by
I thought the Democrats had ‘Ethics Reformed’ pay to play out of existence – but it turns out I was wrong. For instance, it seems automobile dealers (at least some of them) like bestowing cars on Democrats – so former Governor Easley’s been driving a car free, courtesy of a dealership, and so has Mrs. Easley. A car dealer also gave the governor a free vacation (to the dealers’ home in the Florida Keys last year) – around the time the state was passing tax breaks that helped the dealer’s business.
So, post ‘Ethics Reform’, it seems political vice is alive and well in North Carolina. More to the point, it seems the only penalty for violating the states new ‘Ethics Laws’ is bad publicity in the News and Observer –which was the only penalty before the Democrats passed their bill.
Today, before the sun sets, Republicans in the General Assembly ought to sponsor a bill to add real penalties to the law – for instance, like saying any politician driving around in a car free (courtesy of a dealer) has to pay a fine equal to the value of the car. And that the dealer has to donate the car to a local high school for its driver’s education program.
Senator Marc Basnight and Speaker Joe Hackney may decide that’s unneeded – that adding real penalties to the state ‘Ethics Reform’ laws are unnecessary — and kill the whole idea.
So here’s one more suggestion: Just in case they do, someone ought to get a photograph of those free cars – to put in a TV ad next election.
Click Here to discuss and comment on this and other articles.
Posted in General, North Carolina - Democrats
Free Cars
2009-04-07/
I thought the Democrats had ‘Ethics Reformed’ pay to play out of existence – but it turns out I was wrong. For instance, it seems automobile dealers (at least some of them) like bestowing cars on Democrats – so former Governor Easley’s been driving a car free, courtesy of a dealership, and so has Mrs. Easley. A car dealer also gave the governor a free vacation (to the dealers’ home in the Florida Keys last year) – around the time the state was passing tax breaks that helped the dealer’s business.
So, post ‘Ethics Reform’, it seems political vice is alive and well in North Carolina. More to the point, it seems the only penalty for violating the states new ‘Ethics Laws’ is bad publicity in the News and Observer –which was the only penalty before the Democrats passed their bill.
Today, before the sun sets, Republicans in the General Assembly ought to sponsor a bill to add real penalties to the law – for instance, like saying any politician driving around in a car free (courtesy of a dealer) has to pay a fine equal to the value of the car. And that the dealer has to donate the car to a local high school for its driver’s education program.
Senator Marc Basnight and Speaker Joe Hackney may decide that’s unneeded – that adding real penalties to the state ‘Ethics Reform’ laws are unnecessary — and kill the whole idea.
So here’s one more suggestion: Just in case they do, someone ought to get a photograph of those free cars – to put in a TV ad next election.
Click Here to discuss and comment on this and other articles.
Posted in General, North Carolina - Democrats