Disclosing campaign transactions

It's politicians who usually complain the loudest when other politicians don't disclose all of their campaign transactions. You've probably heard their complaints:

   Hidden contributions. Indecipherable expenses. Campaign money spent for personal needs.

   And confusing transfers of money designed to circumvent State Election rule 14-120: "No person shall in any name except his own, directly or indirectly, make a payment or a promise of payment to a candidate or political committee..."

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Read the full story.

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   While it's politicians who usually complain the loudest, the laws belong to the public.

   The voters, more than the political class, deserve full disclosures of campaign donations and spending.

   By visiting www.elections.state.ny.us, anyone can monitor the special-interest money lavished on their politicians and make good guesses about the influence of that money on public policy.

   It works best, however, when campaign treasurers fully disclose their transactions. Unfortunately, the state Board of Elections is famous as a less-than-aggressive cop.

   So while Steve Pigeon's critics in the political world have howled the loudest about the once-secret transactions that the Erie County Board of Elections has uncovered with his two campaign funds, who's the victim here?

   Other politicians? Or the voters?

  - Matt Spina

Comments

[liferocks]

I would like to hear more about the Pigeon/Casey/ Brown connection that Matt wrote about. What is the tie that binds? Especially since the failed state senate coup. I heard that Steve Pigeon is at the Brown HQ every weekend. I understand he was seen there during Father’s Day. Why won’t Casey or Brown comment on the events in Albany. Especially since money for Buffalo school projects are now at stake. Also, besides consorting with Pigeon is Joel Giambra buddies with the Casey/Brown administration? What a cast of characters?

[liferocks]

Has Pigeon committed any crimes? If so, pursue them. How can Golisano claim he is a reformer while hanging out with Pigeon and engaging in political coups?

[liferocks]

Who else has Pigeon illegally supported? Who else has illegally contributed to Pigeon besides Anthony Nanula and Joe Giambra. The Buffalo News needs to expose it all. The NY Times ran a story a week ago Friday that stated Pigeon and Giambra were involved in an investigation out in LA. They were accused of money laundering with the LA Mayor. Also, has Pigeon used the Golisano supported law firm Underberg and Kessler to engage in this illegal activity?. Why is Mayor Brown and Casey involved with this guy?

[liferocks]

Is Casey going to out source Mayor Brown’s political dirty tricks to Steve Pigeon? If so, what do Pigeon, Nanula or Giambra get in return? Influence over city contracts? Influence of city patronage? Why would Andrew Coumo be getting cozy with these guys? I understand that an former member of Underberg and Kessler was recently appointed to oversees all the regional AG offices and works in Buffalo. If true, does that mean that Golisano and Pigeon have their man in the AG office to control any investigations against them? Pigeon already controls the new Erie County DA. I wondered if that is why Pigeon tried so hard to get his guy in the US Attorney’s office. This way he would cover all the bases. Cops, criminals and politicos all working hand in hand. Sounds like a like the movie “The Departed”.

[liferocks]

ALBANY—During the Republican half of another lightning-quick extraordinary session this afternoon, I noticed Steve Pigeon sitting on the State Senate floor behind Senator Pedro Espada Jr.

Pigeon, who was one of the principle architects of the coup that has hobbled the chamber, remains the executive director of billionaire Tom Golisano's Reponsible New York P.A.C. When I asked, Pigeon said he was now serving as Espada's private counsel, and expected to be formally put on the Senate payroll when the leadership struggle in the chamber is resolved. Whenever. That. Might. Be.

Liz reported this possibility a while ago, but Pigeon indicated it was all but set at this point. He did not say that would mean he was relinquishing any role at R.N.Y., noting, "If we were in a situation where there was independent expenditures happening, I would have to take some sort of a leave, and that wouldn't be until elections."

(Weirdly, the organization's Web site looks like it has lapsed.)

The above was a caption in www.politickerny.com

[Steve]

China is more democratic than New York State. Is Cuomo investigating this? Is the FBI investigating abusive use of federal funding? Guess what? Politicians are certain in a yea and a half we will have forgotten and re-elect them all. And we will.

[Hank]

Disclosure and money go together like Madonna and the Pope. The reconciliation can't be done. And which is the problem? Money. It can be hoarded, used on the black market, charged usurious interest rates, transact for illicit goods,
covered in legal jargon, hyperinflated value, misappropriated use, stolen,
and a tool for bribery and extortion.
So, you hope for honest disclosure? Never going to happen with money and power's bedeviling witches' brew.

[nykaren]

Stanley K. Schlein, the well-connected Bronx lawyer, who is now personally representing Pedro Espada Jr., a Bronx Democrat whose alliance with Republicans lofted him to the Senate presidency but left the chamber deadlocked.

“Stanley is an expert negotiator,” Mr. Espada said. “He is very focused on developing a framework for success, and that is why I brought him in.”As long as it benefits him.

But negotiating for Mr. Espada — whose desire to have his own lawyer at the table may hint at the limit of his trust in Senate Republicans — is not Mr. Schlein’s only job. He is also a lobbyist for some of Albany’s most powerful interests, including real estate companies who collectively have billions of dollars at stake in the Senate’s power struggle.

Why isn't all this being diclosed to the puplic. Go to NY Times NY.::::Since March, two real estate trade associations, the Real Estate Board of New York and the Rent Stabilization Association of New York, have been paying Mr. Schlein $4,000 a month to lobby the Senate on housing matters.

[Agent in Charge]

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[james]

The day before the coup, Casey and Brown were seen chatting it up with Pigeon, then got into his silver mercedes. Liars all of them!!!

[my2cents]

Is this a example of what you mean:
http://www.elections.state.ny.us:8080/reports/rwservlet?cmdkey=efs_sch_report+p_filer_id=C22901+p_e_year=2009+p_freport_id=J+p_transaction_code=C
Heres over $14,000.00 in donations to Mr.Kearns - arent they supposed to have "Names?"

Hidden contributions. Indecipherable expenses. Campaign money spent for personal needs.

And confusing transfers of money designed to circumvent State Election rule 14-120: "No person shall in any name except his own, directly or indirectly, make a payment or a promise of payment to a candidate or political committee..."