Pay-to-Play on the Island

In Suffolk County, there’s a new proposal to ban political contributions from county employees and those doing business with the county.

Alden’s proposal, which remains in draft form, would set a ballot referendum to ask voters to make illegal political contributions from county employees, people doing business with the county, recipients of funding from the county’s Industrial Development Agency and anyone seeking a county elected office.

The proposal also bans political contributions from nonprofit organizations.

“Corporate Booty”

This Reno-Gazette Journal article covers “corporate booty” provided to the Nevada delegation.

So far, the Nevada delegation has been wined and dined with free food and cocktails at an opening night reception hosted by Palo Alto-based Varian Medical Systems. While wooing first-time delegates, company officials also had access to some Nevada elected officials in the delegation, such as U.S. Rep. Shelley Berkley and Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley, both of Las Vegas.

Obstruction of Justice

Here’s an update on Rep. Thomas Wright, a former member of the North Carolina legislature.

Wright, 53, is already serving time in a Pamlico County prison after being convicted four months ago on charges he mishandled charity contributions and fraudulently obtained a $150,000 loan in part by getting a state official to write a bogus letter on his behalf while a legislator.

Less than three weeks earlier, he became the first sitting North Carolina legislator in 128 years to be expelled from office by his own colleagues, based on allegations stemming from criminal indictments last December.