Politics: High Office Relations in the Politics Of Maryland
(Points to who knows the Dylan reference.) The Washington Post is reporting on a $25,000/plate fundraising dinner featuring Maryland Governor Bob Ehrlich (as well as Ohio Gov. Bob Taft) being hosted by an Annapolis lobbyist named Lee Bowen.
Only one problem: There's a Maryland law prohibiting lobbyists from fundraising for Maryland officials.
Of course, because Bowen is such a strict interpretationist of state law, his is shielded from liability under the law because the fundraiser benefits the Republican Governors Association. That the RGA spent $700,000 to get Ehrlich elected (and will undoubtedly do so again) doesn't enter into the calculation, I guess, if you're a scum-sucking pig.
My favorite bit is here: "Suzanne Fox, executive director of the Maryland State Ethics Commission, said the arrangement probably is legal, as long as none of the money Cowen raises winds up in Ehrlich's campaign account or in the hands of other Maryland officials."
Of course, the lackadaisical reporting by the Washington Post fails to note that the Republican Governors Association is a 527 organization, which means that it does not need to disclose its spending. Which means that the caveat in the article ("as long as none of the money...winds up in Ehrlich's campaign account") is as meaningless as saying "as long as you don't breathe any of my air."
(Points to who knows the Dylan reference.) The Washington Post is reporting on a $25,000/plate fundraising dinner featuring Maryland Governor Bob Ehrlich (as well as Ohio Gov. Bob Taft) being hosted by an Annapolis lobbyist named Lee Bowen.
Only one problem: There's a Maryland law prohibiting lobbyists from fundraising for Maryland officials.
Of course, because Bowen is such a strict interpretationist of state law, his is shielded from liability under the law because the fundraiser benefits the Republican Governors Association. That the RGA spent $700,000 to get Ehrlich elected (and will undoubtedly do so again) doesn't enter into the calculation, I guess, if you're a scum-sucking pig.
My favorite bit is here: "Suzanne Fox, executive director of the Maryland State Ethics Commission, said the arrangement probably is legal, as long as none of the money Cowen raises winds up in Ehrlich's campaign account or in the hands of other Maryland officials."
Of course, the lackadaisical reporting by the Washington Post fails to note that the Republican Governors Association is a 527 organization, which means that it does not need to disclose its spending. Which means that the caveat in the article ("as long as none of the money...winds up in Ehrlich's campaign account") is as meaningless as saying "as long as you don't breathe any of my air."
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