Where is the ACLU?
Posted by: Hiram Johnson | 09/22/2008 12:32 PM
I believe I voted for the Ethics Commission. I support the idea of an Ethics Commission. But, like most other people active in politics here in San Diego, I'm starting to wonder what we got ourselves into with the type of ethics commission now in place.
Investigating corruption is one thing, but the endless slew of new rules and regulations is a burdon to the process as a whole, which I don't think anyone wants. The problem: we have established an bureau that, in order to justify its own budget, has to keep spewing out regulation after regulation.
What brought this to mind? An email I got today from a political consultant with the commissions' rules for soliciting and accepting contributions. Its five pages long. The part I found odd was in the middle of page 3 of 5 - candidates are barred from soliciting city employees. I'm not an expert but is that Constitutional? I mean these people are citizens first, city employees second, right? Doesn't this also mean Labor Unions can simply take money from city employees, but everyone else is prohibited?
It was one of my greatest pleasures when working with Lee Atwater in Senator Thurmonds reelection campaign race...
The most fundamental threat to free political speech in this county is the San Diego Ethics Commission. If the City Council had any grapes they'd pass a comprehensive campaign finance reform that expands free speech, not reduces it.
They have the chance to really make a difference here --- so of course they are no where to be found or filing lawsuits on illegal immigrant issues.
I know the ACLU has been talking to folks around town. I think they might have a case brewing. I agree with Hiram Johnson.
Its not just the soliciting of city employees... its invasive audits... its the ridiculas $250 limit... its the suggestion that TAXPAYERS foot the bill for CAMPAIGNS.
Who are these clowns? What real experience do they have with electoral politics besides watching West Wing?
I went over to the city of san diegos budget website and looked at the ethics commission, who want 1,000,000
http://www.sandiego.gov/fm/proposed/pdf/vol2/27v2ethicscommission.pdf
Go back to when they started just a couple years ago and its like 250,000.
So let me get this straight, the Ethics Commission is the fastest growing City Department?
130k for a salary over there ?!?!?
WHO DO THESE GOVT PEOPLE THINK THEY ARE! THIS IS WHY WE GIVE THEM PENSIONS, SO WE CAN PAY THEM LESS UP FRONT!!!