Alesi’s Got A Brand New Caddy(lac)
From Politicker:
State Senator Jim Alesi spent $18,750 of his campaign fund toward the (entirely legal) purchase of a Cadillac, a review of campaign records shows.
I know it’s legal, and it’s his campaign money– Alesi rebuts that “it’s not taxpayer money”– but let’s remember where that “campaign money” came from:
Fun With Funding
sbr’s article about the Jazz Festival reminded me that I’d made much the same observation last year. Included is a handy visual to make clear what’s going on. I’ve re-posted it below for old time’s sake:
This is actually quite a clever, if sneaky, way of getting you and I to contribute to Alesi’s campaign twice. Here’s how it works:
1) We pay taxes
2) They go into a slush fund, out of which, Alesi gets $3.9 M (for 2005-2006, which is the latest I could find from The Albany Project’s very handy pork spreadsheet)
3) Alesi gets to look like a hero for funnelling some of that ca$h to various high-PR value interest groups (like the Jazz festival), and gets his name on things
4) The interest groups kick back money directly to Alesi’s campaign fund
And this diagram is just talking about the Jazz festival. Multiply this by many other interest groups, and that kind of money (and free PR) starts to add up. Robach does the same. Nozollio has been doing the same as well. Just standard operating procedure to keep the NY State Senate in GOP control.
It’s pay-to-play, and it’s a dishonest way of supporting the “incumbant protection racket”. It’s clever, but unfair that our tax dollars goes to support Alesi.
Pay-to-play. Just an everyday part of the local GOP playbook (and funding model), from Senators Alesi and Robach on down to County Exec Maggie Brooks.
Thanks to RottenChester for the tip.
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I’m sorry– I don’t understand. Isn’t Alessi steering money to a non-profit and that non-profit donating funds to his campaign coffers (which can be used to enrich himself) the very definition of a kickback?
If so, why isn’t he being indicted for corruption?
Furthermore, why are non-profits allowed to donate to political campaigns? Shouldn’t that be a violation of their obligation to use their moneys for the good of their mission?
Finally, why is it allowed for a politician to use campaign dollars for a luxury car? Is there anything they aren’t allowed to use campaign dollars on? Shouldn’t campaign dollars only be allowed to be spent on, well, campaigns?
campaign funds are basically an agreement between a candidate/committee and the donor. you give money to a person who ‘misuses’ the money, then you don’t give next time, or request your money back. otherwise, in ny’s wild west way of campaign law, it is just fine. and look at the bright side, the senator just pumped 18 large into our local economy and some of that money was probably not local.
We could use serious campaign reform and a better way to fund non-profits.They become co-opted due to their dependence on the patronage system
[...] and without permission. The owner decided not to press charges. Plus, you’ll remember that Mr. Alesi just bought himself a shiny new Cadillac with campaign funds. Share and [...]