[EL] Check out N.Y. Lawmakers Charged in Plot to Buy Spot on Mayoral Ball...

Wed Apr 3 08:56:14 PDT 2013

Yes, I do understand what this case is about and my point remains that  
bribes in cases like this are helpful in determining what is the going rate, at 
 least among some people, for money exchanged for political favors.   There 
are obviously differences that need to be understood in applying this  
analogy.  For instance, if campaign contributions cannot be used  personally, 
then I would think that a candidate would insist on a larger  campaign 
contribution than a personal one, like here. Another difference is  that a 
candidate is the bribor and political party officials are the  bribees.  This may or 
may not effect the going rate. 

But the general point remains, looking at what it took here to bribe  
political party officials to provide a political favor, and at what it took to  
bribe Congressmen Jefferson ($99,000 in cold hard cash) and Cunningham 
(minimum  $140,000), it is apparent that contribution limits are way below a large 
 contribution that could tempt a candidate to sell his vote.  Jim Bopp

In a message dated 4/3/2013 10:58:56 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
lminnite at gmail.com writes:

Mr. Bopp is completely confused about  what this case is about.  It has 
nothing to do with campaign contribution  limits for mayoral candidates.  If 
New York City had no limits at all for  mayoral candidates, if New York City 
voters or corporations could give  millions of dollars to Malcolm Smith or to 
the Republican Party, it would not  have mattered here.  What's at issue 
are Republican Party ballot access  rules and influence-peddling (more plainly 
put - bribery) to acquire the  support of county leaders for yet another 
registered Democrat to run as their  mayoral candidate.

On 4/3/2013 10:04 AM, _JBoppjr at aol.com_ (mailto:JBoppjr at aol.com)  wrote:

You have hit on the other interesting point  about this.  NYC contribution 
limits for Mayor are $4,950 and less for  other offices. Each of the bribees 
demanded much more.  This seems to  be further anecdotal evidence that 
current contribution limits are too low.  (See also Congressmen Jefferson and 
Cunningham)  Jim Bopp

In a message dated 4/3/2013 9:58:22 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, 
_margaret.groarke at manhattan.edu_ (mailto:margaret.groarke at manhattan.edu)   writes:

Au  contraire, we New Yorkers just want to make sure that bribing public  
officials is affordable! The desire to get one's way shouldn't bankrupt a  
person.   

More seriously, the limits we have in NYS are really generous (I  would be 
permitted to donate $41,000 to a gubernatorial candidate in the  general 
election). And these allegations are about donations to parties,  about which I 
don't have the rules handy. But a LOT of things need to  change in NY. 

On Wed, Apr 3, 2013 at 9:01 AM, <_JBoppjr at aol.com_ (mailto:JBoppjr at aol.com) 
>  wrote:

_Click here: N.Y. Lawmakers Charged  in Plot to Buy Spot on Mayoral Ballot 
- NYTimes.com_ 
(http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/03/nyregion/state-senator-and-city-councilman-accused-of-trying-to-rig-mayors-race.html?hp&_r=0)  

Thank goodness NYC has contribution limits.  It has sure  fixed the 
corruption problem there.  Jim  Bopp

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Associate Professor,  Government

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Phone: 718-862-7943
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_margaret.groarke at manhattan.edu_ (mailto:name.name at manhattan.edu) 
_www.manhattan.edu_ (http://www.manhattan.edu/) 

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