Posted on Wed, Jan. 7, 2009
ONE CYNICALLY optimistic view of the federal trial of former state Sen. Vincent Fumo is that more good laws could follow it than Fumo was ever able to enact while a lawmaker. And we hope one of those changes is tighter controls and monitoring of nonprofits, especially ones that public officials are allowed to create and manage.
The defense will have its day, but with Monday's testimony by former Verizon president Daniel Whelan, the picture painted by the prosecution is jaw-dropping: a lawmaker blackmailing big rich corporations for money in return for laws that will benefit those corporations, or lack of action on laws that won't. And that money - $50 million in Verizon's case - gets directed to places that directly serve the lawmaker's interest, like his law firm, bank and charity. Although Peco Energy ended up donating $17 million to Fumo's nonprofit,Verizon didn't write a check. That stick-up failed.
But we are left wondering why on earth any elected official - whether city, state or federal - should be allowed to operate a charitable organization, especially in light of how little monitoring, disclosure or controls there are over their operations and their potential for corruption. Even if all the money that flowed through Citizens' Alliance went directly to legitimate city or community concerns, the relationship between powerful lawmaker and staggering amounts of undisclosed money demands scrutiny. In Fumo's case, the U.S. attorney's list of personal items supposedly bought with the charity's money makes it even more sickening.
As we have said before, we citizens get the government we ask for. We must start demanding greater disclosure and better regulation of wherever private dollars meet public officials.
Taxpayers can start this Saturday at a public hearing on ethics and campaign-finance reform. A mayor's task force will be wrestling with four topics: campaign-finance reform, outside employment by city employees, political-activity restrictions, ethics/conflict-of-interest rules; and lobbyist registration. The hearing begins at 10 a.m. at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, 1101 Arch St.
Witnesses will have up to five minutes to testify, or they can submit written testimony. Preregister, or send written testimony, by e-mailing Michael Schwartz at schwartzma@pepperlaw.com, by fax at 800-615-2315, or by mail to 3000 Two Logan Square, 18th and Arch streets, Phila. PA 19103. *
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