Do ya think the beer and wine lobbyists go to priceline.com to get the deal that takes them under $144?

Yeah, me neither.

Now that we have Minnis on the run, let's get Scott out of there, too.

[off-topic comment deleted. -editor]

Kari,

you missed this important pull-quote from the article:

"Group Donates to Legislators

This year, the group's conference was at the Fairmont Orchid on the island of Hawaii. Scott, Nelson and Rep. Bruce Hanna, R-Roseburg, attended and reported receiving campaign contributions from the wine and beer association. Scott received $20,000, and Hanna and Nelson received $5,000 each.

In 2004, the beer and wine group contributed $40,000 to the campaigns of Scott, Nelson and Kitts, according to records, including $1,000 given to each of them in early June 2004, just after the Maui trip."

Clearly, failing to report the all-expenses paid trip is a problem, but the big money flow here is into the campaign coffers.

Influence peddlers like the beer and wine association, Associated Oregon Industries and more use a multifaceted strategy of not only wining and dining key legislators, but also cutting them fat checks due to Oregon's lack of campaign finance limits.

This article makes a great case for supporting measures 46 and 47 and I'm still scratching my head that some lefty groups oppose such limits on 'free speech' grounds.

Seriously, which is more important to Wayne Scott, that room valued at $500/night, or the $20,000 check for his re-election campaign?

Out here near North Plains, Derrick Kitts has campaign signs that ask "Who Is derrick Kitts?" I guess if I want to find out I should ask the staff at The Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa in Hawaii, or maybe the lobbyists for the beer & wine industry.

It is not only incomprehensible, it is inexcusable. Every legislator is tutored in acceptable gift limits and filing requirements. To claim they relied on the lobbyist to inform them if they needed to report these expenses is either a lie, or an outright admission of their ignorance regarding what is expected of a public official, and they have no business doing the state's business.

Yeah way off topic I posted a far worse violation of State Law required reporting.

"A fourth Oregon legislator, Sen. Rick Metsger, also attended the 2004 conference in Maui. The Welches Democrat said he attended as a paid consultant, not as a legislator."

Let's not let partisan euphoria blind us to faux pas on our own side of the aisle. While Metsger attended as a consultant not a legislator, thus skirting the watchful gaze of the ethics commission, what about the conflict of interest presented? A legislator is a consultant with a company who his votes continually affect? Seems a little bit suspect to me. Would there be an issue of a congressman served as a "consultant" for Lockheed Martin?

"The next day, he declined to answer questions and said he was preparing to contact the Government Standards and Practices Commission, which collects the disclosure reports that legislators and lobbying groups have to file each year." Trouble is We Have NO Ethics Commission. A slap on the ass and an admonishment to never do that again. Oregon Politics: Ben belly belly good for me, and the beat goes on. How truly sad.

So how're the Democrats going to make hay out of this? This means you in particular, Mike Caudle. I don't mean to single you out, but as I imagine you're way behind on the financial front, you need to make the most of free publicity while you can. Get all over this anyway you can, particularly local news.

Wayne Scott proves the phrase "Parliament of Whores" has never been so richly earned.

The Oregonian story quoted Wayne Scott as saying his free junket to Hawaii was perfectly legal, as far as Scott knew. Maybe it wasn't a "crime," but his comments show that Wayne Scott misses the point of ethics in government. Naturally, Wayne Scott assured us all that his vote is never for sale:

"Scott bristled at questions that he can be influenced by an expenses-paid trip to Hawaii or by campaign contributions.

'You don't have any assurances that I'm going to vote however you want me to vote,' he said. 'No one--no one--gets that from me.'"

So there you have it: Wayne Scott doesn't take bribes; he takes unreported vacations paid for by lobbyists. Sorry I didn't understand the difference.

And if they had reported it, it would be legalized corruption as far as I'm concerned.

I was on a plane with Kitts last December. It wasn't going to Hawaii. I wonder what he was up to then and if that outing was reported.

Mike Caudle, the Democratic nominee challenging Wayne Scott in House District 39, today released an ethics and lobbying reform package that would help root out the type of abuses laid out in The Oregonian article.

Jonathan Singer Campaign Manager Committee to Elect Mike Caudle

Ethics and lobbying reform are critical and the legislature should take action. Hopefully Wayne Scott won't be around to block it and Mike Caudle is given a chance to move his reform package forward.

This story makes it clear that campaign finance reform is also critical and the voters have an opportunity to implement that this November. Under Measures 46 and 47, Wayne Scott could not have collected $20,000 this year from the Beer and Wine Distrubutors, and they could not have given $40,000 to the campaigns of Scott, Nelson and Kitts in 2004. This level of corporate money in politics corrupts the process as much as the junkets, reported or unreported, if not more.

Jonathan, thanks for the input. Is Mike debating Wayne Scott anytime? If not, be sure to nail him in any way you can (interviews, flyers, etc.) on his cowardice and trying to hide his unethical behavior (and bad votes) from his constituents. My guess is this may be one of your few chances to catch some free press, so hit the iron while it's hot!

Yep, The Grand Wailea is truly insane. Impressive, but almost bordering on ostentatious.

I still wouldn't mind staying there for a coupla weeks.....

As buckeroo and true blue note, the most politically relevant matter of this sordid story is the perfectly legal huge contributions that the C2H5OH folks lay on legislators, no the junket kitts, Nelson, and Scott illegaly failed to report. tha's whay we need the Fair Elections measures 46 & 47.

By the way, I suppose Scott could use the same excuse, "I wasn't told it was worth more than $144," if Romain had handed him a briefcase full of hundred dollar bills. I mean, if Wayne didn't count them, how'd he know it was more than $144?

Hear, hear! Frank, you need an outlet... Swat the BloodSuckers Flash Movie

Just as a matter of interest - although it should come as no suprise - the lobbyist Paul Romain of the Oregon Beer and Wine Distributors is a charter member of the campaign opposing M45's restoration of voter-approved legislative term limits.

Read the blog post: here or here.

Paul F. I oppose term limits because there was an absolutely wonderful state rep. in the district next to mine until term limits threw him out.

The person who replaced him was a rude ideologue who eventually got into legal and financial trouble.

The way to get rid of Wayne Scott is to elect Caudle, not to impose term limits.

And after this whole flap, if there are different legislators in 2007 (along with some experienced legislators) maybe we won't hear what we heard in 2005 "can't raise the alcohol tax because the lobbyist is too powerful". Romain is too powerful a lobbyist and those who take his favors should not be re-elected. But term limits was tried and in many cases a quality person was replaced with an unexperienced lower quality person.

Kari

Do you happen to know if Metsger rigorously recuses himself from any votes, or deliberations/discussions leading to decisions that might impact the alcohol industry? (His employers, we now learn, when he is actually earning his living...)

And, do consultants/er/state legislator's clients normally pay to send them on exclusive Hawaiian vacations? Where would one look for that remuneration line item in a standard RFP or other contract? In the fine print, I presume?

Sorry. It really does stink, no matter whose *** it is. You saw the picture of the pool. They really did all swim there, together. I write fiction, and poetry and I'm here to tell you, you couldn't make up a clearer metaphor for the power and corruption of money on our shared body politic -- than that pool.

We dems need to raise our expectations of our own house, if we want to point fingers at others.

pot. kettle. black.

is it getting kind of hypocritical in here, or is it just me?

Well since the Big O now prints the other shoe dropping (D's also in Maui-gate), that'll silence the rabid partisans who thought this stench hit only one side of the aisle.

Go on over to this morning's post and see that D's can be just as corrupt as R's. And don't blame the party, or the culture of the party, or the politics of the party. Blame the individuals.