Senator Larry George's Self-Payout

A post over at Land Use Watch reveals that Oregon State Senator Larry George (R-Sherwood) has been making some shady campaign finance decisions. First, a list of payments from George's Senate campaign to the company George Advertising (what a coincidence, right?).

1280 11/27/2006 Larry George for State Senate George Advertising, Inc. Account Payable $168.00 1279 11/02/2006 Larry George for State Senate George Advertising, Inc. Account Payable $201.25 1275 10/22/2006 Larry George for State Senate George Advertising, Inc. Account Payable $2,817.50 1274 09/21/2006 Larry George for State Senate George Advertising, Inc. Account Payable $2,213.75 1272 04/28/2006 Larry George for State Senate George Advertising, Inc. Account Payable $2,760.00

The transactions are not limited to George's campaign either, there are many more such payments that come from PACs of which Larry George is the director, such as Oregonians in Action PAC and Oregon Sportsmens Association PAC. Well here's the twist that you all saw coming:

As I have previously documented, “George Advertising” shares the same address as Senator Larry George. In fact, George Advertising is controlled by Senator Larry George: he is the President, Secretary, and Registered Agent.

People donate money to Senator Larry George. Senator Larry George then apparently decides to use George Advertising, and presumably he decides how much is paid out to his own advertising firm.

Isn’t this self-dealing?

Isn’t this at all suspicious?? Is this legal?!!?!

When people contribute money to Larry George’s political campaign, do they expect that a portion of that money will apparently end up in Larry George’s own pocket?

To recap: Senator Larry George gives large sums of money from campaign contributions to his own company, from which he presumably recieves compensation. Questionable ethics, to say the least. Read the rest and comment at Land Use Watch.

Sept. 13, 2007 Posted in elsewhere.