Re: Access to Gov. McAuliffe can be bought for $50k through new PAC
Posted by:
Wow that's crazy
()
Date: March 19, 2014 07:14PM
WTVR Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Access to Gov. McAuliffe can be bought for $50k,
> through new PAC
>
>
> RICHMOND, Va (WTVR) — CBS 6 obtained an email
> sent out by Governor Terry McAuliffe and his newly
> formed political action committee (PAC), Common
> Good VA.
>
> The governor is using the PAC to solicit donations
> for his causes and like-minded politicians, a
> practice not unknown in the state, but one that
> comes on the heels of legislation and strong
> remarks against the influence of money in
> politics. “When ethical questions about
> government arise, they place a cloud over the
> government’s public servants,” said McAuliffe
> during his State of the Commonwealth address.
>
> The PAC packages include a number of offers to
> donors, ranging in cost from $10,000 to $100,000.
>
> Donors giving the largest amount to Common Good VA
> get regular access to McAuliffe, including a
> private reception, a round-table discussion with
> state leaders, a retreat and a private dinner with
> McAuliffe and his family.
>
> “Why don’t we cut the head off of this snake
> right now?” asks government watchdog and
> Democratic strategist, Paul Goldman.
>
> Goldman tells CBS 6’s Lorenzo Hall, he is
> puzzled by McAuliffe’s PAC offers, especially
> because the governor spoke repeatedly about the
> need for ethics reform in Virginia and imposed a
> $100 gift limit on himself.
>
> Access to the governor in exchange for a donation
> could be seen as questionable after the indictment
> of former Governor Bob McDonnell, who is charged
> with accepting unreported gifts from a wealthy
> donor and leaving prosecutors wondering what
> favors that donor received in return.
>
> We contacted the governor about his PAC by phone
> and email today. In response, his press
> secretary, Rachel Thomas, sent us an email
> stating, “Any questions regarding the PAC need
> to be directed to them. Thank you!”
> Goldman says McAuliffe limiting gifts he can
> receive is useless when wealthy donors can still
> get access to the governor through his PAC.
>
> “Before long, you won’t be able to get in to
> talk to some high profile person or policymaker
> before they say, where’s your ticket? You
> didn’t pay $10,000 or $50,000? Well, I can’t
> talk to you. I got a long line of people that paid
> to talk to me,”says Goldman.
>
> CBS reached out to Common Good VA for comment, but
> they haven’t responded.
That's really cheap compared to what gov mcdonnel charged!