Fiesta Bowl Scandal Fallout

Posted by AzblueMeanie:

A quick aside: The political media will focus on the politicians caught up in this scandal, but I would encourage the political media to focus on the real villains here – the lobbyists. The political corruption of our government is due to the fact that we allow lobbyists to run our state legislature, and directly run the governor's office. If the public only knew what goes on at the Capitol they would be up in arms. We need reforms that strictly limit and curtail lobbyist activities and influence at the Capitol. I have yet to see or hear anyone call for these long overdue reforms. (h/t graphic Arizona Guardian).

Fallout from the Fiesta Bowl Scandal is only beginning. The Arizona Republic reports today Fiesta Bowl fallout continues:

The Arizona Republic has learned that three state lawmakers over the past 48 hours wrote checks to reimburse the bowl for free football game tickets, while others hustled to the Secretary of State's Office to amend their financial disclosure reports to list freebies from the bowl as gifts, as required by law.

* * *

On Thursday, the Fiesta Bowl confirmed that three lawmakers – Sen. Paula Aboud, D-Tucson, Sen. Robert Meza, D-Phoenix, and Sen. Michele Reagan, R-Scottsdale – wrote checks to retroactively pay for free tickets they received while on the out-of-state trips, which were billed as "educational" events designed to show support for the Fiesta Bowl, given the competitive nature of college football.

Aboud wrote a check for $55 to cover the cost of one ticket she received during a 2009 trip to Dallas. Meza wrote a check for $320 to cover free tickets he received to two separate football games. Reagan wrote a check for $160 to cover tickets to a Boston College game.

* * *

Sens. Steve Gallardo, D-Phoenix, and John McComish, R-Phoenix, told The Republic they have contacted the Fiesta Bowl about paying for some or all of their expenses.

* * *

Gallardo, Aboud, Meza and McComish have filed amended financial disclosure reports in the wake of the bowl investigation's revelations. Their reports now include line items indicating they accepted gifts in excess of $500 from the Fiesta Bowl.

In addition:

The Fiesta Bowl and its activities also were topics of conversation during a lengthy closed-door Republican caucus meeting Thursday afternoon. Lawmakers were advised during that meeting to amend their financial-disclosure statements, if they had not already done so, to reflect gifts received from the bowl. It also was suggested that members who took trips on the bowl's dime and had concerns about their involvement should seek legal counsel.

The Ethics Committees are also about to get involved:

Senate Ethics Committee Chairman Ron Gould, R-Lake Havasu City, said Thursday that he was looking through members' financial-disclosure reports and campaign-finance statements and hopes to determine in the coming days whether there are improprieties or inconsistencies meriting an ethics complaint that could trigger a formal inquiry. He said he did not know how long the probe would take.

Gould said it was possible someone could file a complaint, possibly before he finishes his inquiry.

"In the end, it probably won't be my initiation. It will probably be somebody else who makes a complaint," Gould said.

This has already occurred in the House Ethics Committee. The East Valley Tribune reports that Republican Rep. Jack Harper filed an ethics complaint on Thursday against Democratic Rep. Ben Arredando, who was a city council member in Tempe at the time he received NFL tickets from the Fiesta Bowl organization. Senator reviewing reporting of bowl gifts. "Those who live in glass houses…," Jack.

Harper's partisan action is certain to invite ethics charges being filed against other members as both political parties try to capitalize off this scandal. Since "King" Russell Pearce is so prominently featured in the Fiesta Bowl Scandal Report, let's start with him.

And why do we need lobbyist reforms? The Arizona Republic explains:

The football junkets, which included some lawmakers' family members, included pricey dinners, stays in high-dollar hotels and invites to marquee football games.

The trips were legal because the state's lobbying laws contain exceptions that allow lobbyists to pay for airfare, lodging and meals. However, lawmakers are obligated to disclose such gifts – which many failed to do.

In addition, some lawmakers who attended the trips appear to have run afoul of state laws prohibiting state employees and elected officials from accepting free football game tickets. Since 2000, state statutes have included an "entertainment ban" barring state employees and elected officials from accepting tickets or "admission to any sporting or cultural event" for free.

The law includes an exception allowing lawmakers to attend "special events" if broad categories of lawmakers, such as the entire Arizona Senate, or a full committee, were invited.

Tickets to a ball game are banned, but lobbyists can influence lawmakers with first class airfare (or private jets), put them up at the Ritz-Carlton, and wine and dine them in the most expensive restaurants. How ass-backwards is that?

All of this lobbyist influence peddling must stop. Take back your government from the lobbyists.