Yesterday, the Richmond Times-Dispatch published a column blasting Delegate Jenn McClellan's employment at Verizon, claiming it was a conflict of interest. But once you peel away the distortions, half-truths, and downright lies - Delegate McClellan is not doing anything wrong at all.1) The RTD implies that Verizon simply employs her because of her status as a member of the House of Delegates when in fact Delegate McClellan has worked for Verizon for the last 5 years (she's been in the House for less than 2 years).
2) With any citizen legislature- there is always some conflict of interest just because the 140 members of the Legislature have to make a living somehow. So thats why Delegate McClellan and every other member of the House and Senate can ABSTAIN from votes that constitute a conflict of interest. So what is the problem with Delegate McClellan working for Verizon when she abstains from voting on ALL Verizon bills (which of course she does)?
3) There are a number of legislators who represent clients in front of State Agencies - including Senate Majority Leader Walter Stosch (R), Senator Tommy Norment (R), Senator Ken Stolle (R), Senator Marty Williams (R), and Senator William Wampler (R) - who all have vastly more influence than a freshman member of the Minority Caucus. So why would Jeff Schapiro go after Delegate McClellan instead of all those Republicans?
Well first and most importantly Senator Stosch and others are not an up and coming Democrat. Delegate McClellan is the Vice-Chair of the Democratic Party of Virginia and whenever I'm at an event, she is introduced as "the fist female Governor of Virginia". The RTD has no problem with what Delegate McClellan does for Verizon - their problem is with her politics.
In government, it's not just the act of doing something wrong, but even the appearance of wrongdoing that is problematic. And in an instance like this, to use bureacratic language, reasonable people can infer that there is an appearance of conflict of interest, even if Del. McClellan, or any other delegate, never actually abuses the office.
The only real solution, and one we are not likely to implement, is to have a full time legislature.
The notion of "citizen legislators" sounds wonderful and idealistic. But the reality is that it is anything but. It goes back to the era of "gentlemen farmers" who had servants, personal wealth, and leisure time to play at politics part time.
It's actually more democratic and inclusive to have a full time, appropriately paid legislative body that does not require politicians to be either independently wealthy or employed by a corporation that creates a conflict of interest for them.
None of these people should be full time, professional lawmakers. They should all work and live in the same environment that the rest of us do.
We only need to enforce strict adherence to abstaining from votes affecting clients or employers.
Original poster had it right, its another RTD Re-thuglican hit piece.
What's new?
In fact, let's work to send those guys in Washington home to live among us great unwashed masses. Let's make it harder and more expensive for big corps to lobby them and much easier for us to oversee them. We forget, they represent the PEOPLE, right?
Send them to DC couple of times a year. Rest of the time they can vote by internet and stay in their districts and work a real job for a living!
Can someone provide the details?
I know a bit about last week's hearing where Verizon's goal was to increase its profits on the backs of rural Virginians. Would the electorate approve of her actions?
Thank God I have enough common sense not to run with the pack of wolves that consist of our elected representatives in Richmond. But if I ever did decide to run, since I'm a union lawyer, it would be expected of me to always support what's best for the workers. I would proudly wear that on my sleeve. In McClellan's case, it's the exact opposite. I'm sure she used the Democratic label to align herself with the common citizen - I'm also sure that they never would have expected her to sell her private life to an entity committed to hurting the same people who elected her. It may not be illegal, but it's immoral, looks bad, and hurts our party's image.
Finally, it is well documented that Verizon has not been the best employer in the world for its workers. Verizon gives a lot more money to Republicans than Democrats, and their top corporate officials earn salaries that do not reflect the company's performance.
Shame does not choose political parties - it's uncalled for whether blue or red.
Election year 2007 YTD: Verizon donation
They like the Republicans 2 times as much as the Dems.
As an aside, I just got off the phone with Verizon trying to decipher and complain about my latest bill. I signed up for a local promotion from them for phone, fiber optic internet and fiber optic TV services, combined for an agreed to discount. Well two months later and still no discount on my bills. I was given a gobbly d' gook answer and a real tap dance!
I've been quite disappointed with the quality of his work since he moved to B-1. The column is shorter, and its location makes it necessary to appeal to people who aren't so much interested in the details as they are in the glitz. And, Jeff's been getting a little glitzy lately, this being a case in point.
Call me an elitist, but I recall not so long ago when the Times-Dispatch offered uniformly well-written commentary, even if much of it was intellectual chaff. Now, with two exceptions some will find obvious (MPW and ABH), the work is pedestrian.
Jeff should return to writing detailed pieces about the foibles of Virginia goverment which don't rely on page 1 canards about political venality. This sort of hack job doesn't suit him, or his reputation.