By Carter Clews
Earl K. Long – “the fine governor of the great state of Louisiana” — once denounced those who accused him of buying politicians in the strongest possible terms. “That’s a G-D lie,” Earl bellowed, “I never bought a congressman in my life! I rent ‘em. It’s cheaper.’
California money mogul Ed Roski, Jr., doesn’t disagree with Earl in principle, politicians being the notorious practitioners of the world’s oldest profession that they are. But, he does strongly disagree in practice. Ed would be more than happy to buy every politician his procurers can dredge up. But, he’ll be doggone if he’s going to keep renting them.
Which is why he is a prime mover and proud financier behind the latest campaign to rob the Golden State of its highly popular term limits law. Never mind that the good people of that state have voted on three different occasions now to put – and keep – term limits intact. To Ed Roski, renting politicians every six to eight years has become a very expensive proposition. And he’s looking for life-long paybacks.
Make no mistake about it: Ed is a past master at getting his money’s worth from those whose path to power he has helped grease. Since 1999, he and his Majestic Realty Company have filled the bulging coffers of his handpicked water carriers to the princely tune of $2.6 million in campaign contributions.
And, apparently, once bought, the prostitu- … excuse me, politicians – have stayed bought. Assembly Bill 81, the measure to exempt his proposed football stadium from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) provides a case in point.
Now, keep in mind, California is a state for which House Speaker Nancy Pelosi got a $3 million federal earmark to protect a swamp rat. That’s how obsessive those tofu-eating sun worshippers are about keeping their environment pristine and intact. So, when Big Ed decided he wanted to build a new football stadium to lure in an NFL team, the CEQA automatically kicked in, requiring the usual passel of environmental impact reports.
“Not so fast,” Ed bristled. “That may be all right for the common folks – but they don’t hire their own politicians.” So, quick as a billionaire with a bone to pick, he called in his favors. And his fawning factotums went to work.
Within days, State Senator Isadore Hall (D-Naturally) introduced AB 81 to – in the words of the bill Digest – “… waive environmental review and land use planning requirements as they apply to a football stadium project in the City of Industry.” So much for that.
Less than five weeks later, the bill had sailed through Assembly committees, been passed overwhelmingly and was sitting on the Governor’s desk. He, of course, signed it into law as quickly as an aide could say “campaign contribution.”
And, oh, coincidentally, Roski just happened to have made the following contributions to the sponsors and co-authors of the bill that exempted him from everyone else’s environmental laws:
$500 to Isadore Hall (D), $1,000 to Anthony Adams (R), $3,600 to Anthony Adams, $3,300 to Anthony Adams, $1,000 to Paul Cook (R), $3,600 to Paul Cook, $3,300 to Paul Cook, $3,300 to Paul Cook, $1,000 to Bill Emmerson (R), $1,500 to Bill Emmerson, $3,600 to Bill Emmerson, $3,300 to Bill Emmerson, $500 to Bill Emmerson, $3,600 to Curt Hagman (R), $3,600 to Curt Hagman, $57 to Edward Hernandez (D), $2,500 to Edward Hernandez, $1,000 to Jim Silva (R), $3,300 to Ronald Calderon (D), $3,300 to Ronald Calderon, $999 to Ronald Calderon, $3,000 to Ronald Calderon, $1,000 to Rod Wright (D), $500 to Rod Wright, and $500 to Rod Wright.
Now you can see why Ed Roski, Jr., so strongly disagrees with his fellow political slickster Earl K. Long: at those kinds of prices for just one, lousy bill, rentals just don’t make it. You need to purchase your politicians outright and build up some serious equity.
All of which explains why Big Ed has already spent a whopping $300,000 in his latest attempt to gut California’s term limits laws. Money may not buy happiness. But, Ed Roski, Jr., believes it sure as heck should be able to buy some protitu – whoops, there I go again; excuse me, “politicians”. And then, with term limits out of the way, they can make him happy as a john for the rest of his live-long life.
Carter Clews is the Executive Editor of ALG News.
