Did Ackerman Break State Lobbying Law?
Acting as an agent for a group of OC Fairboard members that wants to purchase the OC Fairgrounds, Dick Ackerman lobbied to pass legislation last summer that would enable the sale. At least that’s what is being asserted at the OC Progressive blog, here. Apart from the dubious gain to the citizens of the State and Orange County, there is another problem. State law prohibits former Legislators from lobbying in Sacto for a year after they leave office. And Ackerman had only been out of office for six months. Here’s the awkard bit:
87406. (a) This section shall be known, and may be cited, as the Milton Marks Postgovernment Employment Restrictions Act of 1990.
(b) No Member of the Legislature, for a period of one year afterleaving office, shall, for compensation, act as agent or attorney for, or otherwise represent, any other person by making any formal or informal appearance, or by making any oral or written communication, before the Legislature, any committee or subcommittee thereof, any present Member of the Legislature, or any officer or employee thereof, if the appearance or communication is made for the purpose of influencing legislative action.
Hmm. As a law and order Repuglican Dick ought to know better. But maybe this is another one of those pesky rules that the ‘Pugs just like to call “unenforceable” or anti-free speech, or some other nonsense. It’s also worth noting that Ackerman’s clients on the Fair board are now accused of violating open meeting laws in order to orchestrate the insider scam.
Over at the OJ blog the irrepressible Vern Nelson is publicizing a protest meeting in Costa Mesa, and actually gives props to Mike Duvall for opposing the sale. Odd, if true, because you can bet Dick lobbied his political godson hard. Coincidentally, Duvall is now gone, and Ackerman’s wife, Ackerwoman, is running to replace him on a strong ethics platform.
Well, that platform just got another couple of its legs kicked out from under it. And remember, Dick “speaks for his wife.”
Ahem. If they don’t enforce it, the law ain’t broken.
Hold on now. Are you implying that Ackerman had something to do with the embarrassing release of the Duvall tape? As pay back for a fair vote?
Don’t you remember, when the shit hit the fan Dick and Linda were far away, vacationing in France at the Marquis de Sade’s place.
Ah yes, we can just imagine the audio tapes of Linda tied up and Dick…….
I used the word “coincidentally.” Coincidence precludes intent. However if you think I was merely using the word sarcastically, well, it’s a free country…
I notice Van Tran is one of the organizers of the meeting in Costa Mesa. The same Van Tran whom Ackerman pushed out of the 34th Senate race in favor of the horrible Daucher creature.
Cue music: it’s a small world after all…
Ah, it’s a Grover story. Are you implying that Ackerman had something to do with the embarrassing release of the Duvall tape? As pay back for a fair vote? Yeah that’s what I was starting to wonder too. Does that make sense? Remember someone sat on the video for a while. You people follow these shenanigans more than I do.
“Irrepressible” is nice. I feel like Dennis the Peasant: Stop repressing me! Ah, now we see the violence inherent in the system!
Vern, you are irrepressible. Sort of like a force of nature.
Dennis the Peasant? Gack. How about Bennet Cerf?
You guys should have seen the faux outrage from Van Tran today, at those of us with the temerity to point out that Dick lobbied illegally for the sale. Even the fair board chairman, Kristina Dodge, admitted that they hired Dick to “talk to legislators” about the sale. That’s not lobbying? Ever since the OC Progressive story (amplified by me and you guys here) they’ve been searching for euphemisms.
Van Tran’s brilliant riposte: “Of course he wasn’t lobbying! That would have been illegal!” (Paraphrase by memory)