Bill Manzi.com

The antics across the land, in states near and far, continues to amaze. In New York former Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno is facing a multiple count federal indictment alleging wrongdoing. From the New York Times:

Joseph L. Bruno, the former State Senate majority leader, was indicted on Friday in Albany on charges that he reaped millions of dollars from companies seeking business from the state or from labor unions, capping a long-running investigation into one of New York’s most powerful political figures.In an eight-count indictment, federal prosecutors accused Mr. Bruno of collecting more than $3 million over a 13-year period, beginning in 1993, from a handful of companies seeking state contracts and grants, as well as contracts to manage pension fund investments for at least 16 labor unions.

In addition to cash payments disguised as consulting fees, he also had undisclosed interests in a racehorse partnership and a computer software firm that had contracts with state agencies, according to the indictment.

Bruno’s indictment brought about a lead editorial from the New York Times calling for state ethics reform in New York. Could have been cut and pasted from similar editorials in Massachusetts and Illinois. From that editorial:

It is time for Albany’s many self-declared reformers to toughen ethics requirements and oversight of lawmakers — including how they get money, as outside income, as gifts and as campaign contributions. New Yorkers deserve something better than this revolving door from the Capitol to the courthouse.

And in Massachusetts former State Senator Dianne Wilkerson, under a multiple count federal indictment, has advanced a novel way of looking at gift laws, acknowledging $70,000 or so in unreported “gifts” that she claims are ok under state ethics laws. From the Globe:

Former state Senator Dianne Wilkerson said she routinely accepted money over the last decade from friends and political supporters – upwards of $70,000, some of it cash in unmarked envelopes – without ever reporting it on her campaign reports or tax returns. Wilkerson disclosed her acceptance of the cash and checks in a recent interview with the Globe, saying she took individual financial contributions of up to $10,000 to help pay off mortgage and federal tax debts. The contributions, she said, were approved by the state Ethics Commission, vetted by lawyers, and within state and federal laws.

And of course this posting of “As the World Turns” would not be complete without a reference to Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, whose impeachment trial begins today in the Illinois State Senate. Governor Blagojevich will not be attending that trial or sending lawyers to do so, having publicly announced a “boycott” of the Senate proceedings. Governor Blagojevich instead will be making the rounds of the talk show circuit, including an appearance on the Today show this morning. The Governor’s strategy has caused his lawyer to resign in protest, and prompted Chicago Mayor Richard Daley to label him as “cuckoo”. But the Governor is having none of that cuckoo talk. He has compared himself to Mandela, the Reverend Martin Luther King, and Ghandi, which has allowed him to gain “perspective” on his troubles. From MSNBC:

After weeks of near-silence, Blagojevich has begun an energetic public relations campaign, comparing himself to the hero of a Frank Capra movie and a cowboy being lynched for a crime he didn’t commit. He said that when he was arrested on federal corruption charges, he took solace from other leaders who have been jailed.

“I thought about Mandela, Dr. King, Gandhi” and that helped him gain perspective, he said in an interview that aired Sunday on “Today.”

Amazing stuff! Please tune in again for our next episode of “As the World Turns”.