Apparently, at least one Elk Grove City Councilman lives in a different world than I do. The Fair Political Practices Commission recently fined Councilman Pat Hume $1000 for failing to report brunches and dinners he received during a council members’ annual lobbying trip to Washington D.C. in 2009. The nine brunches and dinners Hume received cost $728. That’s just about $81 per meal! Pretty good wining and dining if you ask me!
That’s not my world. Even though I’ve lived in California for over forty years, I’m still a Wisconsin boy at heart. I feel lucky if, when out with the guys for a few brewskis, someone other than me buys the pitcher of Bud Light.
Fair to say Councilman Hume and the other members of the lobbying trip didn’t dine at an Applebee’s, not that there would have been anything wrong with that. I like Applebee’s. Hey, a guy like me can go to the restaurant, order the most expensive item on the menu, add two or three glasses of fine wine, tip generously, and still have a tab considerably less than $81.
I can’t ever remember anyone picking up the tab for my $81 meal. Heck, I can’t remember ever having a restaurant tab for an $81 meal. If someone did, I’m pretty sure I’d remember it for quite some time. And I’m positive, if someone picked up the tab for nine expensive meals, it would be indelibly seared into my long-term memory. But, that’s my world.
Pat Hume attended the same dinners as every one else at Cap-to-Cap. Welcome to America.
So, what's your point? Are you saying that, if all councilpeople fail to claim meals bought by organizations trying to gain influence, it's just "the system?" Sorry, but I choose to believe we (the public) still have an opportunity to change the system.
As I said in my commentary, seems to me that if someone or some organization picked up the tab for nine meals totalling $728, I'd remember. But, hey, that's my world!
It's unknown if the opinion writer was prompted by someone to post this "opinion", or if he is just being his normal, partisan-hack and uninformed self. There are two truths to the matter: 1) the selection of Mr. Hume for investigation was not random, and 2) if Mr. Hume was an active Democrat, like two on the council, there probably would never have been an investigation, and *certainly* this post would not have appeared.
No one prompted me to post my opinion. I'm just being my normal, partisan-hack and uninformed self!
I personally suspect the ethics of anyone who runs for any elected office in our nation, but I don't necessarily think the ethical sacrifices those who run make are really of the variety that would make most of us jump off the cliff for shame. Campaign finance in our state drives many to do things that are ethically suspect, but given the choices, are not all that dire. You probably wouldn't have some members of the City Council seated right now if the letter and spirit of CA campaign law was followed to the word. Does that make them all criminals? You make that choice. I happen to view those who are elected from the standpoint of their vision and their ACTIONS. Sure it is sujective, but so are our voting choices. We talk about holding our elected officials to unattainable standards of ethics and actions, and then wonder why we are constantly disappointed. Silly us.
Can't disagree with the comment regarding holding officials to unattainable standards.
I do wish that some folks who scream the loudest in our town would look around and get worked up about ALL of the silliness that occurs, rather than focusing on a select few. Hypocracy is one of the brightest stars that shine in our universe. It rarely fails to be seen for what it is. Thanks.
Agreed.
i nominate mark paxson
You, of course, are in jest, right! Paxson is anything but an obnoxious busybody commentator (check your spelling). Me think you must be referring to M. Legison. Partisan-hack, and uninformed self The partis
Desertpatriot ... your putridness grows.
As far as I can ascertain, you're new to the Patch dialogue. But, new or not, you've done an incredibly thorough job of making yourself look like the "south end of a horse heading north!"
I'm confused. If your question is, "Smitty, what party have I claimed support?", well, as I said, I'm confused. What the heck is the question? It makes no sense.