Rockland legislator proposes tougher finance law
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- August
- 2
Legislator Ed Day wants to make the controversial campaign finance a little more clear—and more strict.
Day, R-New City, announced today that he has submitted several amendments to the county’s 1997 campaign finance law that prohibits candidates in county races from taking more than $100 from any entity that does business with the county.
Those amendments include:
—Prohibiting vendors from donating ANY amount of money to county candidates and prohibiting candidates from taking any money from them.
—Fining vendors as well as the candidates for violating the law.
—Referring possible violations to the county’s Board of Ethics, rather than the Board of Elections.
—Making the definition of “candidate” more clear by stating that anyone who has an active campaign committee at the beginning of an election year would be a candidate.
Day made his announcement this evening on the steps of the county courthouse, flanked by Legislators Doug Jobson, R-Stony Point and Minority Leader Gerold Bierker, C-Bardonia as well as Republican Legislature candidates Edna Rivera and Paul Valentine.
Day said that while the argument has been made that the law is unenforceable there has never been a court decision to that effect.
A lot of the candidates, mostly elected officials, he said, “are making a lot of excuses instead of complying.”
Valentine was one of three Legislature candidates that accepted vendor money according to the July periodic filing. He said he had thought the law applied only to incumbents and has since written checks back to those companies.
Bierker said candidates and elected officials should do whatever they could to keep their campaigns ethical.
“If you want to find the loophole, you will find the loophole,” he said. “But shame on you if you do it.”
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on Thursday, August 2nd, 2007 at 8:19 pm by Sarah Netter.
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What about Planned Parenthood contributions to the legislators?????
How about the fact that Planned Parenthood deserves funding for an interpreter. Every year I read about what they are going to use the money for in their Spring Valley location, and people get up in arms.
I'm sorry, but from what I understand about our Country's government is that it's a separation of Church and State. So, if you're belief is that abortion is wrong, that's your deal, but DON'T try to force your religious beliefs on others.
God, relgion, faith, or lack of it, is personal and only meant to help guide a person, not make EVERY SINGLE THOUGHT AND DECISION.
Plus, I once went to Planned Parenthood for general exams as a teen when my family didn't have insurance, and have known that the Rockland location doesn't perform abortions, no one ever said to me that should I have sex, nor did the give me sex advice unsoliticted not that I asked because I talked to my mother, all they ever did was do what any OB/GYN office did provide health care for women's specific health issues.
Now, if elected officials took money this year from PP, from what I read this year there was no funding for them, so if they got money, it wasn't from a county vendor, now was it? Nope.
Stop griping, and I think it's petty to worry about how they get money, and we should focus on real issues.
Of course we have to worry about how they get their money. Don't be so naive. This is a real issue.
Pat Withers collected $599 dollars from County Legislator Ilan Schoenberger (D-New Square), known as the “boss� of the County Legislature, who also works with Mr. St. Lawrence at Ramapo Town Hall and represents the special interests in Ramapo. Withers failed to show the contributions from Schoenberger on his financial disclosure forms but a Journal News reporter discovered them because the contributions to our opponent appeared on the expenditure list on Mr. Schoenberger’s disclosure form. When questioned by the Journal News reporter, Withers said he would return the money he received from Schoenberger. But he obviously wasn’t planning on returning the money until it was discovered by the newspaper reporter. And Withers owes his loyalty to Schoenberger. After all, Schoenberger engineered our opponents’ appointment to the legislature in January (over the objection of our locally elected County Committee which recommended Joe Meyers in a 28-2 vote).
Sterns and Wheeler, an upstate engineering firm, gave $2,500 to the Friends of Christopher St. Lawrence, making it the third largest money amount given by 158 donors. They did this while they were in the middle of an extensive, and expensive, evaluation of the failing Rockland County Sewer District #1 (RCSD#1). The guy who cashed the Stearns & Wheler check, Christopher St. Lawrence, happens to be one of the Commissioners at the RCSD#1 (the party being investigated by the engineering firm).
If that's not corruption, then what is?!
Planned Parenthood deserves NO money from Rockland County and yes I do oppose it on a religious basis. Why is it ok for you an PP to force their non-religious beliefs upon me that killing an innocent life is ok and something that I should fund with MY tax dollars. If you support this, then YOU pay for it-donate to them. I'm not trying to stop the activities of PP, but why should I pay for them. Furthermore, once PP began to publically endorse candidates for political office (mostly liberal Democrats by the way), they lost out on their so called "community service" tag line. They are a political entity as far as I'm concerned and this is another reason why I should not have to fund them with MY tax dollars. Unless of couyrse, with thecorrupt Governor of NY in charge now, they start asking me to fund the Democrat party with MY tax dollars.
Mike religions and politics do not mix, which is why our fore fathers drafted the Declaration of Independence and Constitution the way it is.
Plus, I'm gathering from Tina that she is one of the nuts I saw at the FAA hearing from a group called "Preserve Ramapo", but are nothing more than children crying and whining about things that they feel do not serve them.
I would hope that any elected official, not just in one area would return funds that could be questionable. But, like any of us, they are also human, and with any human, we are all flawed. So, would it be surprising that any candidate, or elected official looks for funding? No. That has always been the case. Should it be regulated in some way? Yes.
As for Planned Parenthood, whatever religious beliefs you have should be passed on to your own children, and NOT shoved down others throats.
I happen to be an Athiest. I was raised Catholic, but over the years, because of my own life experiences, and not influenced by any groups, etc, I came to realize, that at least for me, the Catholic church was very flawed. Plus, if God exists, then he does, and I'd find out soon enough.
But, I also believe that if God hated homosexuals, etc, he would take care of things himself, wouldn't he? Or, maybe he's a she. Bottom line is, Planned Parenthood has the right to exist, the same was Pentacostal churches do, etc.
I don't expect others to be athiests because I am one. I also happen to be an ethical person. I follow, and just because it's plain common sense, the idea of the 10 commandments, at least 9. I always respected my parents and my family. I would never think of stealing, or cheating on anyone. I try to treat others the way I want to be treated, and if I were presented with documentation where an organization wanted money and I had to vote for it, and they met the legal requirements, they would get it. Especially if it means that someone who, at that time, doesn't speak English can get may directions to maybe a hospital if it was an emergency, or needed to understand a doctor's instructions, that's not endorsements of abortions. It's making sure that health care, or any social work being done, is done so that everyone receives the help they need in a manner they can understand it. Nothing more, or less.
Oh, and funding organizations, or religious beliefs doesn't blindly follow party lines.
Neither all Democrats or Republicans, or Conservatives, or Working Family party voters or officials are crooked, or bad.
That's as bad as assuming that any ethnic group, or race are all bad. And when you blame Democrats, Mike, you are really making a bad assumption.
Candace-I never said PP should not exist. What I said in fact was that because of my religious beliefs I should not have to fund it. One of the activities of PP (killing inncocent babies) is aginst what I believe in. I'm not trying to convince you that I am right or you are wrond. In fact, I'm not even trying to say to you that God exists-that is up to you decide. What I am saying is that I do not want to pay an organziation to perform services that are aginst what I believe in. By forcing me to pay out of my taxes-you have forced your non-religion down my throat. You still have not refuted another fact that PP is a polictical organization who endorses and provides funds to support candidadtes that agree with their positions. So by asking me to pay for this out of my taxes, I not only am forced to go agianst a major tenent of my faith (Thou shall not kill) but are focring me to fianncially support candidates for political office whom I would not vote for. If you support PP, then you can fianancially support them all you want. If we folow your logic, then the Catholic Church should be lining up at the Legislators doors accepting money since it provides many more valuable services than PP ever could (i.e education, healthcare, homeless shelters, etc.)
The Catholic church is full of liars. The only reason priests are supposed to be celebate is so that they don't wind up getting women pregnant, and having the Church support them by having to actually pay priests more. The Church doesn't need money. The Vatican has such art work, etc. that they should fund all of their Catholic Charities locations, etc.
And, no one is forcing you to fund anything, but if a majority of legislators LEGALLY VOTE TO FUND IT SO THAT SOMEONE WHO SPEAKS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE CAN COMMUNICATE TO GET CARE, that is what the local branch does.
Your logic is a bad as David Garrison's recent Letter to the Editor.
And, the local shelter does get money from the county, etc
Candace,
God Bless you.
I find that this Legislator wanting to have tougher finance laws voted in. Legislator Day seems to be someone who says "do what I say but not what I do". There was a fundraising event this past weekend at the home of one of the owners of a County vendor…..someone's a hypocrite.
Wow, JoAnne, good call! Amazing, isn't it? I'm a New City resident, and now, I'm going to vote for whomever is running against Legislator Day.
I think it's awful that someone will talk the talk but not walk the walk. I didn't vote for him when he ran against Kenneth Zebrowski. Most of his mailings weren't about issues, but were quite rude, and just personal attacks on Kenneth Zeborwski. My vote always goes to those who really care about issues, not phoneys!
Candace obviously needs to educate herself as to what's going on in the County. If you can close your eyes to religion and turn your back, then why not everything else. It's easy to run away!
This blog began as commentary on the candidates campaign finance obligations not as a place to spout on about abortion and religion. You're on the wrong site Candace! And keep your insulting name calling to yourself!
Yeah, ok. Sure
Candace, you didn't say a thing wrong. Some people just do not like to see others not agree with them.
Especially those who are very religious. I was raised a Methodist, but I don't expect elected officials to vote based on what I believe. So don't back down, Candace.
Joanne and Candace
Your not getting the point. No one is imposing their religion on anyone. In fact the opposite is true in this case. Your imposing your lack of religion and ethics on the rest of us by funding PP which promotes killing innocent babies. If you like this "service", fine-keep it and you fund it. Personally, I am against it and do not want my tax dollars used to support it. That's it-simple.
Mike,
You're not the only tax payer, and for as many that are against it due to their personal religious beliefs, there are many who support funding it for the right reasons, good health care for those who need it.
Killing innocent babies is not good healthcare.
That is not what the Spring Valley location does. That location is simply ob/gyn care. They do not perform abortions there. As a teen, I went there when my mother had no insurance and was raising myself and my brother as a single mother. At no point did they ever encourage me to do that, should I become pregnant, nor did the bring up the topic of sex ed to me. That they left to my family.
I wish more people who were so extremely right to life really got the point. I'm hoping that those who are also are against the death penalty, otherwise, that's killing potentially innocent people that could be on death row.
Whether the Spring Valley location does it or not is irrelevant. They are part of a bigger organziation that supports abortion and more importantly financially supports candidates who are Anti-Life (they call it Pro Choice). This should not be funded with tax dollars.
Mike, you're anti-life. The point of being alive and being an American is the right to choose.
I choose what's best for someone's health. When YOU become pregnant, then join the abortion discussion. Pregnancy is a medical condition. Any thing can go wrong during the stages of pregnancy, which is why one sees a doctor regularly. As a labor and delivery nurse, and RN, I know.
I've seen perfectly healthy women, or seemingly so, wind up dying during childbirth. I've known women to struggle with the decisions of being pregnant due to a rape, or who have dealt with multiple miscarraiges that being pregnant again is a trauma for them. Some say, ok, give the child up for adoption. But, that isn't that simple. People get attached to things they own, such as cars, etc, that the idea of giving up a child would be hard to do. Surrogate women have changed their minds at the last minute. And, with rape victims, some may not be able to handle the idea of the chance that they would have a forever reminder of how that child came about. Or, if that child will resemble the rapist.
I don't feel abortions should be done as a form of birth control, but if a woman's health is at risk from pregnancy, or the fetus has health issues that could cause still birth, etc., than abortion should be an option.
Rowe vs. Wade wasn't passed in vain. And, you all forget that private doctors, and hospitals, have performed abortions. Planned Parenthood isnt' the enemy. Narrow minded people are.
Clarkstown Res-
prochoice? Does the baby chose death? I think not. You bring up the exceptions rather than the rule. Most abortions in this country are a form of birth control and not because a woman's life is in danger.
Again though I come to my main point-if you support PP and its "prochoice" policies great for you. I just don't want to pay for your moral decsion.
Mike,
If you think ALL women use abortion as a form of birth control, then maybe you really don't understand women. And, again, you are NOT the only taxpayer in the County and for every one that doesn't want to pay for that funding there are just as many that don't mind to.
Also, if you can prove, without a reasonable doubt, that in the first 4 months of a fetus' existence in the womb that it can talk, know what's going on, participate, understand anything and that the changes the fetus is going through to actually become an infant in the latter second and third trimesters, then prove it. I don't remember what happened in the womb, but if for some reason there would be some threat to either myself or my mother during her pregnancy, and there was a decision to have the pregnancy terminated early on, then that's that. If it is such a problem, then would God really have allowed man to develop the scientifice technology and abilities needed to perform them so that the health of the pregnant woman isn't compromised?
If God was against thing such as abortions, and gays and lesbians, and stem cell research, then long ago none of the above would be talked about now. It's not God that hates, it's people like you that hate.
Hey Mike,
You've got a serious problem. Really serious. It's good to see other people like Marge out there.
Thanks Marge for your input. I was about to type something similar while you were posting, I suppose.
I really wish men could get pregnant and understand that to some it could be a "miracle", but since all species on earth (with the exception of plants, and certain insects, and fish, which sometimes can reproduce without necessarily being male or femle,etc) are given reproductive ability. So, the fact that for whatever reason women get to carry the egg and the men sperm could just simply be how it is.
No matter how you look at it, pregnancy is a medical condition, can sometimes be a health risk to some women, and some women can develop health problems due to pregnancies. Some even have antibodies that in the first month or two of being pregnant that will "attack" the egg as it forms "thinking" it's a virus, and not meant to be inside the body.
For those women, and women who miscarry for some for or another, aren't they murderers? I mean, a "baby" died, and according to you, the "baby" should have a say if the pregnancy should continue.
Oh, and if you feel that statement above seems stupid, etc. then that is what most of the negative attacks on PP seem to many reasonable, and more understanding taxpayers think of those attacks.
Nothing in life is perfect, and you can't make everyone happy, so get over it. You don't like elected officials who would fund a certain organization, well that's prejudice/bigotry. If any organization that applies for money meets the qualifications set by the municipality to qualify and those officials get more feedback from those they represent in favor that outweigh those against, then the yeas would outweight the nays.
Clarkstown Res and Marge
I don't do personal attacks against other people's characters (ie.Hey Mike,You’ve got a serious problem. Really serious. or It’s not God that hates, it’s people like you that hate.)
Since you have me labeled, there is no sense in continuing what I thought was a discussion. God Bless you both
It was a discussion till you unfairly called an organization "murderers" and was speaking solely based on your religious beliefs, and not remembering that there are other religions out there in this County with many different beliefs and values, and also those that may not practice in any faith.
The issue that was being discussed by myself, and "Clarkstown Res", came from a health stand point. Especially since I know I'm a woman, and I guess so is "Clarkstown", and that pregnancy affects a woman's health first and foremost, and also why an organization may get funding that's local, and not the whole organization in it's entire.