When it comes to campaign contributions and Legislators actions, I don't know exactly where the line is between Ok and Quid Pro Quo. However, the legislation that Doug Ericksen (R-Ferndale) just introduced certainly has a bad smell.
First the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association asks Puget Sound port pilots to back off from increasing their charges.
What's The Buzz 02/08/2009And a week later Doug Ericksen (R) introduces a Bill to regulate Puget Sound port pilots pay.
...The folks at the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association, citing the lagging economy, are calling on Puget Sound port pilots to back off the latest pilot tariff increase they are seeking from the state Board of Pilotage Commissioners.
What's the Buzz 02/15/2009
... Washington State Rep. Doug Ericksen introduced a bill last week that would require the Board of Pilotage Commissioners to work with the state Utilities and Transportation Commission when it set tariff rates for pilots ...
What's the connection? Campaign contributions:
PDC HOME > SEARCH CATEGORIES > CANDIDATES > DOUGLAS ERICKSEN
PACIFIC MERCHANT SHIPPING ASSOC OF WASH (report) 2008/07/28 $800.00
PACIFIC MERCHANT SHIPPING ASSOC OF WASH (report) 2007/12/11 $700.00
PACIFIC MERCHANT SHIPPING ASSOC OF WASH (report) 2008/07/28 $100.00
So has Ericksen made an illegal move? Is it Quid Pro Quo? ...Or is it just unsightly and less than ethical? I'm just presenting the, fair & balanced, facts: I report... You decide.
Ericksen's Campaign: more money from Philip Morris (Cigarettes) Monsanto (GE Monstercrops) Eli Lilly (Pharmafarms) and the Gun Lobby!
ReplyDeleteGeezus, what kind of freak politics is Ericksen running? Why do we have a candidate dedicated to big business from NW Washington? This guy is sleeze politician to the core!