Lobbyist Kevin Sloat, the latest Capitol insider to be outed by his own hubris, apparently thought he needed an edge, whether he did or not.
The Fair Political Practices Commission will vote this week whether to fine Sloat $133,500 for violating the Political Reform Act of 1974 by exceeding limits on the value of gifts lobbyists are permitted to give to legislators, and failing to disclose non-monetary campaign contributions in the form of providing the venue for lawmakers’ fundraisers.
He and his firm will survive, alter their practices, probably, and pay the penalty, a cost of doing business.
But there is a troubling context for this case, coming as it does when one senator is under FBI scrutiny and another remains in office despite having been convicted of felony charges of lying about where he resided.
…He made sure that Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg could get his hands on hard-to-get tickets for the 49ers playoff game against the New York Giants in 2012, plus field passes. The 49ers, one of Sloat’s clients then, made the tickets available. It was perfectly legal because Steinberg paid for them….
Sloat’s clients donated another $64,350 to Sen. Rod Wright, D-Los Angeles. Wright is carrying one of the main Internet gambling bills, and chaired the Senate Governmental Organization Committee, until he gave up the assignment after he was convicted of perjury conviction for lying about where he lived. Hall is running to replace Wright.
The Yocha Dehe, like Sloat’s other clients, violated no laws by donating to Hall, Wright or anyone else in the Legislature. As the law required, they all reported.
Complete story @:
http://www.sacbee.com/2014/02/16/6159741/wayward-lobbyist-is-part-of-the.html
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