ELECTION YEAR RICK AND INTELLIGENT DESIGN: "ELECTION YEAR RICK AND INTELLIGENT DESIGN
Chuck Muth
December 26, 2005
I sure hope Sen. Rick Santorum, Pennsylvania Republican, has a good chiropractor. 'Cause he's gonna need one by the time this election year is over - what with all his flip-flops, back-flips and political 180s. Either that, or he's got a great future as an Olympic gymnast if his senatorial career comes to an end next November.
I'm trying to keep track of all the strange things Santorum has said and done since kicking his base in the teeth last year when he aggressively stumped for liberal Republican incumbent Sen. Arlen Specter, who was being challenged by conservative Rep. Pat Toomey. But the list is just getting too long - including supporting Specter for Judiciary Committee chairman and calling for a hike in the minimum wage..
Nevertheless, social conservatives have stood by their man, through thick and thin. He hasn't been able to shake their loyalty. Call it "Battered Conservative Syndrome." But maybe some of them will now finally have had enough. Perhaps the latest from Sen. Santorum will be the straw that breaks the proverbial camel's back.
As I'm sure you've read, a federal judge ruled last week that an updated version of "creationism," now called "intelligent design," could not be taught in the Dover School District as science. Social conservatives are, as you would expect, outraged by the decision. As surely Sen. Santorum must be, right? After all, Santorum wrote an op/ed in 2002 declaring that intelligent design "is a legitimate scientific theory that should be taught in science classes."
Ah, but that was in 2002. This is an election year. And "Election Year Rick," as his Democrat opposition is now calling him, is singing an entirely different tune now.
An organization called the Thomas More Law Center defended the Dover School District's decision to teach intelligent design in its science classes. Santorum is on the advisory board of the Thomas More Law Center.
Or I should say, WAS on the advisory board. He quit last week, telling the Philadelphia Inquirer, "I thought the Thomas More Law Center made a huge mistake in taking this case and in pushing this case to the extent they did."
Huh?
If Santorum thought intelligent design was "a legitimate scientific theory that should be taught in science classes," why is he now resigning from a Christian-rights organization which defended the school district that said intelligent design was a legitimate scientific theory that should be taught in science classes?
Santorum's election-year political rush to the middle just might leave his base behind. It's a high-risk gamble on his part. He's betting there's nothing he can do to cause his conservative supporters to stay home on election day or vote for another candidate. I hope he's not betting the farm on it.
Or at least has Olga Korbut as his campaign manager.
# # #
Chuck Muth is president of Citizen Outreach, a non-profit public policy advocacy organization in Washington, D.C. The views expressed are his own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Citizen Outreach. He may be reached at chuck@citizenoutreach.com."
Monday, December 26, 2005
Sunday, December 25, 2005
The Times-Tribune - Santorum evolves (Moral Stands Shift In Responce To Public Opinion)
The Times-Tribune - Opinion - 12/23/2005 - Santorum evolves: "Santorum evolves
12/23/2005 Email to a friend Printer-friendly
Like the famous Galapagos Islands finches that have been observed evolving in a single generation in response to environmental conditions, Sen. Rick Santorum has evolved in a single political season.
The senator, who once claimed in The Washington Times that intelligent design “is a legitimate scientific theory that should be taught in science classes,” announced Thursday that he is resigning as an adviser to the right-wing group that recently attempted to force that very baloney down the throat of a federal court.
U.S. District Judge John E. Jones III ruled emphatically Tuesday, in a case originating in the Dover Area School District of York County, that intelligent design is not a scientific theory, but creationism disguised as one. He lambasted witnesses for publicly touting their religious convictions relative to intelligent design and then testifying as to its supposed scientific merits.
That is hardly an endorsement of the Michigan-based Thomas More Law Center, the conservative Christian organization that pushed the effort and included Mr. Santorum as a member of its advisory board.
Just as the natural world works by observable and verifiable natural forces, the political world works largely by observable and verifiable election results. After the Dover Area School Board did just what Mr. Santorum had advocated in his 2002 op-ed piece — mandate introduction of a religion-based theory in public school science classrooms — eight School Board members were resoundingly dismissed from office in the ensuing election. Although Mr. Santorum apparently isn’t convinced about evolution as the foundation of biology, he clearly understands political geography: York County is a key part of any conservative Republican’s political base in Pennsylvania.
Because of that, the senator is becoming a case study in political evolution. After long advocating a higher Social Security retirement age and other benefit-reducing changes, he recently introduced legislation to guarantee benefits for anyone 55 or older — another change springing from political climate change. As an election year dawns, it will be interesting to observe other changes that the heat produces in Mr. Santorum.
©The Times-Tribune 2005 "
12/23/2005 Email to a friend Printer-friendly
Like the famous Galapagos Islands finches that have been observed evolving in a single generation in response to environmental conditions, Sen. Rick Santorum has evolved in a single political season.
The senator, who once claimed in The Washington Times that intelligent design “is a legitimate scientific theory that should be taught in science classes,” announced Thursday that he is resigning as an adviser to the right-wing group that recently attempted to force that very baloney down the throat of a federal court.
U.S. District Judge John E. Jones III ruled emphatically Tuesday, in a case originating in the Dover Area School District of York County, that intelligent design is not a scientific theory, but creationism disguised as one. He lambasted witnesses for publicly touting their religious convictions relative to intelligent design and then testifying as to its supposed scientific merits.
That is hardly an endorsement of the Michigan-based Thomas More Law Center, the conservative Christian organization that pushed the effort and included Mr. Santorum as a member of its advisory board.
Just as the natural world works by observable and verifiable natural forces, the political world works largely by observable and verifiable election results. After the Dover Area School Board did just what Mr. Santorum had advocated in his 2002 op-ed piece — mandate introduction of a religion-based theory in public school science classrooms — eight School Board members were resoundingly dismissed from office in the ensuing election. Although Mr. Santorum apparently isn’t convinced about evolution as the foundation of biology, he clearly understands political geography: York County is a key part of any conservative Republican’s political base in Pennsylvania.
Because of that, the senator is becoming a case study in political evolution. After long advocating a higher Social Security retirement age and other benefit-reducing changes, he recently introduced legislation to guarantee benefits for anyone 55 or older — another change springing from political climate change. As an election year dawns, it will be interesting to observe other changes that the heat produces in Mr. Santorum.
©The Times-Tribune 2005 "
Friday, December 23, 2005
Rick Santorum Christian Right or Christian Wrong Wrong Wrong!
U.S. senator cuts tie to Ann Arbor Christian rights group: "Santorum To Cut Ties With Evolution-Defending Firm
Senator Said Board Members' Religious Motivation In Intelligent Design School Battle Was Troubling
(AP) PHILADELPHIA Sen. Rick Santorum intends to withdraw his affiliation with the Thomas More Law Center, which defended the Dover Area School District's policy mandating the teaching of intelligent design in science classes dealing with evolution.
Santorum earlier praised the district for "attempting to teach the controversy of evolution."
But on Wednesday, the day after a federal judge ruled the district's policy on intelligent design unconstitutional, the Republican senator told The Philadelphia Inquirer he was troubled by testimony indicating religion motivated some board members to adopt the policy.
The question quickly became a political issue as the leading Democratic challenger in Santorum's 2006 re-election battle, state Treasurer Robert P. Casey Jr., accused him of backtracking on intelligent design.
Casey's spokesman, Larry Smar, said Wednesday that Santorum's statements were "yet another example of 'Election
Year Rick' changing his positions for political expediency."
U.S. District Judge John E. Jones ruled Tuesday that the district's policy of requiring students to hear a statement about intelligent design before ninth-grade evolution lessons was "a pretext ... to promote religion in the public school classroom."
Intelligent design's proponents hold that living organisms are so complex they must have been created by a higher force rather than evolving from more primitive forms.
Santorum said in a 2002 Washington Times op-ed article that intelligent design "is a legitimate scientific theory that should be taught in science classes."
But he said he meant that teachers should have freedom to mention intelligent design as part of the evolution debate _ not be required to do so -- and said his position hasn't changed.
Santorum said he disagreed with the Dover board's policy of mandating the teaching of intelligent design, rather than teaching the controversy surrounding evolution. Because of that, he said the case provided "a bad set of facts" to test whether theories other than evolution should be taught in science class.
"I thought the Thomas More Law Center made a huge mistake in taking this case and in pushing this case to the extent they did," said Santorum, a member of the center's advisory board. He said he would end his affiliation with the Michigan-based public-interest law firm that promotes Christian values.
(© 2005 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)"
Senator Said Board Members' Religious Motivation In Intelligent Design School Battle Was Troubling
(AP) PHILADELPHIA Sen. Rick Santorum intends to withdraw his affiliation with the Thomas More Law Center, which defended the Dover Area School District's policy mandating the teaching of intelligent design in science classes dealing with evolution.
Santorum earlier praised the district for "attempting to teach the controversy of evolution."
But on Wednesday, the day after a federal judge ruled the district's policy on intelligent design unconstitutional, the Republican senator told The Philadelphia Inquirer he was troubled by testimony indicating religion motivated some board members to adopt the policy.
The question quickly became a political issue as the leading Democratic challenger in Santorum's 2006 re-election battle, state Treasurer Robert P. Casey Jr., accused him of backtracking on intelligent design.
Casey's spokesman, Larry Smar, said Wednesday that Santorum's statements were "yet another example of 'Election
Year Rick' changing his positions for political expediency."
U.S. District Judge John E. Jones ruled Tuesday that the district's policy of requiring students to hear a statement about intelligent design before ninth-grade evolution lessons was "a pretext ... to promote religion in the public school classroom."
Intelligent design's proponents hold that living organisms are so complex they must have been created by a higher force rather than evolving from more primitive forms.
Santorum said in a 2002 Washington Times op-ed article that intelligent design "is a legitimate scientific theory that should be taught in science classes."
But he said he meant that teachers should have freedom to mention intelligent design as part of the evolution debate _ not be required to do so -- and said his position hasn't changed.
Santorum said he disagreed with the Dover board's policy of mandating the teaching of intelligent design, rather than teaching the controversy surrounding evolution. Because of that, he said the case provided "a bad set of facts" to test whether theories other than evolution should be taught in science class.
"I thought the Thomas More Law Center made a huge mistake in taking this case and in pushing this case to the extent they did," said Santorum, a member of the center's advisory board. He said he would end his affiliation with the Michigan-based public-interest law firm that promotes Christian values.
(© 2005 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)"
Thursday, December 22, 2005
Santorum Never Returned The Money From The Cyberschool Fraud
U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum pulled his five children out of a cyber charter school paid by Penn Hills School District in December 2004 after Penn Hills Progress reported he did not live in the community. He owns a home occupied by relatives.
The school district missed the deadline to object to Santorum's children's enrollment in the cyber charter school and was not reimbursed for $67,000 in expenses for his children's education from the 2001-2002 to 2003-2004 school years. The children were pulled out of the charter school before the district had to pay another $34,000 for the 2004-2005 tuition.
In August, the school board approved a policy to permit enrollment of students whose families have temporarily left the district.
The policy makes exceptions for parents in the armed forces, reserves and National Guard, elected or appointed federal government positions and non-voluntary assignments outside the state for humanitarian or emergency relief efforts.
The change was approved by a vote of 6-2. Board members Erin Vecchio and Jennifer Lundy voted against the policy. Lenny Gallo was absent from the meeting.
State Rep. Anthony DeLuca has proposed legislation that requires children to sleep 183 days of the year in their school district to be enrolled.
The bill was approved by the state House.
The Senate will need to approve it before it becomes law, which would supercede the district's policy."
http://www.gatewaynewspapers.com/pennhillsprogress/56335/
The school district missed the deadline to object to Santorum's children's enrollment in the cyber charter school and was not reimbursed for $67,000 in expenses for his children's education from the 2001-2002 to 2003-2004 school years. The children were pulled out of the charter school before the district had to pay another $34,000 for the 2004-2005 tuition.
In August, the school board approved a policy to permit enrollment of students whose families have temporarily left the district.
The policy makes exceptions for parents in the armed forces, reserves and National Guard, elected or appointed federal government positions and non-voluntary assignments outside the state for humanitarian or emergency relief efforts.
The change was approved by a vote of 6-2. Board members Erin Vecchio and Jennifer Lundy voted against the policy. Lenny Gallo was absent from the meeting.
State Rep. Anthony DeLuca has proposed legislation that requires children to sleep 183 days of the year in their school district to be enrolled.
The bill was approved by the state House.
The Senate will need to approve it before it becomes law, which would supercede the district's policy."
http://www.gatewaynewspapers.com/pennhillsprogress/56335/
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Illegal Campaign Ads Helping Tricky Ricky Santorum
Santorum narrows gap in the polls: "Santorum narrows gap in the polls
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
BY BRETT LIEBERMAN
Of Our Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON - President Bush continues to be a drain on Sen. Rick Santorum's re-election, but support for Pennsylvania's junior senator might be on the rebound.
State Treasurer Robert P. Casey Jr. continues to lead Santorum 50 percent to 38 percent in a Quinnipiac University poll released yesterday, but the margin is the narrowest in months of any major poll of next year's likely Senate campaign matchup. The poll has a margin of error of 2.6 percent.
The last Quinnipiac poll, released Oct. 6, showed Casey with a 52 percent to 34 percent lead.
A Patriot-News/WGAL-TV Keystone Poll found Casey led 51 percent to 35 percent.
The improvement comes after an independent group began airing $1 million in television ads that critics say was aimed at bolstering Santorum's image.
"Santorum probably bottomed out, but we'll have to wait to the next poll to see if that's true," said Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
"I think he's just floated back up to a more realistic number, but still pretty far behind for an incumbent senator," said Richards.
The survey of 1,447 Pennsylvania voters conducted between Nov. 30 and Dec. 6 shows that Casey, who like Santorum supports abortion restrictions, could be vulnerable on the issue.
In what Richards describes as Casey's Achilles' heel, 22 percent of Democrats polled said they would not vote in the election when told Casey and Santorum's positions are the same.
"Democrats should not repeat the mistake we made in 2000 in nominating an anti-choice candidate [Ron Klink] who failed to mobilize core Democratic voters," Chuck Pennacchio, an abortion-rights supporter who is challenging Casey for the Democratic nomination, said in a statement.
Jay Reiff, Casey's campaign manager, found other factors behind Santorum's apparent rebound.
Americans for Job Security, an independent group that does not disclose its donors, "spent $1 million misrepresenting Santorum's record on Social Security," Reiff said. And he said Santorum is working to reinvent himself for the election year.
"Clearly Rick Santorum has shut his mouth. He has avoided press interviews and he stopped saying a lot of the controversial things that he has said over the last couple years," Reiff said.
Republicans said they did not want to read too much into one poll.
"This poll reflects some tightening in the race, but we don't expect to see dramatic changes until the campaigns are truly under way next year," said Virginia Davis, Santorum's campaign spokeswoman.
But noting that about one-third of voters surveyed say they haven't heard enough about Casey to have an opinion about him, "it speaks very clearly to why the Casey campaign continues to hide Bob Casey," Davis said.
"The climate right now is less than favorable to all Republicans, but Senator Santorum is going to run on his record of accomplishment," she said.
As Santorum's public approval rating rose to 35 percent, with 28 percent unfavorable, Casey's numbers also improved. Casey's favorable number rose to 40 percent from 38 percent two months earlier, and his negatives dropped from 9 percent to 6 percent.
Santorum is hurt by his support for Bush, voters said by a more than 2-1 ratio.
For the first time in a Quinnipiac poll, the war in Iraq has also become unpopular in every region of the state, with fewer than 50 percent everywhere saying it was the right thing for the United States to do. Central Pennsylvanians and voters in the northwest were evenly divided.
The poll also provided good news for Gov. Ed Rendell.
After dropping to 46 percent, Rendell's approval rating rose to 51 percent. The poll was the first time since February that it has been above 50 percent, a critical measure for incumbents.
The state Legislature did not fare as well, with 57 percent disapproving of the job that state lawmakers are doing.
"'Teflon Ed' isn't taking much grief for signing the ill-fated legislative pay raise or the failure to so far produce property tax relief," Richards said.
Rendell's support is weakest in southwestern Pennsylvania, followed by the midstate.
"But come re-election time next year, expect voters to hold him to his original campaign pledge to lower property taxes in his first term," Richards warned.
Rendell continues to enjoy wide leads over potential Republican challengers. He would defeat former Lt. Gov. Bill Scranton 48 percent to 36 percent, and former Pittsburgh Steeler Lynn Swann 48 percent to 35 percent, the poll showed.
Rendell's advantage grows to 52 percent to 27 percent when matched against state Senate Majority Whip Jeffrey Piccola, R-Dauphin, and 53 percent to 24 percent versus Jim Panyard, former head of the Pennsylvania Manufacturers Association.
BRETT LIEBERMAN: (202) 383-7833 or blieberman@patriot-news.com"
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
BY BRETT LIEBERMAN
Of Our Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON - President Bush continues to be a drain on Sen. Rick Santorum's re-election, but support for Pennsylvania's junior senator might be on the rebound.
State Treasurer Robert P. Casey Jr. continues to lead Santorum 50 percent to 38 percent in a Quinnipiac University poll released yesterday, but the margin is the narrowest in months of any major poll of next year's likely Senate campaign matchup. The poll has a margin of error of 2.6 percent.
The last Quinnipiac poll, released Oct. 6, showed Casey with a 52 percent to 34 percent lead.
A Patriot-News/WGAL-TV Keystone Poll found Casey led 51 percent to 35 percent.
The improvement comes after an independent group began airing $1 million in television ads that critics say was aimed at bolstering Santorum's image.
"Santorum probably bottomed out, but we'll have to wait to the next poll to see if that's true," said Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
"I think he's just floated back up to a more realistic number, but still pretty far behind for an incumbent senator," said Richards.
The survey of 1,447 Pennsylvania voters conducted between Nov. 30 and Dec. 6 shows that Casey, who like Santorum supports abortion restrictions, could be vulnerable on the issue.
In what Richards describes as Casey's Achilles' heel, 22 percent of Democrats polled said they would not vote in the election when told Casey and Santorum's positions are the same.
"Democrats should not repeat the mistake we made in 2000 in nominating an anti-choice candidate [Ron Klink] who failed to mobilize core Democratic voters," Chuck Pennacchio, an abortion-rights supporter who is challenging Casey for the Democratic nomination, said in a statement.
Jay Reiff, Casey's campaign manager, found other factors behind Santorum's apparent rebound.
Americans for Job Security, an independent group that does not disclose its donors, "spent $1 million misrepresenting Santorum's record on Social Security," Reiff said. And he said Santorum is working to reinvent himself for the election year.
"Clearly Rick Santorum has shut his mouth. He has avoided press interviews and he stopped saying a lot of the controversial things that he has said over the last couple years," Reiff said.
Republicans said they did not want to read too much into one poll.
"This poll reflects some tightening in the race, but we don't expect to see dramatic changes until the campaigns are truly under way next year," said Virginia Davis, Santorum's campaign spokeswoman.
But noting that about one-third of voters surveyed say they haven't heard enough about Casey to have an opinion about him, "it speaks very clearly to why the Casey campaign continues to hide Bob Casey," Davis said.
"The climate right now is less than favorable to all Republicans, but Senator Santorum is going to run on his record of accomplishment," she said.
As Santorum's public approval rating rose to 35 percent, with 28 percent unfavorable, Casey's numbers also improved. Casey's favorable number rose to 40 percent from 38 percent two months earlier, and his negatives dropped from 9 percent to 6 percent.
Santorum is hurt by his support for Bush, voters said by a more than 2-1 ratio.
For the first time in a Quinnipiac poll, the war in Iraq has also become unpopular in every region of the state, with fewer than 50 percent everywhere saying it was the right thing for the United States to do. Central Pennsylvanians and voters in the northwest were evenly divided.
The poll also provided good news for Gov. Ed Rendell.
After dropping to 46 percent, Rendell's approval rating rose to 51 percent. The poll was the first time since February that it has been above 50 percent, a critical measure for incumbents.
The state Legislature did not fare as well, with 57 percent disapproving of the job that state lawmakers are doing.
"'Teflon Ed' isn't taking much grief for signing the ill-fated legislative pay raise or the failure to so far produce property tax relief," Richards said.
Rendell's support is weakest in southwestern Pennsylvania, followed by the midstate.
"But come re-election time next year, expect voters to hold him to his original campaign pledge to lower property taxes in his first term," Richards warned.
Rendell continues to enjoy wide leads over potential Republican challengers. He would defeat former Lt. Gov. Bill Scranton 48 percent to 36 percent, and former Pittsburgh Steeler Lynn Swann 48 percent to 35 percent, the poll showed.
Rendell's advantage grows to 52 percent to 27 percent when matched against state Senate Majority Whip Jeffrey Piccola, R-Dauphin, and 53 percent to 24 percent versus Jim Panyard, former head of the Pennsylvania Manufacturers Association.
BRETT LIEBERMAN: (202) 383-7833 or blieberman@patriot-news.com"
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Philadelphia Inquirer | 12/13/2005 | Serious Charges of Corruption Lodged Against Santorum by Republican Legislator
Philadelphia Inquirer | 12/13/2005 | Legislator guilty on staff duties: "Posted on Tue, Dec. 13, 2005
Legislator guilty on staff duties
A jury found Jeff Habay, 39, had political work done on state time. The legislature could remove him.
By Sean D. Hamill
Associated Press
PITTSBURGH - A Western Pennsylvania state representative was convicted yesterday of making his legislative staff do political campaign work on state time.
Jeff Habay, 39, a six-term Republican from Allegheny County, will lose his state pension and could be removed from office by the legislature because of the felony conviction for conflict of interest.
After the verdict, Habay said the case was the result of a political witch hunt by U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania and former Allegheny County Executive Jim Roddey, both Republicans.
"Any time I spoke up, I was punished by Jim Roddey and Rick Santorum," Habay said.
"I've taken on corrupt leaders in this county," he said, adding that the message of his case and conviction was that if you speak out, "the powers that be will try to crush you, stomp you, and push you out."
Santorum and Roddey did not immediately return messages seeking comment.
Habay said the allegations in his case did not make sense for a lawmaker repeatedly reelected by wide margins and with rare opposition.
"I have had one contested race in seven years. How can I be campaigning out of my [legislative] office?" Habay asked.
Habay said he was not sure whether he would resign and said he intended to appeal. He faces sentencing Jan. 30. The standard range of punishment in such a case ranges from probation to 15 months in prison, prosecutors said.
Senior Deputy Attorney General Anthony Krastek dismissed Habay's argument that the case was politically motivated.
The case against Habay was the result of a State Ethics Commission investigation.
In June 2004, the commission ordered Habay to repay the state about $13,000 for making his staff do campaign work on state time. The commission then referred the case to the Attorney General's Office, which filed the felony charges.
Habay also faces a second trial next year on 21 counts that allege he concocted a story about receiving a suspicious white powder in the mail and directed his staff to investigate his adversaries on state time."
Legislator guilty on staff duties
A jury found Jeff Habay, 39, had political work done on state time. The legislature could remove him.
By Sean D. Hamill
Associated Press
PITTSBURGH - A Western Pennsylvania state representative was convicted yesterday of making his legislative staff do political campaign work on state time.
Jeff Habay, 39, a six-term Republican from Allegheny County, will lose his state pension and could be removed from office by the legislature because of the felony conviction for conflict of interest.
After the verdict, Habay said the case was the result of a political witch hunt by U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania and former Allegheny County Executive Jim Roddey, both Republicans.
"Any time I spoke up, I was punished by Jim Roddey and Rick Santorum," Habay said.
"I've taken on corrupt leaders in this county," he said, adding that the message of his case and conviction was that if you speak out, "the powers that be will try to crush you, stomp you, and push you out."
Santorum and Roddey did not immediately return messages seeking comment.
Habay said the allegations in his case did not make sense for a lawmaker repeatedly reelected by wide margins and with rare opposition.
"I have had one contested race in seven years. How can I be campaigning out of my [legislative] office?" Habay asked.
Habay said he was not sure whether he would resign and said he intended to appeal. He faces sentencing Jan. 30. The standard range of punishment in such a case ranges from probation to 15 months in prison, prosecutors said.
Senior Deputy Attorney General Anthony Krastek dismissed Habay's argument that the case was politically motivated.
The case against Habay was the result of a State Ethics Commission investigation.
In June 2004, the commission ordered Habay to repay the state about $13,000 for making his staff do campaign work on state time. The commission then referred the case to the Attorney General's Office, which filed the felony charges.
Habay also faces a second trial next year on 21 counts that allege he concocted a story about receiving a suspicious white powder in the mail and directed his staff to investigate his adversaries on state time."
Friday, December 02, 2005
Santorum Did Not Return Bribery Tainted Cunningham Money
Some Republicans Returning Cunningham Money - Yahoo! News: "Some Republicans Returning Cunningham Money By ERICA WERNER, Associated Press Writer
Thu Dec 1, 9:23 PM ET
WASHINGTON - Some congressional Republicans, seeking to distance themselves from former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, are donating to charity political money that he gave them over the years.
Cunningham, who pleaded guilty Monday to taking $2.4 million in bribes in exchange for steering government work to defense contractors, had given colleagues money from his campaign account and a political action committee he created, the American Prosperity PAC.
Since the California Republican's plea, more than a dozen GOP lawmakers and candidates have donated the money to charity or disclosed plans to do so.
Among them are Reps. Richard Pombo of California, Jim Nussle of Iowa, Heather Wilson of New Mexico and Charles Dent of Pennsylvania; Sen. John Thune of South Dakota; Minnesota Senate candidate and Rep. Mark Kennedy (news, bio, voting record); and Oregon congressional candidate Jim Feldkamp.
Some of the lawmakers were facing calls from home-state opponents or opposition parties to get rid of the political money from Cunningham.
The fundraising committee for House Democrats sent out press releases Thursday targeting each of the approximate 60 incumbent Republicans who benefited from Cunningham's money over the years and demanding that they give it back.
"Duke Cunningham's actions were criminal and inexcusable," Dent said in announcing he planned to give $1,000 he got last year from Cunningham's PAC to a charity in his district. "I would rather see the money go to good use here at home rather than back to the political committee of a disgraced politician."
Since 2000, Cunningham has donated over $250,000 from his PAC to fellow Republicans, according to records compiled by PoliticalMoneyLine, which tracks campaign donations.
It's common for lawmakers in safe districts, as Cunningham was, to use their campaign funds to boost fellow lawmakers prospects — thereby boosting their own popularity, too.
At least two Republicans said they were hanging onto Cunningham's money — Rep. Katherine Harris (news, bio, voting record), R-Fla., and Rep. George Radanovich (news, bio, voting record), R-Calif. Both received $1,000 donations — Harris in 2004, Radanovich in 1994. Aides said the money was legally donated and received, and was spent.
Other lawmakers who have announced they had donated the money or planned to do so were Reps. Mary Bono of California, Jim Gerlach and Melissa Hart of Pennsylvania, Rob Simmons of Connecticut, Michael Ferguson of New Jersey, Jon Porter of Nevada, Jeff Fortenberry of Nebraska and John Sullivan of Oklahoma.
Associated Press writer Kimberly Hefling contributed to this report."
Thu Dec 1, 9:23 PM ET
WASHINGTON - Some congressional Republicans, seeking to distance themselves from former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, are donating to charity political money that he gave them over the years.
Cunningham, who pleaded guilty Monday to taking $2.4 million in bribes in exchange for steering government work to defense contractors, had given colleagues money from his campaign account and a political action committee he created, the American Prosperity PAC.
Since the California Republican's plea, more than a dozen GOP lawmakers and candidates have donated the money to charity or disclosed plans to do so.
Among them are Reps. Richard Pombo of California, Jim Nussle of Iowa, Heather Wilson of New Mexico and Charles Dent of Pennsylvania; Sen. John Thune of South Dakota; Minnesota Senate candidate and Rep. Mark Kennedy (news, bio, voting record); and Oregon congressional candidate Jim Feldkamp.
Some of the lawmakers were facing calls from home-state opponents or opposition parties to get rid of the political money from Cunningham.
The fundraising committee for House Democrats sent out press releases Thursday targeting each of the approximate 60 incumbent Republicans who benefited from Cunningham's money over the years and demanding that they give it back.
"Duke Cunningham's actions were criminal and inexcusable," Dent said in announcing he planned to give $1,000 he got last year from Cunningham's PAC to a charity in his district. "I would rather see the money go to good use here at home rather than back to the political committee of a disgraced politician."
Since 2000, Cunningham has donated over $250,000 from his PAC to fellow Republicans, according to records compiled by PoliticalMoneyLine, which tracks campaign donations.
It's common for lawmakers in safe districts, as Cunningham was, to use their campaign funds to boost fellow lawmakers prospects — thereby boosting their own popularity, too.
At least two Republicans said they were hanging onto Cunningham's money — Rep. Katherine Harris (news, bio, voting record), R-Fla., and Rep. George Radanovich (news, bio, voting record), R-Calif. Both received $1,000 donations — Harris in 2004, Radanovich in 1994. Aides said the money was legally donated and received, and was spent.
Other lawmakers who have announced they had donated the money or planned to do so were Reps. Mary Bono of California, Jim Gerlach and Melissa Hart of Pennsylvania, Rob Simmons of Connecticut, Michael Ferguson of New Jersey, Jon Porter of Nevada, Jeff Fortenberry of Nebraska and John Sullivan of Oklahoma.
Associated Press writer Kimberly Hefling contributed to this report."
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