Prop 93: Skelton vs. CGS

by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

Disclosure: I do some work for yes on 93

Our Dear Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner is bothered by corruption, but only the kind that doesn't help him, or so it seems.  On the $1.5mil that was donated by U.S. Term Limits, he says (unfortunately, I'm going to link to America's "Finest" Blog, which by the way, doesn't let you deep link with any ease. Very annoying.)

"I would rather all 501(c)4s disclose" the source of their money, he said. Poizner said he has "no idea" who gave the $1.5 million to U.S. Term Limits.

But no need to actually make sure that U.S. Term Limits actually does disclose, b/c you know, that's "good money" and corruption doesn't come from good money.  Speaking of corruption, in the LA Times today, George Skelton took on a basic assumption of the CGS study (PDF) on Proposition 93. Specifically:

There's a new theory being raised about legislative term limits and it may be the nuttiest notion yet. It is this: The longer someone serves in the Legislature, the more likely that person is to become corrupt. (LATimes 11.29.07)

Much of the CGS study is, in fact, focused upon this. That somehow term limits are a good thing because they prevent corruption by long-serving legislators. But that's far from a verifiable fact:

That's like saying the more years someone puts in as a pharmacist, the more likely he is to start peddling illegal drugs. Or, that a commuter's repeated trips to a parking garage could turn him into an auto thief.

My theory always has been that you're either a car snatcher or you're not. It doesn't matter how much time you hang around cars. Likewise, filling blood pressure prescriptions doesn't make you a crack dealer.

Look, it doesn't take much experience to sell your vote. The lobbyists are there from day one, I assure you that they know how to buy votes if they so desire.  The dirty lobbyists are really the ones who need to be skilled, they just bring the legislator along for the ride.  And where are the term limits for them? That would be a clever idea I suppose, but I don't see that on Poizner's wishlist, or well, being legal. But, in the end, this is the basic truth:

But trying to cast term limits as a cleansing agent for corruption is a comical reach.