Mr. Keating soon called on five senators who had been recipients of his campaign largess — Alan Cranston of California, Donald W. Riegle Jr. of Michigan, John Glenn of Ohio and Dennis DeConcini and John McCain of Arizona — to pressure the bank board to relax its rules and kill its investigation.
All five met with regulators, and Edwin J. Gray, then the board chairman, said four of the senators — all but Mr. Riegle — “came to me like lawyers arguing for a client.”
That’s from the obituary today of Charles Keating, the poster child of the savings and loan scandal 25 years ago.
Any regulation must instead target what we have called “quid pro quo” corruption or its appearance…That Latin phrase captures the notion of a direct exchange of an official act for money.
That’s from Chief Justice Roberts’ decision yesterday striking down limits on the total amount someone can contribute to political campaigns.
No member of the current Supreme Court has served in a legislature, where you try to balance the needs and interests of constituents, friends, interest groups, and the House leadership.
Not even the sleaziest operators in Annapolis make it a quid pro quo proposition. Instead, they may rely on a personal relationship with a member or remind you of the dinner their client sponsored for your committee.
I must admit. When someone writes me a check, I answer their letter or phone call and meet with them. But I try to do the same for any constituent.
The people of the 41st District are my clients.
Their votes, not someone else’s contribution, are what put me here.
