BHL’s Corruption: It’s Not A Bug, It’s A Feature.
More essential reporting from Cris Barrish and WHYY News. Read the article:
This would be bad enough when taken by itself. However, when you consider the ‘borrowing’ of something like $200 K from donors, the alleged ‘audit’ that she won’t release to the public, the satellite PAC’s set up for the sole purpose of helping her campaign, and the shady characters who comprise her team, it is inexplicable that neither the Department of Elections nor the Attorney General’s office have taken any action to shut down what has all the earmarks of an illegal enterprise.
I’m sure that you’ve read the article by now. To me, among the key takeaways are:
Delaware Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall Long’s gubernatorial campaign has accepted tens of thousands of dollars in contributions from political action committees and individuals that exceed the $1,200-per-donor limit, WHYY News has found.
The donations Hall Long has taken in violation of Delaware campaign law have come from at least two PACs that are not registered with the state Department of Elections, as required by law, as well as doctors, developers, lawyers and other supporters who have contributed to her since 2021…
Lawyers? Don’t they know the law? Didn’t someone once say that ignorance of the law is no excuse? Doesn’t that especially apply to lawyers?
Hall-Long would not agree to an interview for this story but issued a statement that said she was refunding over-payments.
Speaking of not commenting:
State elections commissioner Anthony Albence did not respond to a request for comment on Hall Long’s excessive donations. Albence also has not spoken publicly about the controversy over the previously undisclosed loans that the lieutenant governor reported late in 2023.
I betcha that if Carney wasn’t BHL’s biggest cheerleader, he, or perhaps a more responsible governor, would have fired Albence’s ass long ago. As it is Albence is carrying water for both Carney and Hall Long. That makes him irreplaceable.
The excuses from those who contributed in excess are pathetic. Brian DiSabatino? He and his firm contribute to a shitload of candidates. But he ‘look(s) to the candidates for a little bit of guidance” so that they don’t exceed the limits’? Bullshit.
Oh, and James Maravelias? He spends his days trying to find ways around campaign finance laws.
Collin O’Mara cut through the crap:
O’Mara, who headed the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control from 2009 to 2014 under then-Gov. Jack Markell, added that it’s clear to him that “Delaware’s campaign finance laws are increasingly not worth the paper they’re written on, especially if there’s no enforcement and no accountability.”
O’Mara said the next gubernatorial administration should “completely rewrite the entire campaign finance law with the General Assembly.”
There’s only one Democratic candidate for Governor who we know won’t look to rewrite those laws. The one who benefits from running a lawless campaign.
Bethany Hall Long.
So, is O’Mara naive, idealistic or more than a little bit of both?
Does he really think that he’ll be able to work with the GA to “completely rewrite” campaign finance laws?
He’s got a better chance of success with his promise to reform Delaware school funding — which would cost $500 million or more per year.
I think what you may be overlooking is the possibility, which may happen as soon as this year, that both the House and the Senate Democratic caucuses will have progressive leadership. The Senate’s already there, and the House is really close.
If you dig down into the primary races, I think you will see just how close the House is.
Hey, this stuff isn’t gonna happen, say, tomorrow. But it doesn’t happen at all until/unless the determination is there to make it happen.
Possibility, yes.
But until I see it, I’ll stick to the age-old belief that incumbents, regardless of their philosophy, will act in the way that best enhances their prospects for re-election.
True. But, if you look at the current ‘incumbents’, you’ll note that it’s not the same long-term hacks to which we’ve become accustomed.
You also have several experts in various public policy fields, something that was rare in the past (except, uh, for state policing). You have several challengers this year, challengers with a realistic chance of winning, with similar public policy chops.
What we’ve never had is a chance for the synergy that a more progressive governor (aka not BHL) and a more progressive General Assembly can achieve.
BTW, remember that hinky PAC formed by an ethically-challenged Philly guy?:
https://delawareliberal.net/2024/06/04/implicated-in-philly-ethics-probe-now-starting-pac-for-bethany-hall-long/
One of our commenters, Hmmm, pointed out that it would be legal for the PAC to run ads IF:
“While uncommon, it’s not illegal. The 3rd party advertiser form specifically requires PACs to state who they’re supporting.”
So far, no 3rd Party advertiser form has materialized. Raising the question, just what the F is this PAC doing? Sure sounds like a conduit for dark money to BHL to me…
Perhaps we should look into how those opioid settlement funds have been managed? If this is how she manages her campaign I don’t have a lot of faith she could manage that.
In fairness, should we also look at how the County Exec has used those Federal relief $$’s that he basically hoovered up for him to divvy out?
Should he have left the money on the table?
If I were an educator I would be very uncomfortable that my organizations endorsement would spread the stench of BHL’s activities to my union. Educators there is time to recind this endorsement. What say you?
HB 291 (campaign finance reform bill) was amended down to be meaningless and it still won’t pass in this legislature. Hopefully, next year, when there is a new crop of freshmen, we will get meaningful campaign finance reform. (Yes, I know it’s an unrealistic dream). — Claire Snyder-Hall, candidate in RD 14, is the one to watch on this issue, IF she gets elected. (Yes, that is a capital IF).
Thanks Gary. You can count on me to support campaign finance reform. We are working hard on the campaign trail. Any help is appreciated: https://clairesnyderhall.com/