Posted on 06/20/2004 3:29:29 AM PDT by ninonitti
As Boston police hackney officials and Democratic National Convention hosts prepare to meet cabbies tomorrow to work out a discount voucher plan, one irate driver is exploring a Federal Election Commission complaint.
Cab driver Bill Ford, an independent driver who says he's voted for more Democrats than Republicans, objects to what he considers a forced donation to the Democratic Party.
The plan now being discussed would require cabbies working the airport to accept discount vouchers and multiple riders. Estimates on the value of the vouchers have been placed at $10 or more, but cabbies said compared to their regular multiple-rider fares, they would lose money.
``People can't be forced to do this,'' Ford said. ``If they do this, they would in effect be forcing us to make a donation.''
Other cab drivers have objected to the setting of a precedent, suggesting they'll be asked to honor discounts for other conventions down the road.
Ford said he was told by an FEC official last week that there appears to be a violation of campaign finance laws. An FEC spokesman told the Herald that while businesses and individuals are free to make cash or in-kind donations to host committees, the regulations do not specifically address a scenario in which licensed cabbies would be required to accept discounted fares or lose airport business.
Host committee spokeswoman Karen Grant noted the Boston convention host committee is a nonpartisan, nonprofit group, and that no taxi plan exists as yet. She declined to comment on a potential FEC complaint.
Larry Noble, a former FEC general counsel who is now director of the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, agreed that FEC regulations are not clear on the issue.
``It is a muddy area,'' Noble said. ``What is untested is if, because of the host committee's relationship with the city, it has the ability to force discounts, that it is not a voluntary contribution. There's an arguable point.''
Noble said he doubts the FEC would rule against the city and the DNC. But he suggested the issue may be more of a political problem than a legal one if the Democrats are perceived as chiseling working cab drivers for a cheap ride.
Screw the perception-it's a reality that these thieves are in the business of chiseling taxpayers with every screwball Welfare/Nanny State idea that pops into their skulls full of muck.
As I've said before watching this convention unfold is like watching one of those slow motion films of the train going off the bridge. As far as "non partisan" I'd like to see the list of people working under Dave Passafaro, Mumbles Menino's fixer, who are registered independents or pubbies...this whole is run by Democraps.
It's for the children.
The children are the only ones gullible enough to buy their lines anymore.
It's for the children AND "the whales".....oopps...I meant
Teddy Kennedy and Hitlery.....
Ted has rented his fleet with all the prime spaces and will doing his commutes by water while Ed Asner will be doing designated driver dooty.
Vouchers are in baby!
Where did I go wrong.
Well, they are, if it's an election cycle. As I see it, this is just another example of the Dims talking out of both sides of their mouths, over their forked tongues.
You can be sure that if this was brought up about New York cabbies for during the Republican Convention, it would be denounced by all the Big Media as an example of the Republicans screwing the little guy again in favor of the rich.
Suck it up, bub. You get what you vote for. They're just doing to you what they've been doing to the rest of us.
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