Posted on 03/02/2006 8:01:45 AM PST by SmithL
Sacramento -- One of the nation's largest owners of professional sports and entertainment properties paid $20,000 in consulting fees to a state senator while the lawmaker pushed legislation aimed at providing more public assistance in financing such venues, records show. Sen. Kevin Murray, D-Los Angeles, said the December payment from Anschutz Entertainment Group was for legal services unrelated to his bill.
A spokesman for the company, which owns the Staples Center in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Examiner, said that Murray, who is an attorney, helped prepare a bid on a contract to handle the booking of entertainment acts at the Hollywood Bowl.
The legislation, which was introduced in 2004 and remains pending before an Assembly committee, would authorize the state's development bank to sell bonds and otherwise participate in the financing and management of stadiums and concert halls. Anschutz is the chief supporter of the bill.
Murray said the bill would provide a way for a private developer of a stadium to get tax breaks on sponsorship and licensing agreements. He said the changes could allow a developer to save as much as $100 million on a $300 million stadium project.
While legal experts said the payment from Anschutz Entertainment to Murray probably isn't illegal, critics questioned the ethics of the arrangement.
"If you were to ask the average member of the public whether this looks funny, they would say yes,"
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
bttt
There is no honor anymore. This is what happens when you take God out of Society and replace it with money. People pray to the almighty dollar...that's the definition, now, of a successful life. I don't know why anyone would be surprised at all that is going on.
If they start digging up all the graft that Politicians have taken in there wont be anyone left to make laws.
Sarcasm.? Unfortunately no.
This is just a result of special treatment of lawyers by lawmakers (other lawyers). Any other elected office holder would be facing jail time if they took money under similar circumstances. A lawyer can get away with taking money and saying it was for something other than a bribe.
Isn't Anschutz the billionaire that just produced "The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe"?
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