#  Calif Fair Practices Commission: OK to Screw Public If …

     Details    Jonathan Dobrer   ![logo](https://www.citywatchla.com//templates/ja_teline_v/images/logo.png)         December 12 2011       [ARCHIVE](https://www.citywatchla.com/archive)   - [  Previous Article **Students Should Question Authority; Teachers Should Show Them How** ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2588:students-should-question-authority-teachers-should-show-them-how&catid=16)
- [  Next Article **Hollywood’s Second International Fraud** ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2590:hollywoods-second-international-fraud&catid=16)

  ###### Typography

- [](# "Smaller Font")  ****Smaller** **Small** **Medium** **Big** **Bigger****  [](# "Bigger Font")
- [](# "Previous Font Style")  ****Default** **Helvetica** **Segoe** **Georgia** **Times****  [](# "Next Font Style")

- [ Reading Mode](# "Reading Mode")

> <a class="a2a_button_facebook"></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter"></a><a class="a2a_button_email"></a><a class="a2a_button_print"></a>[](https://www.addtoany.com/share)
>
> ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Dec-2011/cw999b.png)BLOG SOUP - Lobbyists have been frustrated in California because they have not been able to openly bribe elected officials--or even bureaucrats. Their gifts and services have been so restricted that not even cheap crooks would be tempted to sell out. A hot dog and soft drink just don't entice to vice our officials, not even in a recession.

Now to the rescue of impotent lobbyists and starving pols comes the California Fair Campaign Practices Commission--of all the ironic entities. The lobbyists are now allowed to screw the public as long as they are also screwing the politicians. No, I'm not kidding. In an abundance of compassion, if not either logic or common sense, the commission now holds that people dating can exchange gifts, meals--and wait for it: Sexual Favors!

Think about this for a half second before falling down in tears of either laughter or despair. I cannot take my Congressman, Senator, Mayor, Council or Assembly member out to dinner at a good restaurant to try to influence his or her, uh, position, unless my member is involved. What once would have been considered the essence of corruption is now the righteous cover for corruption.

Any lobbyist caught giving gifts or meals to an official is now safe if he or she claims a romantic intent.

And, of course and properly, the genders can be the same or different. We can mix and match as long as our intent is in fact lustful. So I can give either or both Diane Feinstein and Antonio Villaraigosa expensive gifts if I claim lust in my heart.

But just to be safe, if I try to buy them an expensive meal, I'll cover myself completely by ordering it from room service. Our Fair Commission has truly put the Cupid into cupidity.

*(Jonathan Dobrer is a syndicated columnist and a frequent contributor to the [Daily News](http://dailynews.com) Op-Ed page and to the Daily New Blog [Friendly Fire](http://www.insidesocal.com/friendlyfire/2011/12/how-cal-pols-can-accept-gifts.html) where this piece was first posted. He is also an author. Visit his site to check out his books and learn more about him: [www.Dobrer.com](http://www.Dobrer.com) )*
-cw

Tags: lobbyists, sexual favors, California Fair Campaign Practices Commission, Cupid, Diane Feinstein, Antonio Villaraigosa

CityWatch
Vol 9 Issue 99
Pub: Dec 13, 2011

  - [  Previous Article **Students Should Question Authority; Teachers Should Show Them How** ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2588:students-should-question-authority-teachers-should-show-them-how&catid=16)
- [  Next Article **Hollywood’s Second International Fraud** ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2590:hollywoods-second-international-fraud&catid=16)
<div data-id="1" 
	class="eb-inst eb-hide eb-emailform eb-1 eboxContentLocker"
	data-options='{"trigger":"onPageLoad","trigger_selector":"","delay":3000,"early_trigger":true,"scroll_depth":"percentage","scroll_depth_value":80,"firing_frequency":1,"reverse_scroll_close":true,"threshold":0,"close_out_viewport":false,"exit_timer":1000,"idle_time":10000,"close_on_esc":false,"animation_open":"slideInDown","animation_close":"fadeOutDown","animation_duration":400,"disable_page_scroll":true,"test_mode":false,"debug":false,"ga_tracking":true,"ga_tracking_id":"G-P16BQ7X1SW","ga_tracking_event_category":"EngageBox","ga_tracking_event_label":"Box #1 - Global Email Signup Form","auto_focus":false}'
	data-type='popup'
	>

	<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-outside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>
	<div class="eb-dialog eb-formVer" role="dialog" aria-modal="true" id="dialog1" aria-label="dialog1">
		
		<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-inside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>	
		<div class="eb-container">
						<div class="eb-content">
				
<form action="https://citywatchla.us2.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=34d69f33624fd058ee9b56516&amp;id=4bfa422f51&amp;f_id=00d6c2e1f0" class="eb" method="post" id="mcform-1" name="mcform-1" target="_blank">
			<div class="eb-form-header"><p><img src="/images/2023/06/be-a-city-watcher.png" alt="be a city watcher" width="350" height="97" loading="lazy" data-path="local-images:/2023/06/be-a-city-watcher.png"></p>
<p>Sign up to receive our special e-news blasts on Monday and Thursday evenings!</p></div>
	
					<div class="eb-field-row">

			
			
			
			<input class="eb-input" type="email" name="EMAIL"  placeholder="Email address"  id="EMAIL" value="" required>

			
		</div>
										
	<div class="eb-footer">
    	<button class="eb-btn" type="submit" name="subscribe" style="background-color:rgba(93, 183, 93, 1);color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 1)">
    		Sign up    	</button>
    </div>
</form>			</div>
		</div>
	</div>	
</div>
<div data-id="3" 
	class="eb-inst eb-hide eb-yesno eb-3 "
	data-options='{"trigger":"onScrollDepth","trigger_selector":"","delay":0,"early_trigger":false,"scroll_depth":"percentage","scroll_depth_value":80,"firing_frequency":2,"reverse_scroll_close":false,"threshold":0,"close_out_viewport":false,"exit_timer":1000,"idle_time":1000,"close_on_esc":false,"animation_open":"fadeInUp","animation_close":"fadeOut","animation_duration":300,"disable_page_scroll":false,"test_mode":false,"debug":false,"ga_tracking":true,"ga_tracking_id":"G-P16BQ7X1SW","ga_tracking_event_category":"EngageBox","ga_tracking_event_label":"Box #3 - Yes \/ No Donation Popup Box","auto_focus":false}'
	data-type='popup'
	>

	<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-outside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>
	<div class="eb-dialog " role="dialog" aria-modal="true" id="dialog3" aria-label="dialog3">
		
		<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-inside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>	
		<div class="eb-container">
						<div class="eb-content">
				
<div class="ebox-yes-no">
	<div class="ebox-yn-text">
		
		
		<div class="ebox-yn-headline" style="font-size:22px;color:#888888">
			<p>If you only give once a month, would you consider giving to CityWatch?</p>
<p>Your support fuels our mission to promote and facilitate civic engagement and neighborhood empowerment, and to hold area government and its politicians accountable.</p>
<p>Would you like to help? Even if you can only give $5, it will make a difference.</p>		</div>
			</div>
	
	<div class="ebox-ys-buttons" style="font-size: 16px;">
		
<a
					data-ebox-prevent="0"
		data-ebox-cmd="close"
				target="_self"
		href="https://www.citywatchla.com/donate"
		rel="noopener"
	
	
	
	
	class="ebox-ys-btn"
	style="background-color:#2ec664;color:#ffffff;min-width:100px">
	Yes
	</a>
<a
	
	
			data-ebox-cmd="close"
		href="#"
	
	
	class="ebox-ys-btn"
	style="background-color:#ef2345;color:#ffffff;min-width:100px">
	Not Right Now
	</a>	</div>

	</div>			</div>
		</div>
	</div>	
</div>