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Verizon Lobbyist Runs For New York Attorney General As the State Sues FCC Over Net Neutrality Repeal (arstechnica.com)
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: A Verizon lobbyist is trying to become the attorney general of New York in the upcoming November election. Verizon executive Leecia Eve is one of four candidates in the Democratic primary for the seat vacated when Eric Schneiderman resigned after assault allegations from four women. If elected, Eve says she would recuse herself from Verizon matters and New York State's appeal of the federal net neutrality repeal. As a Verizon executive, Eve defended the company from the city's allegations. Still, Eve has argued that her Verizon experience will help her prosecute "bad corporate actors" -- but without being so harsh that businesses would stop coming to the state. "Her Verizon experience, Eve contends, is 'extremely helpful: I know how corporations work,' leaving her 'best prepared to go after bad corporate actors,' but 'not to radiate to business not to come to New York,'" news organization City Limits wrote Tuesday after interviewing Eve.
Eve would not be involved in investigating Verizon if she won the election. "Under ethics rules, Eve confirms, she'd recuse herself from cases involving Verizon or other telecom issues, leaving policy decisions to senior staff," City Limits reported. Eve also confirmed that she would recuse herself from the New York attorney general office's ongoing lawsuit against the Federal Communications Commission. Along with more than 20 other states, New York has asked a federal court to reverse the FCC's repeal of net neutrality rules, a repeal that was supported by Verizon. Here's an excerpt from Eve's bio on her campaign site: "As Vice President for Government Affairs for Verizon for New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, Leecia oversees policy and ensures governmental compliance for a company that innovates and invests billions in New York State and puts nearly 20,000 New Yorkers to work every day. She also serves as a Commissioner of the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey."
According to Ars, recent polls show that Eve is in last place behind three other Democrats running for the office.
Eve would not be involved in investigating Verizon if she won the election. "Under ethics rules, Eve confirms, she'd recuse herself from cases involving Verizon or other telecom issues, leaving policy decisions to senior staff," City Limits reported. Eve also confirmed that she would recuse herself from the New York attorney general office's ongoing lawsuit against the Federal Communications Commission. Along with more than 20 other states, New York has asked a federal court to reverse the FCC's repeal of net neutrality rules, a repeal that was supported by Verizon. Here's an excerpt from Eve's bio on her campaign site: "As Vice President for Government Affairs for Verizon for New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, Leecia oversees policy and ensures governmental compliance for a company that innovates and invests billions in New York State and puts nearly 20,000 New Yorkers to work every day. She also serves as a Commissioner of the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey."
According to Ars, recent polls show that Eve is in last place behind three other Democrats running for the office.
We need more laws that will help keep businesses separated from government. A lobbyist shouldn't be allowed to run for office within 10 years of lobbying for a company and vice-versa. Seriously, there are many basic anti-corruption laws that can be passed to prevent corruption and the fact that it continues to not happen is distressing.
Anons need not reply. Questions end with a question mark.
I wouldn't vote for her, however, that is a common irony with lobbyists - people knowledgeable about an industry often got that experience by working the business side of it.
I listen to both RIAA and non-RIAA stuff if I like the music, tangential business/politics nonwithstanding.
They should never be allowed to gain enough power to start pushing their own political agendas
For a good laugh (or cry, if corruption makes you sad) read about American mohair subsidies.
This is proof that you don't have to be a Big Company to corrupt the political process. Mohair production is mostly on small independent farms. Their pointless and wasteful subsidies have persisted because they are so small, and barely noticeable in a trillion dollar spending bill.
I rent a spare bedroom on Airbnb. I joined a Facebook group for local people that do the same. We got organized when the county started considering new taxes and restrictions. We paid a part time lobbyist to get the proposed law watered down, and eventually it died without ever coming to a vote. People renting spare rooms are not big companies, but we were still successful at pushing our agenda.