Rat Catcher

Rat Catcher
Ferreting Out The Crooks In Politics

Gardena Considers Fee Hikes as Debt Repayment Looms

A deadline is looming for Gardena: Pay $26 million in loans by the end of August — or face possible bankruptcy. The city, however, is hoping for its third loan extension. In a bid to show its creditors that it is serious about fiscal prudence, the City Council today will consider about 100 fee increases for city services, the Los Angeles Times reported. The proposed increases would hit new card club employees, fortunetellers, junk collectors and junk dealers hardest. City officials say the fee hikes could provide an additional $480,000 a year in revenue. But critics say the city is trying to solve its fiscal woes by dipping into the pockets of those who can least afford it
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16 07 05 15:44

Feds Seek Lawyers' Removal From N.O. Corruption Case

NEW ORLEANS -- Federal prosecutors are seeking to have lawyers for two associates of former mayor Marc Morial kicked off a high-profile corruption case. The lawyers represent Kerry DeCay, Morial's former city property manager, and Reginald Walker, a businessman close to the former mayor. The two were indicted last month, along with a third businessman in Morial's circle, Stan "Pampy" Barre, in a kickback-and-skimming scheme prosecutors say cost New Orleans hundreds of thousands of dollars.

http://www.theneworleanschannel.com/news/4729642/detail.html

15:24

GSA Planner pleads guilty

WASHINGTON, D.C. - General Services Administration (GSA) planner-estimator Donald Marzullo pleaded guilty to bribery in connection with the awarding of GSA contracts at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse in Chicago, Illinois, Acting Assistant Attorney General John C. Richter of the Criminal Division; Robert D. Grant, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago office of the FBI; and Harvey G. Florian, GSA Regional Inspector General, announced today.

http://i-newswire.com/pr36388.html

15:19

Congressman's House Controversy Continues

SAN DIEGO -Two members and two employees of a Washington, D.C., yacht club where Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham lived aboard a defense contractor's boat have been subpoenaed to testify before a federal grand jury in San Diego investigating the congressman, according to a person with knowledge of the plans. The four who are flying to San Diego to testify Monday are the first witnesses known to be appearing before the federal panel that is gathering evidence on the eight-term Republican from Del Mar and his dealings with defense contractor MZM Inc.

http://www.sacunion.com/pages/california/articles/5451/

08:29

Size matters in remapping state legislative boundaries

If we really want to do something about our electile dysfunction, we're going to have to do a lot more than pop a redistricting pill. Thanks in large part to Dr. Schwarzenegger, Californians will be voting on a prescription for redistricting reform this November. But while a more neutral drawing of legislative district boundaries may lessen the symptoms of California's political disorder, it won't cure the disease. The real problem in California politics is the size of legislative districts -- as measured by population, not their shape.

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10 07 05 11:58

Grand jury to play key role in Duke's fate

Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham's political and personal fate is now in the hands of a small group of people sitting together as members of a federal grand jury. It will ultimately be that jury's decision ---- not the news media or Cunningham's ideological opponents ---- as to whether there is any reason to believe a crime may have been committed. Those familiar with the grand jury process say it could be months before the 50th Congressional District Republican lawmaker knows whether those jurors, some if not all of whom he may represent in Congress, believe there is sufficient cause to seek a criminal indictment

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2005/07/10/news/top_stories/6905192407.txt

11:53

Defense rests in San Diego corruption case

SAN DIEGO (AP) - The defense rested Thursday in the federal corruption trial of two city councilmen and a Las Vegas strip-club lobbyist. Closing arguments were expected to begin next week and the jury may begin deliberations by July 11. The trial of Councilmen Ralph Inzunza and Michael Zucchet began May 10 and was expected to drag into the summer. It unexpectedly wrapped up after two months when the defense finished its case in four days. A slim, legal-sized envelope holding $10,000 in $100 bills was the last evidence entered in the case. Instead of a rebuttal, the prosecution used the envelope to show the dimensions of the package lobbyist Lance Malone allegedly carried to the councilmen in April 2003.

http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/montereyherald/news/12032473.htm

01 07 05 13:29

Big names may talk in corruption trial in KC

JEFFERSON CITY - Some political big shots have received subpoenas to testify at a public corruption trial that will open Tuesday in Kansas City. The witness list includes former Gov. Bob Holden, Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder and four state senators, according to the court file. They're expected to testify about the selection process for an appointment to the Jackson County Sports Authority.

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/missouristatenews/story/5463FD0A9F285C6B862570300010E5F7?OpenDocument