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Mo' Money Mo' Problems

By Ross Barkan and Colin Campbell 4/03 4:44pm

Mo' Money Mo' Problems

(Photo: Getty)

Smith Scandal Highlights Waning Influence of County Political Parties

“That’s politics in New York,” the New York Post‘s cover blared in stark black-and-white ink this morning. “It’s all about the f–king money.”

The quote, allegedly made from Councilman Dan Halloran to a cooperating witness, was revealed yesterday as U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara unsealed charges not only against Mr. Halloran, but State Sen. Malcolm Smith and a small slew of other political figures in what Mr. Bharara called “a corridor of corruption stretching from Queens and the Bronx to Rockland County and all the way up to Albany itself.”

Specifically, Mr. Halloran is accused of “essentially quarterbacking” a scheme to secure Republican establishment support for Mr. Smith’s mayoral bid. Mr. Smith, a Democrat, would need the blessing of three of the five county Republican organizations to run on the GOP line, and he allegedly arranged for cash bribes in his attempt to do so. But, looking more broadly, the strange scandal also shines light on these county organizations and their few remaining powers in city politics. Read More

By Colin Campbell 3/04 4:06pm

Mo' Money Mo' Problems

Senator Schumer attempts to hand some cereal to Mayor Bloomberg. (Photo: Getty)

Bloomberg Doesn’t Like the Forbes Billionaires List

Mayor Michael Bloomberg is now the 13th richest person in the world, according to Forbes magazine’s latest rankings, up from his 20th place position last year. Nevertheless, despite his reported $5 billion increase in net worth–totaling $26 billion–Mr. Bloomberg doesn’t seem overly enthused with his official standing in the list.

To wit, the billionaire mayor interrupted the New York Post’s Dave Seifman with a sarcastic “way to go” as Mr. Seifman asked him about the ranking system today.

“Look, the numbers in these things are always suspect,” Mr. Bloomberg continued. “And I never liked any of these lists.” Read More

By Hunter Walker 10/31/12 9:01am

Mo' Money Mo' Problems

Paul Ryan on the campaign trail in Ohio last weekend. (Photo: Getty)

Wisconsin Dems Ask for Investigation Into Paul Ryan’s Campaign Finances

Based on a Politicker investigation, Wisconsin Democratic Party Chairman Mike Tate is asking the Federal Election Commission to open an investigation into Paul Ryan’s congressional campaign committee. Last Thursday, we published a report detailing how Paul Ryan, who is simultaneously running for re-election in Wisconsin’s First Congressional District and on the GOP presidential ticket with Mitt Romney, may have improperly used funds from his congressional campaign for about $60,000 in expenses at the Republican National Convention. Mr. Tate’s letter to the FEC said this story shows Mr. Ryan’s congressional campaign committee “co-mingled expenditures between the Committee and the Romney Committee” in violation of federal regulations. Politicker has obtained a copy of Mr. Tate’s letter, which he is sending this week.

“As disclosed in an article published on October 25, 2012 in Politicker.com, a political website operated by The New York Observer, the Committee reported ‘$59,603.41 that was specifically identified as [Republican National] convention-related expenses between July 26 and October 17.’ A copy of the article is attached to this letter,” Mr. Tate wrote. ”A spokesperson for the Committee is quoted as stating that the bulk of such expenses were for the purchase of twenty hotel rooms for use at the Republican National Convention, although the Committee had only five staff members.” Read More