| ► Does CA Rep. Doug La Malfa deserve election to the State Senate? |
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Does California Rep. Doug La Malfa deserve election to State Senate?
If I was a voter in the 4th State Senate District in California, I can assure you that I wouldn’t even consider voting for this ethically deprived individual.
Unfortunately, Doug La Malfa was successful in duping the voters in the 2nd Assembly District into voting him into office beginning in Nov. 2002 and for two additional terms thereafter.
 
Doug La Malfa likes to portray himself as a fiscal conservative; however, when it comes to enriching himself at public expense, his so-called brand of conservatism becomes a non-issue.
Shortly after assuming office in Dec. 2002, Doug La Malfa was of the opinion that he was entitled to hose the public by ordering a 2003 Mustang Mach 1 at a cost to the public of $28,957. Doug La Malfa had the chutzpah to claim that he needed a Mach 1 to perform his official duties. Sure he did! Just like the late Jeffrey Dahmer required a Kitchen-aide vegetable dicer because of his desire to become a certified vegetarian!
From 2003 through 2008, it cost the taxpayers of California $65,584 to provide Doug La Malfa with a “muscle car” to allegedly serve the best interests of his constituents. The absurd costs are set forth below. Doug La Malfa personally authorized the expenditure of $16,258.64 for maintenance on the Mach 1 for the years 2006 and 2007. Only a half-wit (my apologies to half-wits) would so act. Of course it wasn’t Doug La Malfa’s money, so why would he care, right?
In the off-year of 2005, Doug La Malfa used 508 gallons of fuel and drove 9,144 miles; however, when running for election the following year (2006) he used 2,091 gallons and drove 37,638 miles. Put simply, Doug La Malfa found it ethical to bill every Californian for the cost of his re-election bid. In addition, I also believe that Doug La Malfa may well be a tax-scofflaw in that according to IRS Publication 15-B personal use of the Mach 1 is considered taxable income.
On his campaign web site at www.douglamalfa.com, Doug La Malfa states in part, “Doug La Malfa understands that government’s first responsibility is to protect its law-abiding citizens…” If Doug La Malfa truly understands that his first responsibility is to protect law-abiding citizens and if he in fact is a tax scofflaw, then maybe he should turn himself in to the IRS and state tax authority, right?
In an effort to be excruciatingly fair to Doug La Malfa in the event he is elected to the State Senate, I have this date (August 3, 2009) sent him the following questionnaire:
Dave Palmer
The Watchdawg
Folsom, California
URL: www.noethics.net
August 3, 2009
Mr. Doug La Malfa
Candidate: 4th District Senate
Dear Mr. La Malfa:
On behalf of the voters in Senate District 4 and other concerned Californian in regards to your candidacy, I would appreciate it if you would answer the following questions? To be fair, I will also be submitting this questionnaire to your announced opponent.
Question No. 1: If elected will you agree to refuse to accept a car of your choosing at public expense?
Question No. 2: If elected would you be willing to propose legislation prohibiting the expenditure of public funds to provide cars to state legislators?
Question No. 2: If elected will you agree to forgo per diem payments for weekend days and holidays and/or Fridays when you do not attend legislative sessions?
Question No. 4: If elected would you be willing to introduce legislation mandating that all receipts for fuel purchases by state legislators be made available to the public?
Question No. 5: Do you believe that the public has an absolute right to review any and all travel expense records regarding state legislators, which would include receipts for airline tickets, meals and lodging?
Question No. 6: If elected would you support legislation requiring that copies of all travel receipts for all legislators be posted on a legislative web site for viewing by the public?
Thanks for your time and attention to this matter and I look forward to your prompt reply. I would prefer that you respond via electronic mail at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
.
Respectfully yours,
PS: I have just published an article titled: “Does California Assemblyman Doug La Malfa deserve election to State Senate?” It can be found by going to
http://tinyurl.com/kjvpa4. I would invite any comments you may have regarding the article and in particular if you discover any alleged inaccuracies. As I suspect you know, in this business (journalism) accuracy is of the utmost importance.
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