December 11, 2008 | Read Time: 1 minute
The allegations that Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich sought to benefit politically and financially in schemes involving nonprofit groups is unfortunately a well-worn tactic, writes Jeff Trexler, a professor of social entrepreneurship at Pace University, in New York.
Mr. Blagojevich, a Democrat, was charged this week with corruption and graft. A lawyer for Mr. Blagojevich said the governor is innocent.
Among the allegations is that the governor wanted a $50,000 political contribution from the head of the nonprofit Children’s Memorial Hospital in exchange for $8-million in state support. According to the Chicago Tribune, Children’s Memorial has said none of its employees, including its chief executive, participated in the alleged scheme.
Mr. Trexler, who used to work as a lawyer in Chicago, says dirty deals of this type are “sadly familiar.”
Allegations that Mr. Blagojevich conspired to sell an appointment to his state’s open U.S. Senate seat for, among other things, a cushy job at a charity is not anything new either, says Mr. Trexler on his blog, Uncivilsociety.
“Historians of philanthropy will no doubt recall that the alleged use of charities as lucrative way-stations for politicians between posts was a factor in the enactment of the extensive tax reforms in 1969 that gave us much of the present law regarding so-called private foundations and public charities,” he writes.
What do you think? Click on the comments link to share your views.
