That s how Steve Calos, executive director of Common Cause of Virginia, described the state s anything-goes policies on donations and gifts to politicians. He said politicians can accept unlimited donations from groups, businesses and individuals as long as the officials disclose the contributions on public filings. Money and gifts may not exactly buy a politician s support, Calos said. But he said they open doors, ensuring that donors will have an opportunity to state their case to lawmakers. But many people believe such influence peddling happens, Calos said, citing a survey a few years ago by Old Dominion University.
People believe something unseemly is going on.
They see lobbyists giving donations, giving gifts and getting results. C alos does not consider lobbying a dirty word. Calos does his lobbying on behalf of Common Cause, a government watchdog group founded after the Watergate scandal in the 1970s. Common Cause has about 250,000 members nationally. The group advocates open, ethical and accountable government, Calos said.