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Are PUP Ready To Bell The Campaign Finance Cat?
posted (July 21, 2016)

And while superintendent Flowers is under fire for the complaint of unlawful carnal knowledge that’s presently against him, he’s also being blazed up on Facebook for being one of the many police and politicians who went on top of Intelco Hill to visit Danny Mason. For sure, Mason was a friendly guy – he loved especially friends in high places in the police department and in Cabinet.  As afar as the politicians go the issue is money.  Mason seemed to have lost of it, and Frank Pawpa Mena accepted that he got a campaign contribution, while John Saldivar said he got one for his football team.  The truth is – that the dirty little secret of modern politics is that campaign financing is a cash business, lots of cash for lots of politicians both red and blue.  Yesterday we asked the PUP is they were willing to cut off the hands that also feed them:..

Jules Vasquez
"Very rich criminals launder money through financing. It's a great way to launder money and campaign financing is something that works in cash. Is the PUP prepared to take an ardent and hard line stand on campaign financing? Number one and on two integrity in public life through leading by example and saying here are out published financials; the government won't do it because they are X,Y and Z but we will do it because we are not those things. Thanks"

Hon. John Briceno - Leader of Opposition
"Certainly on the issue of political financing legislation I think it is high time for us to be looking at that seriously and to find ways how we can manage or control the issue of money to be able to win elections and it may also require Jules that TV stations during election time might have to give free time to the political parties as example. I have a radio station and television station so it's not only for you but for all of us and other ideas as to political parties disclosing the financing that they get. As for us to disclosure is something we are all working on and I am prepared to take that to my executive and for us to be able to present our financials to the public since we can't do it through the integrity commission."

And while that was at best a “wait and seeâ€￾ or, more likely, “we hope you forgetâ€￾, the truth is Danny Mason was probably an equal opportunity financier – most of the big money political contributors are – they freely give to both sides.  So did Danny Mason give the PUP money too?  That’s what the media asked John Briceno yesterday:…

Reporter
"Has Mr. Mason ever approach the PUP to offer campaign finances or is the PUP or anyone from the PUP leadership associated with Mr. Mason in anyway or has been to his house?"

Hon. John Briceno - Leader of Opposition
"As far as I know no; and I could certainly tell you that I have never met the gentleman; so as far as we know no."

And while Briceno doesn’t know, we have heard reports that members of the PUP Western Caucus also made visits up Intelco hill.

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