Hiram’s Defense Fund – Why Worry?

NYPIRG, the Albany Times-Union & Bill Hammond of the Daly News are upset about a legal defense fund set up to pay  State Senator Hiram Monserrate legal fees

http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2009/10/27/2009-10-27_hiram_monserrates_ethics_assault.html

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wxxi/news.newsmain/article/1/0/1570393/WXXI.Local.Stories/Monserrate.Legal.Fund.a.%27Million.Dollar..Loophole%27.in.Gift.Ban..Group.Says#

http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=857755&category=OPINION

They are worried that special interests and lobbyists might be buying favors by contributing to Hiram.

The Times Union writes –

Mr. Monserrate now has a special defense fund that isn't subject, even, to the restrictions that using campaign contributions would impose. There are no limits on donations to the fund, for one thing. And the public has no way of knowing who those donors are.

But Hiram’s mouthpiece, Joe Tacopina says nobody should worry, saying of Hiram –

"He's being very, very careful," Mr. Tacopina says.

That’s good enough for me.

I’m confident about Hiram being careful with money. He has never tripped in the dark and cut anyone with a coin, dollar bill or check.