Pan and Maviglio greed over public service.
Regardless of race, gender, religion or political party, greed always lies beneath the surface of our values ready to corrupt when opportunity knocks. Sacramento Assemblyman Richard Pan (D-Sacramento) and political operative Steve Maviglio have demonstrated with their recent actions that they put greed ahead of ethical considerations.
Is per diem paying mortgage?
When Pan’s current residence in Natomas was excluded from the 9th Assembly District that he was representing, he purchased a condominium in the new 9th District boundaries so he could run for re-election. Both his Natomas house and the Pocket area condominium are a short drive to the State Capitol. Nonetheless, Pan started taking the $142 per diem allowed to legislators. The $142 per day allotment for each day the legislature is in session is meant to reimburse members travel and lodging expenses. To date it is reported that he has received $28,000 in the per diem expense payments.
Game the residency system
While Pan continues to own his previously registered residence in Natomas, that reportedly his family still occupies, I guess the per diem is going to pay for his condo mortgage. The power of being an Assemblymember is obviously so important to Richard Pan, MD that he is willing to fleece the government to pay for his continued service to the 9th District. If he couldn’t have afforded the condominium he shouldn’t have bought it. Better yet, why didn’t he move his family into a home in the Pocket and sell the Natomas house?
Greed in the heart
Greed is at the heart of Richard Pan’s desire to remain an elected official. He is greedy for power and money. Public service and honesty to one’s values have been pushed aside in order to feed his ego. I know lots of people that will dig ditches all day long for $142 per day. These people don’t own a home, let alone two like Richard Pan.
Dragged out of retirement?
Steve Maviglio is another double dipper into California’s general fund. He retired from the Assembly 2008, went on to become a political consultant and now has been hired on as Speaker Perez’s spokesman under a three month contract that pays him $9,500 per month. While he is replacing a spokes person that left, he already retired from government. Is there no other qualified person that can fill the bill as mouth piece for the Speaker?
Head Honcho
I don’t know if Maviglio is drawing on his state pension benefits or not. At 54 years young and “Head Honcho” of Forza Communications, I would assume he isn’t. He took early retirement and should leave government positions to people that are equally qualified to fill them. To add irony to the sad situation, Maviglio consulted for Californians for Retirement Security which opposed state worker pension reform.
Sycophants never question
Like Richard Pan, Steve Maviglio’s greed for money, power and influence is greater than his value of public service. And who is going to challenge them? No one will question them because they have what all the political animals want: power. Even Republicans will say very little because they wouldn’t want to create an air of hypocrisy when they pull the same greedy stunts.
No rules in politics, it’s all take
I am a pretty loyal Democrat but when I see guys like Pan and Maviglio game the system and give in to greed when so many people are suffering, my cynicism volume goes up 10 notches. My philosophy in life has been “It’s not what you know or who you know, it’s what you produce.” Unfortunately, when it comes to politics and politicians my rules governing how to succeed in life fall apart. Here’s to the public servants who know how to “take” better than anyone.
August 8, 2013
Several months after I first published this post, The Sacramento Bee contributed an additional article to the subject about Maviglio’s duplicitous position.