Culver Casino Cash

So The Des Moines Register says, based on a bunch of interviews, that Gov. Chet Culver personally solicited campaign donations from two of the four groups seeking casino licenses.

More good news for the incumbent governor.

From The DMR:

That news comes as special prosecutor Lawrence Scalise investigates the legality of a $25,000 contribution to Culver's campaign from three Fort Dodge businessmen. Scalise said his efforts over the next six weeks would focus on determining if charges should be filed in that case.

The disclosure that Culver sought money from a second casino applicant - Daniel Kehl of the Lyon County casino group - at a critical time in the licensing process also raises new questions about whether the solicitations have the appearance of impropriety.

Kehl said he declined Culver's request, arguing it would "be construed the wrong way." Although Kehl, according to the article, had given big bucks to Culver in the past, including $25,000 in 2007.

Lyon County knew its application was in the bag. Commission members had said, more than once, that it was the only bid with a good chance of being approved. It's no wonder they said no. They didn't need Culver.

Fort Dodge, facing an uphill pitch, was looking for any help it could get. 

But Culver's campaign insists that the governor was really no help at all.

Culver's campaign manager said last week that there was nothing improper in Culver soliciting money from any casino applicant.

Campaign manager Donn Stanley said that even though Culver advocated for the approval of all four license applications - an unprecedented act by an Iowa governor - he had no influence on the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission's final decision. As a result, Stanley said, solicitation of contributions shouldn't be considered to have an appearance of impropriety.

OK, so we solicited money from casino interests with licenses applications pending, and wrote a high-profile letter to the commission urging them to approve all four licenses. But the good news is we had no influence with the commission, which, btw, is appointed by the governor.

So even though it looks  bad, it's all just fine.

I wonder if that was part of the pitch to the Fort Dodge folks. "Hey, how would you like to make a nice contribution and get no help whatsoever with that casino thing? We have no influence. Zero. How's $25,000 sound?"

Sorry, it still looks really bad. And if it was really obvious to Kehl how it would look at that moment, why wasn't it apparent to Culver?

I know, I know. It's the bad system. Everybody's doing it. Terry Branstad is getting casino bucks too. Pox all around.

 But Culver is fighting a daily battle to prove to skeptical voters that his administration is competent and transparent. No, no, no, we're not all about film tax credits for luxury cars or expensive art at the Alcoholic Beverages Division. We've got a handle on stuff. Really.

He did not win that battle today, and took on more damage.