Crony Capitalism

From the Philadelphia Inquirer:

DeNaples, with his relatives and businesses, has given hundreds of thousands of dollars to Senate Democrats and a Mellow political action committee.

Mellow represents the district where DeNaples lives. He pushed for a slots parlor in the Poconos. The license for the casino eventually went to DeNaples.

What luck.

In another masterstroke of luck, state lawmakers, in writing Pennsylvania's gaming law, said felons may get a casino license, provided their conviction was at least 15 years old. That cleared the way for DeNaples, who pleaded guilty in 1978 to his role in defrauding the government of more than $500,000 for cleanup work following Hurricane Agnes.

Recall this story when you next here someone say "greedy capitalists." And promptly reply with "No, favor-dolling government officials."