Scott Shackford on Leland Yee’s Less Sexy Protectionist Corruption

When the details of the charges levied against
Democratic California State Sen. Leland Yee were released, all eyes
zeroed in on the gun-smuggling accusations. It made sense to do
so—Yee was a notable advocate for tougher gun control, and yet he
stands accused of offering assistance in smuggling guns and heavy
weapons from a violent group in the Philippines to the United
States.

There was more against Yee than the gun charges, though. He
stands accused of more conventional legislative corruption, charged
with taking money in exchange for access or support. Buried at the
end of the 137-page FBI report was an undercover effort to snag Yee
that doesn’t highlight a crime so much as how the sausage of
legislation is made, particularly laws that protect crony
capitalists. Reason‘s Scott Shackford takes a look at
a sting designed to get Yee to endorse a protectionist law for big
medical marijuana dispensaries that looks more like business as
usual than any sort of corruption.

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