MSNBC "The Rachel Maddow Show" - Transcript - Government Transparency

Interview

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MADDOW: Republican governor, Bob McDonald, of Virginia said that yesterday, what I believe is his last interview, before today at another story broke of another $120,000 in cash payments that were made to governor and to his family, by the CEO of a troubled Virginia company.

Joining us now is state senator Barbara Favola, She is a democrat who represents Arlington, parts of Fairfax and Loudon county, a senator for holistic day called for the resignation of governor McDonald. Senator Favola, thank you for being with us tonight.

STATE SENATOR BARBARA FAVOLA (D), ARLINGTON: Thank you Rachel. It is my pleasure.

MADDOW: Why do you think that the governor McDonnell should resign now, a federal investigation and a state investigation are both underway into these corruption allegations, why do you think he should not wait for the results of those investigations, but he should step down there?

FAVOLA: Well, my view is, is that the governor has acted far beyond a reasonable parameter of ethical behavior. If you just look at the fact pattern, it`s hard to imagine that a company that did not make huge contributions at Star Scientific would ever get the governor and the first lady to host a launch party for their diet supplement pills, the governor and the first lady. The first lady primarily went around the state promoting products from Star Scientific, and they basically have had this sort of hand in glove relationship.

I am convinced that a corporation or a donor does not contribute $145,000 and not expect something in return. And I can say and as you pointed out earlier on your show, there certainly have been examples of how this company has benefited from their relationship with the governor and that`s just not what Virginians expect, it`s not what Virginians deserve. We have a history of a clean government. We want, you know, we want a state government that runs on transparency, we want a government that operates in an efficient and effective manner and in honest manner in a way where companies are not given special treatment, simply because they write checks to the governor`s campaign.

MADDOW: On the issue of whether or not they have received special treatment. The governor has been specific in saying what this company did not get. He says no state benefits. No economic development grants. No targeted money out of the budget. And no board appointments. And then he extrapolates from that to say nothing.

We know a number of things that this company did get, though. The launch party, the first lady traveling around the country touting the benefits of the pills. The first lady or the governor`s office directly intervening to get meeting between the CEO and state health officials including the cabinet secretary.

From what you know of the way business is done in Virginia, are those kinds of things that we know this company got, the kinds of things that lots of companies get and is a standard helping hand to business that the governor may get anybody even if they weren`t loaning them their Ferrari.

FAVOLA: Well, I think you hit the nail on the head. I can`t think of another dietary supplement company that got the level of attention that Star Scientific received. I can`t think of another company where the first lady personally went out and marketed their products. And I believe that marketing efforts, especially when you`re talking about the head of a state or the first lady are of value, and any business person would tell you, they have to dedicate a certain amount of money to their marketing budget. And it is important to get their product out on the market and it`s important to have a known spokesperson. That`s why companies pay for politicians and sports heads and all kinds of public figures to promote their product, because it matters. Because it is of value.

MADDOW: Let me ask specifically about the attorney general Ken Cuccinelli who is obviously the Republican nominee to -- for governor now, he would like to replace governor McDonnell in the state house. One of your democratic colleagues in the Senate says that he will put in a freedom of information act request to try to force the attorney general to disclose more information about his relationship to this same company and the same CEO, which we know the attorney general held a lot of stock in, made a lot of profit from the stock sales from and received a lot of personal gifts, including some he didn`t initially disclose.

Do you feel that Ken Cuccinelli has disclosed his links to this scandal or do you feel there`s more that ought to be known and could be pried out of him.

FAVOLA: I expect there`s more that needs to be known. I find it fascinating that both the governor and Ken Cuccinelli all of a sudden after three and a half years in office are remembering gifts that they received from Star Scientific, you know, years ago and they just remember them within the last ten days, I find that fascinating. And just as an aside on Ken Cuccinelli, of course, Ken Cuccinelli had to recues himself from defending governor McDonnell in this whole Star Scientific investigation because he, as you just mentioned, had received gifts from this company and had not reported them. So, I will certainly join that effort to ask for a freedom of information act request.

Again, I am a very strong believer. As many Virginians are of having an open government and understanding how things work, and certainly recognizing where the money is -- where the money flows and who benefits from it.

MADDOW: Senator Barbara Favola of Virginia, thank you for your time tonight, Ma`am. It is nice to meet you It is nice to have you here.

FAVOLA: Thank you, Rachel.

MADDOW: Thanks you.

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