You are ringside to one of the greatest political brawls in the history of this country. And chances are that we are only in its early rounds. You will likely witness more bruisings, knockdowns, and perhaps a knockout.

Of course, I refer to the current Washington, D.C. slugfest over President Donald Trump. In Rounds 1 and 2, the Trump haters roared out of their corner. They challenged the 2016 election. They accused him of colluding with Russians. They thwarted the president’s every move. They led to the appointment of Robert Mueller as special counsel. They leaked, and they threatened impeachment if they regained control of the House. Still do. 

The Trump haters struck some solid blows: a guilty plea from Michael Flynn, indictments of several Russians, and a few low-level guys who worked on the Trump campaign. Also, James Comey’s claims and accusations galore.

Trump played rope-a-dope. Then, he and his supporters counter-punched. Highlighted conflicts of interest within Mueller’s team. Uncovered what sure looks like a plot to stop or thwart Trump — by top guys at the FBI and other intelligence agencies. Also, revealed what looks like a go-soft project to protect candidate Hillary from her email mess. 

You are marking your own scorecard. Maybe you watch and believe CNN. If so, your card shows the Trump haters have won most of the rounds. You see Trump on the ropes. You expect huge revelations — haymakers — to deck him any day now. One of his guys will flip and destroy him, for sure.

If you watch and believe Fox News, your scorecard has Trump trouncing his opponents. Wait until the inspector general’s report pummels the FBI, you say. Wait ‘til the agencies cough up those incriminating emails. Wait ‘til Trump declassifies the emails the agencies have been secreting. Wait until we get special prosecutors to dig into the corruption of the Swamp.

Maybe you read stuff from the Left. If so, you figure Trump’s lies will doom him. You read that his actions are destroying our country. You know his impeachment is only one mid-term election away. 

Maybe you read stuff from the Right. If so, you may feel this is the greatest scandal in the country’s history. (As Newt Gingrich and Trump do.) You may suspect the Obama White House ordered intelligence agencies to spy on Trump’s campaign. Or knew about it. You may believe top Obama officials colluded to keep Hillary Clinton from being charged.

Whichever side you are on, you might admit you love this brawl. For selfish reasons. You love slugfests and murky intrigues. You get to watch this one, with its assorted villains, for free. Every day you get to scream at your television or laptop. “Did you see what these SOBs are claiming now? Low blow. Those guys should be in orange jumpsuits!”

You might even love this battle for a reason to do with pride of country. You see, this is a very American fight.

Here, the fighters wield subpoenas. They force documents to the surface via the Freedom of Information Act. They pry admissions from witnesses before Congress. Their media dig, reveal, uncover, and embarrass. America’s massive legal-political-propaganda-media machine lurches and grinds and digests. Little by little, swamped with spin, it coughs up something resembling the truth. 

In most countries all this would never happen. Governments would never give up the emails. Agencies would rub out squealers. They would shut down media that revealed too much. Our government has inflicted nasty things upon Michael Flynn and other people caught up in this. But they are paddy-cake compared with what many other governments do to people in similar situations.

This fight will continue for many more rounds. It may be a few years before the judges make their decision. I have a feeling this ain’t gonna be a draw.

From Tom…as in Morgan.                    

Tom Morgan writes about political, financial, and other subjects from his home near Oneonta. You can write to Tom at tomasinmorgan@yahoo.com. Read more of his writing at tomasinmorgan.com

The economic-development programs touted by Gov. Andrew Cuomo have been vehicles of corruption, with certain individuals gaming the system to make a buck on the public dime. Such is the case with one of Cuomo’s former top aides, Joe Percoco, who was found guilty of accepting bribes, and Alain Kaloyeros, who will face trial for bid-rigging in relation to the Buffalo Billion economic-development initiative. Adding insult to injury is that none of the programs Cuomo put forward delivered on the promised job or economic growth. Not even close. 

I am not here to say that economic-development funding, tax breaks, or programs are bad. Our region, which is full of potential due to skilled laborers, abundant resources and the real estate to grow and develop, would benefit greatly from a little additional attention and investment from the state. However, between corruption and lack of accountability, our public dollars have been watered down in their effectiveness and haven’t been focused on needed areas.

One of the most important things we could accomplish for New York is to pass legislation to put in place good practices to stop wasteful economic-development spending, thus ensuring public funds are going where they are needed most.

I, along with some of my Assembly Republican colleagues, sponsor legislation (Bill A.5657-A), which would put in place these badly needed reforms to create better oversight and transparency regarding state economic-development programs and spending. 

Our bill would do the following:

• Establish a three-person oversight committee, including the comptroller, the attorney general, and the director of the Division of Budget to evaluate state lump-sum spending of $1 million or more and determine any conflicts of interest;

• Require such spending to be lined out in detail and require a vote by the state legislature; 

• Prohibit political contributions by those overseeing such funds; 

• Extend oversight to lump-sum funds spent by public authorities; 

• Withhold salaries of the governor, agency commissioner, and deputy commissioner for failures to submit reports required on lump-sum spending, such as in the START-UP NY program; 

• Prohibit the use of state-affiliated not-for-profits, such as Fort Schuyler and Fuller Road, unless permitted by law or authorized by the state comptroller; and 

• Require lump-sum spending by the SUNY Research Foundation to also be under the review of the three-person oversight committee.

We also must keep in mind that an unstable and corruption-filled government makes private businesses and investors leery of wanting to do business in New York in the first place. The longer New York’s economic-development programs are allowed to run without any checks of the governor’s power or oversight, the further the state jeopardizes its reputation among potential and existing job creators.        

Marc W. Butler (R,C,I, Ref–Newport) is a New York State Assemblyman for the 118th District, which encompasses parts of Oneida, Herkimer, and St. Lawrence counties, as well as all of Hamilton and Fulton counties. Contact him at butlerm@nyassembly.gov