Strictly Business

The $84-million mayor, who spent more money on post-election bonuses for his staff than his challengers did on campaign wages, now wants to toughen campaign finance laws. As only the richest man in the city can explain, this "reform" would lessen the influence of money in elections.

Yep-the same mayor whose Olympic committee accepted money from people doing business with the city, wants to end pay-to-play in this town.

Mike Bloomberg also wants to force lobbyists to state clearly who exactly they're wining, dining, schmoozing and paying off. A similar system is already in place Albany, America's cleanest town. The results speak for themselves.

Actually, Bloomberg wants to go a step further. In Albany, lobbyist can give gifts worth no more than $75 to lawmakers and their staff (keeping in mind that $70 tickets to a baseball game and a $74 dinner afterwards are two separate gifts). Bloomberg wants to play Scrooge and ban all gifts.

By the way; giving taxpayer dollars to candidates with paperweight opponents is still totally legal. Just ask Larry Seabrook, who got more than $70,000 in our money to beat an opponent who didn't raise a single dollar. No problem there.

And $4,950 contributions to citywide candidates would remain in a Bloombergian campaign. That's just business, baby.