Barras: Campaign finance hysteria

I considered delivering massive doses of Valium to the D.C. Council chamber earlier this week. The level of hysteria was alarming: Many folks testifying before the Committee on Government Operations wanted to ban every campaign contribution fathomable while labeling everyone — contractors, lobbyists, corporations, corporate executives and their relatives — corrupt or potentially corrupt.

People are traumatized; that’s understandable. Federal investigations have resulted in guilty pleas by two council members, political handlers and nonprofit executives. And, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. isn’t finished.