The recent decision of Congresswoman-elect Becca Balint and Senator-elect Peter Welch to free themselves of campaign contributions from a disgraced cryptocurrency tycoon, and direct those contributions to charitable organizations chosen by themselves, adheres to what I take to be the long-held Democratic ethical standard. In 1992, a large national tobacco company made modest unsolicited contributions to both candidates for Vermont governor, me and Gov. Howard Dean. I returned their check without cashing it, politely (and privately) explaining that, as an advocate of thoroughgoing health care reform, I really couldn’t accept a campaign contribution from Big Tobacco. Neither could Gov. Dean.