Saturday, January 03, 2004
Oregon Panel to Study Disclosure but Ignore Stronger Reforms?
Four former secretaries of state will head up a panel to investigate ways to improve disclosure and reporting of campaign contributions in Oregon. This is fine, as far as it goes, because Oregon has one of the least workable systems of disclosure in the country. Details can be found here in the Salem Statesman Journal.
But, setting up a committee to study something isn't the same thing as doing something about it. Meanwhile, some Oregon citizens are taking matters into their own hands by filing Initiative 53. It would both improve disclosure in Oregon and set limits on the size of campaign contributions. Oregon is one of a handful of states that has absolutely no limits on contributions whatsoever. So, if the former politicians want to really do something, they should look further than just disclosure rules.
Four former secretaries of state will head up a panel to investigate ways to improve disclosure and reporting of campaign contributions in Oregon. This is fine, as far as it goes, because Oregon has one of the least workable systems of disclosure in the country. Details can be found here in the Salem Statesman Journal.
But, setting up a committee to study something isn't the same thing as doing something about it. Meanwhile, some Oregon citizens are taking matters into their own hands by filing Initiative 53. It would both improve disclosure in Oregon and set limits on the size of campaign contributions. Oregon is one of a handful of states that has absolutely no limits on contributions whatsoever. So, if the former politicians want to really do something, they should look further than just disclosure rules.
Monday, December 29, 2003
California Senate Leader Addicted to Money
John Burton is the president pro tem of the California Senate. He's served in office a long time, so long in fact that he cannot run for office again due to term limits. But Senator Burton is raising money anyhow.
What is particularly galling is that Burton is raising campaign funds in amounts that are prohibited under California's campaign finance law. This law, known as Proposition 34 was crafted by Burton in order to repeal a more stringent law passed by California voters in 1996. But Burton isn't even content to live within the limits of the phony law that he helped write. Instead, he is using a loophole in that law to say that it doesn't apply to campaign committees such as his that were established prior to the passage of Proposition 34. Details can be found here in the San Francisco Chronicle.
John Burton is the president pro tem of the California Senate. He's served in office a long time, so long in fact that he cannot run for office again due to term limits. But Senator Burton is raising money anyhow.
What is particularly galling is that Burton is raising campaign funds in amounts that are prohibited under California's campaign finance law. This law, known as Proposition 34 was crafted by Burton in order to repeal a more stringent law passed by California voters in 1996. But Burton isn't even content to live within the limits of the phony law that he helped write. Instead, he is using a loophole in that law to say that it doesn't apply to campaign committees such as his that were established prior to the passage of Proposition 34. Details can be found here in the San Francisco Chronicle.
