Saturday, January 10, 2004
California Enforcement Agency Closes Campaign Finance Loophole
As I blogged about on December 29, some officeholders were using a loophole in California's notoriously weak campaign finance law to raise unlimited contributions. Now, the Fair Political Practices Commission is closing that loophole that they had themselves created back in 2001. Voters can thank Cruz Bustamonte, whose flagrant use of the loophole during the recent recall campaign brought attention to this outrageous practice and forced the FPPC to reconsider its past rulings. Details can be found here in the Los Angeles Times.
As I blogged about on December 29, some officeholders were using a loophole in California's notoriously weak campaign finance law to raise unlimited contributions. Now, the Fair Political Practices Commission is closing that loophole that they had themselves created back in 2001. Voters can thank Cruz Bustamonte, whose flagrant use of the loophole during the recent recall campaign brought attention to this outrageous practice and forced the FPPC to reconsider its past rulings. Details can be found here in the Los Angeles Times.
Friday, January 09, 2004
South Dakota Will Have Just as Much Big Money Ads as before the McCain-Feingold law
This AP story reports that the much touted McCain-Feingold law will have little to no impact in reducing big money TV ads in South Dakota. In the 2002 election, both candidates raised about $6 million dollars. This time around, Democrat Tom Daschle is planning to raise $10 million. So much for the law that some beltway reformers called the "most significant" reform in 30 years.
This AP story reports that the much touted McCain-Feingold law will have little to no impact in reducing big money TV ads in South Dakota. In the 2002 election, both candidates raised about $6 million dollars. This time around, Democrat Tom Daschle is planning to raise $10 million. So much for the law that some beltway reformers called the "most significant" reform in 30 years.
Thursday, January 08, 2004
Democrats Nix Local Reforms in New Jersey
Its funny how Democrats seem to hate campaign finance reform when they are the party in the majority, but like it when their not. Republicans aren't much different. Note here an editorial from the South Brunswick Post, taking to task the local Democrats for failing to enact contribution limits.
In this case, the incumbents excuses are that: A) the courts might strike down contribution limits, B) we don't want to harm the ability of candidates to get their message out, and C) money in politics isn't really a big problem anyhow. Hank Kalet of the Post does a good job exposing those excuses as bogus, and pointing out how in the past Democrats have said there was a big problem when it was the Republicans in charge and taking the big bucks.
Citizens need to be vigilant in keeping whichever party is in power honest on the issue of money in politics.
Its funny how Democrats seem to hate campaign finance reform when they are the party in the majority, but like it when their not. Republicans aren't much different. Note here an editorial from the South Brunswick Post, taking to task the local Democrats for failing to enact contribution limits.
In this case, the incumbents excuses are that: A) the courts might strike down contribution limits, B) we don't want to harm the ability of candidates to get their message out, and C) money in politics isn't really a big problem anyhow. Hank Kalet of the Post does a good job exposing those excuses as bogus, and pointing out how in the past Democrats have said there was a big problem when it was the Republicans in charge and taking the big bucks.
Citizens need to be vigilant in keeping whichever party is in power honest on the issue of money in politics.
Wednesday, January 07, 2004
Shorter and Cheaper Campaigns
USA Today's Don Campbell has an interesting column today. He calls for mandatory spending limits on campaigns, even if we need to amend the US Constitution to do it. Candidates would start campaigning on January 1 of the election year, rather than two years before the election as they do now. And, whatever funds candidates would need to get their message out would come from public moneys and free airtime provided by the nation's broadcasters in exchange for their free use of the airwaves. This would take all private money out of elections.
Campbell blames the American people for condoning our current campaign finance system. I'm not sure he's right about that, but we all should start demanding some pretty major changes immediately.
USA Today's Don Campbell has an interesting column today. He calls for mandatory spending limits on campaigns, even if we need to amend the US Constitution to do it. Candidates would start campaigning on January 1 of the election year, rather than two years before the election as they do now. And, whatever funds candidates would need to get their message out would come from public moneys and free airtime provided by the nation's broadcasters in exchange for their free use of the airwaves. This would take all private money out of elections.
Campbell blames the American people for condoning our current campaign finance system. I'm not sure he's right about that, but we all should start demanding some pretty major changes immediately.
Tuesday, January 06, 2004
Utah Governor's Race Draws Big Spender
Fred Lampropoulos, a millionaire who made his money founding a medical company, has raised more than a million bucks to run for Governor of Utah, mostly from his own pockets. He's already spent some $325,000 out of his own pocket running ads on radio talking about his beliefs, but not telling listeners he'll be running for Governor. This means he doesn't have to pay for the ads from his political committee, and the radio stations can pretend their not campaign ads. Instead, Lampropoulos just spouts out his beliefs, saying "I just thought you'd like to know." See details here in the Deseret News.
If voters would like to know what candidates think about politics, they have plenty of opportunities to learn about this short of radio ads paid for by the candidate. They can watch a TV new program or read a newspaper that provides coverage about candidates that is more likely to be impartial than ads paid for by the candidate themselves. If their local media isn't covering a race, they can turn to alternative media sources, forcing the mainstream media to alter its coverage to keep its viewers and readers.
Fred Lampropoulos, a millionaire who made his money founding a medical company, has raised more than a million bucks to run for Governor of Utah, mostly from his own pockets. He's already spent some $325,000 out of his own pocket running ads on radio talking about his beliefs, but not telling listeners he'll be running for Governor. This means he doesn't have to pay for the ads from his political committee, and the radio stations can pretend their not campaign ads. Instead, Lampropoulos just spouts out his beliefs, saying "I just thought you'd like to know." See details here in the Deseret News.
If voters would like to know what candidates think about politics, they have plenty of opportunities to learn about this short of radio ads paid for by the candidate. They can watch a TV new program or read a newspaper that provides coverage about candidates that is more likely to be impartial than ads paid for by the candidate themselves. If their local media isn't covering a race, they can turn to alternative media sources, forcing the mainstream media to alter its coverage to keep its viewers and readers.
