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2/6/2009
Mike Ellis: Assembly fundraising "ban" is a sham
The State Assembly’s so-called ban on fund-raising is an unenforceable sham, a public relations stunt disguised as reform. If anything, this alleged ban is actually a step backwards.
Exempting legislative campaign committees – which are directed by legislative leaders – is a glaring loophole in the “ban.”
Shutting down the fund-raising activities of individual members while retaining the ability of leader-directed committees to control all fund-raising, erodes the ability of individual legislators to be independent and free from control by their leaders.
As a result of this new “rule,” all the money raised during the budget period will be under the control of legislative party leaders and the message to individual members will be “stay in line if you want any resources for reelection.”
The redirection of all fund-raising to leader-controlled committees is the worst sham of this action by the Assembly majority, but it’s only one of many problems created by this so-called reform.
The “ban” is simply a rule, and it’s an unenforceable rule without teeth. There are no penalties for violating the ban.
If Assembly Democrats really want to reform the system, they should propose a law, with stiff penalties, to ban all fundraising by all legislators in the Senate and the Assembly – including the legislative campaign committees – and the Governor from the time the Legislature convenes its session until it adjourns sine die at the end of the legislative session.
Mike Ellis is a Republican and represents the residents of the 19th Senate District.
COMMENTS
I believe the first "campaign finance reforms" were enacted in the 1800s...the TRUE purpose was to SILENCE OPPONENTS.
EMILY MATTHEWS (Fri Feb 06 07:10:59 2009)
Ellis is mostly correct, but "partial" restrictions are not much different than his proposed "partial" public funding of campaigns. "Complete" restrictions and "complete" public funding of campaigns is the only way to go. (Though in the latter case, they are optional so they pass constitutional muster.)
The public doesn't want partially corrupt politicians in either case.
Jack Lohman (Fri Feb 06 08:34:46 2009)
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