RT, I think you really don't know how much money an elected
official spends in those noncampaign years, communicating
with constituents, buying ads in all those neighborhood
newspapers, going to the rubber-chicken dinners that you must
attend and pay for, and so on. And those things are NOT paid
for by government funds, only your campaign funds. It's easy to
spend $5000 to $10,000 to keep good communications going
even if you do only one newsletter a year.
Some council members have done quarterly newsletters. There
is nothing in their council budgets to pay for newsletters. Even if
your volunteers will distribute them in the snow months, the
printing costs a bundle.
I think it's important to have these newsletter-type
communications, as well as ads in neighborhood newspapers. It
is important, then, to have the funds to do them. And at the end
of a campaign year, there seldom is enough money to hold over
the money to do your communications work during the 3 non-
campaign years. And much as it be painful to think about it, it
takes fundraising during the off-years too.
Sen. Linda Higgins
From: "R.T.Rybak" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: [Mpls] Cleaning up campaign pollution
Date sent: Wed, 31 Jan 2001 21:36:26 -0600
> Wonder who's giving money to finance this year's elections
> in Minneapolis? Wonder if those who have gotten big
> subsidies are backing those who voted for them?
>
> You should be able to find out today because all candidates
> had to file financial reports. But guess what: They DON'T
> require candidates to disclose who contributed under $101
> and, since you could only give $100 last year....no names.
>
> So for three years incumbents can raise money from anyone
> they want and no
> one has to know a thing.
>
> http://www.startribune.com/viewers/qview/cgi/qview.cgi?story
> =83469615&templa te=metro_a
>
> I think this is especially important in the Mayor's race
> where so many issues revolve around who receives public
> subsidies. That's why I think all candidates should release
> their full list. I'm ready: Sharon? Lisa? Mark? Dick?
> While I'm not charging that anyone is corrupt, I believe
> deeply that the
> system is corrupting. That's why I'm proposing a
> comprehensive campaign finance reform package for city
> elections that includes:
>
> 1. Banning all contibutions in non election years.
> (Legislators can't
> raise money during the session: Why can a council member or
> mayor vote on a multi million dollar subsidy in the morning
> and then take a secret $100 check over lunch?) 2. Lower the
> election year contribution for Mayor and Council to $100.
> (It's now $500 for Mayor and $300 for Council.) 3. Require
> complete disclosure of ALL contributors. (Now you only have
> to disclose who gave in excess of $100; and no one who gave
> to the incumbents in the last three years has to be
> disclosed. If you want an education, get your hands on who
> gives $99 for themselves, their spouse and their third
> cousin.) 4. Require real time disclosure on the Internet.
> (Right now citizens have to jump through hoops, and pay
> inflated rates for photocopying, to find out who is giving
> money to their elected officials.)
>
> Near the end of last year, many of the council members sent
> out fundraising letters to year end events. Ever go to one
> of them? You'll see they are loaded with people who do
> business with the city....none of whom have to disclose
> their name. There may have all the best intentions, and in
> most cases there is nothing wrong with anyone giving someone
> money for their campaign. But the taxpayers have the right
> to know.
>
> My experience is that most of the candidates and elected
> officials don't like the system...and neither do most of the
> people who get hit up for cash. So isn't it time we cleaned
> up the system....especially at a time when there is so much
> cynicism about the way decisions are made at City Hall?
>
> R.T.Rybak
> www.rtformayor.com
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy
> Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more:
> http://e-democracy.org/mpls
_______________________________________________
Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy
Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more:
http://e-democracy.org/mpls
