Did You Know? Public Funding Laws Enabled Corruption
Governments with public funding laws saw rampant misuse of taxpayer dollars and illegal schemes to obtain funds
Sioux Falls, S.D. – Defeat22.com, a coalition of South Dakota charities, businesses, and policy organizations opposed to Initiated Measure 22, drew attention today to research showing how candidates in Arizona, Maine, and New York City misused the state’s public funding law. Public records show how candidates used taxpayer funds for parties and to pay their campaigns, and filed false information to obtain the free taxpayer money.
Click here to see multiple documented examples of public funding laws enabling corruption.
“It’s no surprise that giving away taxpayer money to political candidates enables the lowest types to take advantage of the system and enrich themselves at the expense of the public,” explained Ben Lee, Chairman and spokesman for Defeat22.com. “Measure 22 would set up a public funding law, pouring taxpayer money into political campaigns and enabling corrupt candidates to take advantage of taxpayers. Fixing political corruption is an important issue, but it won’t be solved by dumping tax dollars into the system.”
Last week Defeat22.com announced the initial coalition partners. Earlier this month they announced a new radio ad, mailer, and grassroots door knocking effort. The coalition plans to continue heavy grassroots advocacy and paid media over the next four months.
“This measure extensively revises State campaign finance laws. It requires additional disclosures and increased reporting. It lowers contribution amounts to political action committees; political parties; and candidates for statewide, legislative, or county office. It also imposes limits on contributions from candidate campaign committees, political action committees, and political parties.
The measure creates a publicly funded campaign finance program for statewide and legislative candidates who choose to participate and agree to limits on campaign contributions and expenditures. Under the program, two $50.credits” are issued to each registered voter, who assigns them to participating candidates. The credits are redeemed from the program, which is funded by an annual State general-fund appropriation of $9 per registered voter. The program fund may not exceed $12 mi ion at any time.
The measure creates an appointed ethics commission to administer the credit program and to enforce campaign finance and lobbying laws.
The measure prohibits certain State officials and high-level employees from lobbying until two years after leaving State government. It also places limitations on lobbyists’ gifts to certain state officials and staff members”-
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Who do you think is opposing this? Pac’s, lobbyists, corrupt pols.?