Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Have the Dems learned from the Republicans only too well?

dc_dux · 03-01-2007, 07:44 AM

We'll just have to disagree.

I think the Ariz/Maine campaign finance laws are good models for taking the money out of campaigns.....acknowleding that there is a distinction between campaign finance reform and lobbying reform.

Public funding for campaigns minimizes or elimates direct funding to candidates from any private source. It doesnt necessarily impact the influence of lobbyists, particularly those with deep pockets.

The fact that an initiative in California based on the Ariz model was defeated overwhelmingly (with high price ads from both public and private sector organizations that contribute to campaigns) is an indication that such efforts have a long way to go.

Having worked as a lobbyist for one of the big 7 Public Interest Groups (ie no deep pockets) for more than 10 years, I can say that lobbying reform is an entirely different animal and has its own unique set of issues that distinguish 501c lobbying arms of organizations (like the NRA, AARP, Planned Parenthood, National Wildlife Federation, etc) from the 527 organizations (Swift Boat Vets, MoveOn.org, etc).

03-01-2007, 07:44 AM	#14 (permalink)
dc_dux Location: Washington DC	We'll just have to disagree. I think the Ariz/Maine campaign finance laws are good models for taking the money out of campaigns.....acknowleding that there is a distinction between campaign finance reform and lobbying reform. Public funding for campaigns minimizes or elimates direct funding to candidates from any private source. It doesnt necessarily impact the influence of lobbyists, particularly those with deep pockets. The fact that an initiative in California based on the Ariz model was defeated overwhelmingly (with high price ads from both public and private sector organizations that contribute to campaigns) is an indication that such efforts have a long way to go. Having worked as a lobbyist for one of the big 7 Public Interest Groups (ie no deep pockets) for more than 10 years, I can say that lobbying reform is an entirely different animal and has its own unique set of issues that distinguish 501c lobbying arms of organizations (like the NRA, AARP, Planned Parenthood, National Wildlife Federation, etc) from the 527 organizations (Swift Boat Vets, MoveOn.org, etc). __________________ "The perfect is the enemy of the good." ~ Voltaire Last edited by dc_dux; 03-01-2007 at 07:54 AM..