The state newspaper has been engaging in a serious bout of investigative journalism in the last few Sunday editions. It took aim at our seriously weak and ineffective campaign finance laws. Some call Mississippi campaign finance "legalized bribery". The Clarion-Ledger began its series on February 20 with this story:
Mississippi is one of six states that don't have an explicit ban on spending campaign funds for personal use. Brent Ferguson, counsel in the Brennan Center for Justice’s Democracy Program at New York University, said that could be an issue.The reporting is even worse at the local level. One will often find very little information in campaign finance reports for municipal and county races - if the report is even filed. Lump sums are often written down on the forms and itemization is all too often non-existent. The campaign finance laws and their enforcement are literally a joke in Mississippi but guess what? No one cares and that my friends, is the bottom line.
“It definitely creates a problem because when people are giving campaign donations, they expect them to be used for the election, so it’s somewhat dishonest to take that money pledged for the election and use it for personal causes to enrich yourself,” he said.
The types of spending that constitute personal use vary from state to state. For instance, some state laws consider contributions to other candidates’ campaigns and donations to churches as personal expenses while others don’t. Some states identify specific types of spending they consider personal use, such as household food or supplies, clothing, or fees to a country club or other organization.....
Mississippi’s campaign finance laws lack safeguards that most states have had for years, such as a ban on personal use of donations and a cap on contributions from individuals.
Mississippi and 11 other states don’t limit the amount individuals can donate, but the state also lacks caps on contributions from political action committees and lobbyists. State law does ban corporate donations over $1,000, and companies can receive fines of $1,000 to $5,000 for donation violations. But without other types of contribution limits, companies can sidestep the corporate donation cap by getting company executives and other individuals to donate.
“I think contribution limits are the most important safeguard against the possibility or appearance of corruption, and contribution limits help to ensure just a few wealthy donors aren’t capable of having undue influence in the election process,” said Anthony Corrado, a professor at Colby College who serves as an adviser at the Committee for Economic Development and a nonresident fellow at the Brookings Institution..
In Mississippi, the secretary of state and attorney general’s office are primarily responsible for enforcement when it comes to campaign finance laws. The agencies have the most enforcement power when it comes to disclosure, but candidates and elected officials can receive fines of up to $3,000 or a six-month imprisonment for intentional violations.... Rest of article.
14 comments:
Do you actually think anyone has ever cared or ever will care.
It is a way of bribing elected officials.
Those who are doing the bribing will not say anything.
Those who accept the bribes will not say anything.
Those who belong to the same party of those who accepted bribes will not say anything.
That leaves very few people. Most people are crooked but want to be allowed to commit their crimes. Ms. has a history of enabling those crooks.
The article last week was very enlightening. Get your man elected and reap no bid contracts from numerous agencies.Elections have $$$$ consequences.
11.18 is right. Everyone knows about this and all the PAC crony capitalism but very little seems to change. I feel all I do is read, bitch and post on blogs. For what is worth I will never vote for a career politician again. I will never vote for anyone that has used campaign funds for personal reason. I will never vote for anyone that Haley, Trent or any other lobbyist endorses. We just need more honest, non career politicians willing to run.
I am no fan of C-L, but this is most revealing investigative piece they have ever produced. They have virtually every significant politician (and a few that are not) running for cover and refusing to comment. Of particular note, our auditor and AG are ducking this issue like its a bad virus. These are the guys that we count on to watch everyone else. Sad day in Mississippi.
Before we give up completely, maybe an anti-corruption ballot initiative. These folks seem to have done most of the heavy lifting for creating one:
Anti-Corruption Act Faq
I know enough to know I don't know anything about this but maybe a learned JJ reader could weigh in.
Oh yea.... And I will never vote for anyone that works for or has a family member working for Butler Snow.
"Most people are crooked..."? Bullshit!
2:43, Yes, most people are crooked. How else could you explain the politicians the people keep electing?
How is this bribing? Don't we have to pay for good government?
This is nothing but legalized bribes. However, any campaign money spent for personal purposes is subject to federal and state taxation. Either the IRS or the DOR could put these thieves in jail.
So Lynn Fitch could put Stacey Pickering in jail? What universe do you live in?
Lynn Fitch isn't with DOR or the IRS. Pay attention!
Oh Delbert, where are you?
Repubs covering for Repubs. That is what the Repub establishment does. Now will they roll on Pickering?
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