Follow the Money

Introduction to the Follow the Money Campaign

What does Follow the Money mean?

“Following the money” is a cliché that came out of the Watergate scandal. During the Watergate investigation, Deep Throat, an anonymous source, told reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein to “follow the money,” referring to the money that was used to pay the men who broke into the Democratic Party National Headquarters in the Watergate Hotel. We all now spend a lot time thinking about how money influences our daily life.

Why does this matter?

Following the money is important because it allows us to figure out who is trying to influence public policy or get contracts with the state. Most significantly, it allows us to root out corruption. When campaign contributors are allowed to remain essentially anonymous, pay-to-play politics can flourish. Additionally, the interests of contributors can outweigh the concerns of constituents--most noticeable lately in the implosion of the mortgage industry, which went largely unregulated after "investing" in countless politicians across the country.

But what if you can't follow the money because the policy makers aren't telling the public the source of their campaign cash?

Under Ohio law, any time a politician receives $100 or more, he or she is required to disclose the name of the contributor and their employer. Unfortunately, a number of Ohio politicians don’t think the law applies to them, and file only partial reports. Not only is this illegal, it is an invitation to corruption. When we follow the money, we work to find out where and who politicians get their money from. It is important to know this because it could influence politicians’ decisions in certain matters.

Political money disclosure scorecard The percentages below reflect the amount of 2007 political money properly identified by each official, as of February 28, 2008. Columbus area Ohio Senators Statewide politicians Bill Harris, Senate President 95% (Ashland - R) Ted Strickland 91% Governor (D) Steve Stivers 99% (Columbus - R) Jon Husted, House Speaker 74% (Kettering - R) Dave Goodman 100% (Columbus - R) Chris Redfern, Ohio Democratic Party Chair 86% (Catawba Island - D) Ray Miller 69% (Columbus - D) Kevin DeWine, Ohio Republican Deputy Chair 96% (Fairborn - R)

Percentages were produced using the following method: Candidate X received $30,000 in total contributions. $10,000 of the total was from individuals who each donated more than $100. Only $9,000 was properly attributed with the employer of the donor. So: $9,000 properly identified / $10,000 in contributions over $100 from individuals = 90% of contributions properly identified Contribution information can be found on the Ohio Secretary of State's website.

Some Ohio Senators, members of the House of Representatives and other statewide politicians have not filed all their reports from 2007. In an article dated February 17, 2008, Jon Husted publicly said he will report all sources from which he received campaign contributions. He still hasn’t done this. Ohio Senator Ray Miller (D-Columbus) didn’t file campaign finance disclosure reports for three years, a flagrant violation of the law. In response, the Ohio Elections Commission (which is tasked with enforcing Ohio Election law) fined Senator Miller $1,500. In 2007 alone, Senator Miller raised $47,869. Clearly, this was more of a slap on the wrist than a substantial penalty. Though Senator Miller has since filed his campaign finance disclosure forms, there are many blanks that need to be filled regarding where his contributions came from and where he spent his campaign funds.

Ohio Citizen Action members are writing letters to members of the legislature, urging them to follow the law and disclose the employers of their contributors. We are having our members write letters to either Jon Husted or Ray Miller, depending on where the member lives. If Senator Ray Miller is your state senator, please write to him. Otherwise, please write to Speaker Jon Husted. If you're not sure who represents you, you can find your state senator at this web page, and your state representative at this page.

Add your voice and make a difference

Letters are best when written in your own words. Here are some tips:

-Promptly amend your 2007 campaign finance filings so that all contributors of more than $100, and their employers, are identified.           -Support legislation for better enforcement of campaign finance law and penalties for lack of disclosure. Ask them to reply to your letter. The address for Ohio Senators is Senate Building, Columbus, OH 43215 and the address for statewide officials is Riffe Center, 77 S. High St., Columbus, OH 43215