Money & Politics News
Jul - Sep, 2002
Sep 30:
New
Citizen Action study:
2002 Ohio Supreme Court races already attract
21% more money than in 2000
COLUMBUS -- "This year’s crop of Ohio Supreme Court candidates had by August 31 already raised 21% more money ($3,779,930) than candidates in 2000 raised by election day ($3,118,280). Physicians and insurance companies gave more than $250,000 to each of Maureen O'Connor and Justice Evelyn Stratton; they gave only $100 each to Tim Black and Janet Burnside. All of the top contributions to Tim Black and Janet Burnside came from trial attorneys," Catherine Turcer, Ohio Citizen Action (37 KB .doc).All contributions spreadsheet (3.6 MB .xls)
Attorney contributions to Black and Burnside spreadsheet (30 KB .xls)
Attorney contributions to O'Connor and Stratton spreadsheet (35 KB .xls)
All contributions from school funding interests spreadsheet (9 KB .xls)
COLUMBUS -- "Group lists donors for first time," Associated Press.
COLUMBUS -- "An internal memo from a marketing consultant hired by Citizens for an Independent Court has recommended negative mailings about the two Republican candidates for Ohio Supreme Court. But the political action committee fueled by plaintiff lawyers, labor, and teachers said Friday it won’t go negative unless the other side does first. 'We have two excellent candidates running for what could arguably be a watershed election for the Ohio Supreme Court,' said spokesman Mark Hatch. 'We reserve the right to do what is necessary.' . . .'I would hope we all learned a lesson two years ago about the unfortunate effects of attack politics in judicial races,' said Ohio Republican Party Chairman Bob Bennett. 'Both parties spent months condemning such tactics and to employ them again would only make the Democrats complete hypocrites,'" Toledo Blade.
COLUMBUS -- "Donors weigh in on 'tort reform'; Doctors, lawyers battle over awards," Laura A. Bischoff, Dayton Daily News.
COLUMBUS -- "If you need a scorecard to figure out which issue-advocacy groups are backing which Ohio Supreme Court candidates, you are not alone. An alphabet soup of political-action committees is raising money that could sway the outcome of two races. Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton is being challenged by Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Janet R. Burnside. Lt. Gov. Maureen O'Connor is paired against Hamilton County Municipal Judge Tim Black for an open seat," Jon Craig, Columbus Dispatch.
COLUMBUS -- "Campaign to focus on issues, group says," T.C. Brown, Cleveland Plain Dealer.
COLUMBUS -- "A national direct-mail agency hired by supporters of the Democratic candidates outlines a strategy for attacking the two Republicans. And one central theme throughout the campaign would be: "Maureen O'Connor and Evelyn Stratton will serve on Ohio's Supreme Court to protect the interest of big business over working families." The proposal to attack Republican candidates comes just two years after Democrats complained when one of their court candidates was vilified in TV commercials widely denounced as unfair. Both parties have publicly promised that this year's campaigns would take a more positive approach ," T. C. Brown and Sandy Theis, Cleveland Plain Dealer.
COLUMBUS -- "Informed Citizens of Ohio announces advocacy committee; communications creed, brochure and the first in a series of issue-oriented white papers released," David Milenthal, release, Informed Citizens of Ohio.
COLUMBUS -- "And today, Justice Evelyn L. Stratton is still guided by the principles of her youth. Hard work. Fairness. Respect for the law," :60 radio spot, Citizens for a Strong Ohio.
COLUMBUS -- "A political activist has filed an elections complaint accusing Ohio Treasurer Joe Deters of unlawfully using the Hamilton County Republican Party as a second campaign committee. David Hartley, a retired Democratic state legislator, filed the complaint with the Ohio Elections Commission against the party, Deters' campaign, his fund-raiser and others. Hartley paints a cozy picture of the party and the Deters for Ohio's Future campaign by itemizing nearly $197,000 in 'in-kind' -- or nonmonetary -- contributions the party gave the campaign," Julie Carr Smyth, Cleveland Plain Dealer.
CINCINNATI -- "Voters will be asked on Nov. 5 to amend the city charter to forbid use of any city money for political campaigns. A vote in favor of the proposal would wipe out a charter amendment that voters narrowly approved in November 2001 to provide public funds for candidates in citywide races. A petition drive by opponents of the 2001 amendment prompted City Council on Thursday to authorize the ballot issue for the November election," Associated Press.
COLUMBUS -- "As voters, we must take action to open up our airwaves and invigorate our political culture. In the coming months, Congress will consider a new bill that would help reduce campaign costs by requiring broadcasters to provide free airtime to qualified candidates. It's time to tell broadcasters that they owe us for all the wealth they've generated using our airwaves. A little airtime for serious political discussion is not too much to ask in return," Christopher A. Shumway, letter to the editor, Columbus Dispatch.
COLUMBUS -- "A new report gives the Ohio Democratic Party a grade of 'F' for campaign contribution disclosure. The same report gives Ohio Republicans an 'A'. Rob Schober interviews Ohio Citizen Action's Catherine Turcer,'" Ohio Public Radio.
COLUMBUS -- "'Meanwhile, both parties continue the operating account chicanery,' said Catherine Turcer, campaign reform director for Ohio Citizen Action. 'The Republicans refuse to disclose anything about their operating account. The Democrats claim they don’t have one, but haven't provided a way to verify it. It's getting crowded behind the curtain,'" Catherine Turcer, Ohio Citizen Action.
Cash harder to raise this summer
COLUMBUS -- "A recent letter to potential contributors signed by First Lady Hope Taft says: "Summer is always a tough time to raise money for a campaign. And this summer’s shaky stock market has had a big effect on fund-raising. Every week the campaign falls short of its projected budget - while at the same time trying to gear up for the ‘final push’ that starts after Labor Day." Mrs. Taft’s linking of a "shaky stock market" with her husband’s below-projected campaign largesse smacks of "fund-raising at any cost," said Catherine Turcer, campaign finance director for Ohio Citizen Action group, a liberal statewide consumer and environmental group. "That pulling on the heartstrings to raise money is very sad," Ms. Turcer said," James Drew, Toledo Blade.
Aug
23: Photos from Free Air Time
for Candidates community forum
The event was held at the Columbus Metropolitan Library and was sponsored
by The League of Women Voters of Ohio and Ohio Citizen Action. A panel including Ted Celeste, former candidate for U.S. Senate; Dr. Eddith Dashiell, Associate Professor at the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, Ohio University; Paul Taylor, Executive Director for the Alliance for Better Campaigns in Washington, D.C.; and Jerry Freewalt from the Catholic Diocese of Columbus discussed the role of television in democracy and possible reforms.
COLUMBUS -- "The bill would not change the limits on the greater amounts that state and county parties may spend, but it would require full disclosure of the donors, including the occupation and employer of each contributor. Under the current law, campaigns must make a "best effort" to find that information but are not required to disclose if they cannot get it. Catherine Turcer, campaign finance analyst for Ohio Citizen Action, welcomed that requirement. 'You don't take candy from strangers. It's the same thing: you don't take campaign contributions from people you don't know,' Turcer said," John McCarthy, Associated Press.
COLUMBUS -- "Taft, Blackwell open push for disclosures; Bill to be introduced in Senate this week," Laura Bischoff, Dayton Daily News.
COLUMBUS -- "Campaign finance bill now has Senate sponsor," Stephen Ohlemacher, Cleveland Plain Dealer.
COLUMBUS -- "It could be harder for some political groups to hide the identities of people who give them money if a proposal being pushed by some of the state's top republicans is passed," Jo Ingles, Ohio Public Radio.
COLUMBUS -- "Sen. Gardner to carry Taft/Blackwell bill; Proposed campaign finance bill gaining substantial momentum in Ohio Senate," release, Offices of Gov. Bob Taft, Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell.
Ohio bar association has taken on ad-watch role for Supreme Court races
Who will rein in the rest?
AKRON -- "The watchdog role over judicial ads being undertaken by the state bar association should raise alarms about all types of independent, issue-advocacy organizations. National campaign reforms in the McCain-Feingold bill are widely expected to squeeze large, previously unregulated contributions out of the national politics parties. This soft money was supposed to be used for party-building, but often wound up in issue ads very similar to the 'educational' ads aimed at Resnick by Citizens for a Strong Ohio. Who will be watching when this soft money starts flowing into issue-advocacy organizations that, in effect, become shadow party organizations? The Ohio State Bar Association already has its hands full," editorial, Akron Beacon Journal.
Democrats suspect pay-for-play
GOP, givers deny it
COLUMBUS -- "'I would think the likelihood is they are trying to influence the process. Otherwise, why would you give that kind of money?' said Catherine Turcer, campaign reform director for Ohio Citizen Action, a nonprofit watchdog group that analyzes campaign finance reports," Laura A. Bischoff, Dayton Daily News.
Few Franklin County Municipal Court judges work a full week
COLUMBUS -- "Judge Bruce Jenkins usually finishes his morning's cases and leaves by around 1 p.m. . . . He's not the only judge who leaves early. County parking garage records show that nine of the 15 municipal court judges typically spend fewer than 30 hours a week in the courthouse. Five of the judges average fewer than 25 hours in the courthouse each week. . . 'One of the things you hear is how overworked they are: 'The workload is just too intense,' 'said Catherine Turcer of Ohio Citizen Action, a government watchdog organization. 'It doesn't sound like the workload is that intense,'" Kevin Mayhood, Jim Woods, Columbus Dispatch.
COLUMBUS -- "By serving as both state treasurer and chairman of the Hamilton County Republican Party, Joseph Deters engaged in fund-raising that increased the likelihood of a conflict of interest, according to a finding unanimously adopted yesterday by the Ohio Ethics Commission. While the panel did not name Deters directly or accuse him of wrongdoing, its action was clearly intended to end the fund-raising practices pioneered by the Cincinnati Republican," Sandy Theis, Cleveland Plain Dealer.
COLUMBUS -- "Ohio ethics group warns officials," Toledo Blade.
COLUMBUS -- "Ethics advisory aimed at politics; Officials who solicit donations for parties at risk of breaking state law, panel says," Catherine Candisky, Columbus Dispatch.
David Brennan fears he lacks influence in Ohio politics
His remedy? A new group of secret financiers
AKRON -- "News that Akron businessman David Brennan, Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and other Republican operatives have hatched a plan to raise secret contributions to influence state politics can be greeted with only one reaction: disgust. . . .Legislative inaction on full disclosure by issue-advocacy and party organizations is indefensible. Ohio must end secret political slush funds," editorial, Akron Beacon Journal.
"Informed Citizens of Ohio" Articles of Incorporation
COLUMBUS -- The shadow election organization which surfaced this week in articles by the Akron Beacon Journal and the Associated Press filed incorporation papers with the Secretary of State on June 24.
Brennan's advocacy group may focus money on state Supreme Court
COLUMBUS -- "Akron businessman David Brennan and Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder plan to raise money from secret contributors this year to influence the Nov. 5 state elections. A spokeswoman for Householder confirmed Monday that the speaker is working with Informed Citizens of Ohio, a new organization created by Brennan, Columbus attorney William Todd and former Ohio Republican Party Executive Director Thomas Whatman, who is a consultant. They will raise money from undisclosed donors and then attempt to persuade the public about issues particularly important to Ohio's development, said Householder spokeswoman Jennifer Detwiler," Dennis J. Willard, Doug Oplinger, Akron Beacon Journal.
Photo: David Brennan.
COLUMBUS -- "Republicans form committee for undisclosed donors," John McCarthy, Associated Press.
COLUMBUS -- "Money Controversy in Supreme Court Race," Rob Schober, Ohio Public Radio.
WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Senator George Voinovich (Ohio) has taken more money for his campaign from chemical interests than any other legislator in either house of Congress for the 2002 election cycle, according to the non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics. His take is 18% higher than number two on the list, Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert (Illinois), Center for Responsive Politics.
DAYTON -- "Corrupt corporate executives being led away in handcuffs may calm Wall Street's nerves. But in the Miami Valley, it's ordinary families — increasingly, middle class and suburban — that are being taken down by financial fraud. . . Why, in the face of such evidence, have consumers been abandoned in Columbus? Recent work by campaign-finance hawks at Ohio Citizen Action offers some insight. According to Citizen Action, people and entities associated with the Ohio Consumer Finance Association (just one of many state lending-industry groups) gave more than $300,000 in state contributions from 1999-2001. Of that amount, at least $265,983.33 went to Republicans," editorial, Dayton Daily News.
COLUMBUS -- "The forum, sponsored by Ohio Citizen Action and the League of Women Voters in Ohio, discussed the role of broadcast media in democracy and some potential reforms that may be in the near future. . . .The forum also touched on a new bipartisan bill being developed in Washington. The bill would require licensed broadcasters to devote at least two hours per week to candidate and issue centered programming in periods prior to elections. 'By charging licensed broadcasters a usage fee equal to one-half of one percent of their total earnings, $750 million worth of free airtime vouchers could be raised for two-year election cycles — which happens to be the amount of money spent by all candidates and parties in all levels of government for television advertising in 2000 campaigns,' Taylor said," T. Lotshaw, OSU Lantern.
COLUMBUS -- "After Ms. Boyle complained about what she considered to be free election-season publicity for her opponent, Clear Channel offered "equal time" under Federal Communications Commission rules. She said yesterday, however, that she feared accepting the free time would mean that she, too, would be accepting a corporate campaign contribution," Toledo Blade.
COLUMBUS -- "Treasurer candidate Boyle turns down free radio ads," Julie Carr Smyth, Cleveland Plain Dealer.
CINCINNATI -- "Jean Siebenaler alleges GOP contender Phil Heimlich and Clear Channel Communications violated state elections law when Heimlich served as a talk show guest host for about a month in February on WKRC-AM. In the complaint, Siebenaler's campaign alleges Clear Channel made illegal corporate contributions and violated laws prohibiting corporations from making direct contributions to candidates for elected office by offering the airtime. The complaint also alleges that Heimlich knowingly accepted an illegal corporate contribution by accepting the airtime," Kevin Osborne, Cincinnati Post.
WASHINGTON, DC -- "The overwhelming majority say candidates should participate in public debates (92 percent), and in forums where voters can question them directly (94 percent). Seven in 10 voters -- 71 percent -- said it was appropriate for politicians to criticize an opponent for 'talking one way and voting another.' Criticizing an opponent's voting record was acceptable to 68 percent of those surveyed, up from 58 percent in 1999. Faulting an opponent for not paying taxes on time was permissible to 61 percent. Among the practices these 800 likely voters said were unfair: criticizing the behavior of an opponent's family (89 percent), raising as an issue past personal financial problems (81 percent); pointing out an opponent's 'past troubles, such as alcoholism or marijuana use' (69 percent); and condemning an opponent for not serving in the military (76 percent) or not being patriotic enough (61 percent)," Washington Post.
COLUMBUS -- "The executive director of the Ohio School Facilities Commission told Columbus schools officials that he could funnel money through a state construction or planning contract to pay a public-relations firm the district wanted to hire. That would avoid state competitive-bidding rules, Randall A. Fischer wrote in a January e-mail. District officials had approached the state after Cochran Public Relations maxed out its $30,000 district contract," Bill Bush, Columbus Dispatch.
COLUMBUS -- "In fact, eight former [Governor George] Voinovich aides met with [outgoing head of the Ohio School Facilities Commission Randall A.] Fischer 48 times since 1999. That's more meetings than he had with all other companies' lobbyists combined, according to the calendar. The businesses represented by the ex-Voinovich staff members received more than $25 million in contracts -- most of them unbid and approved at the time solely by Fischer," Jon Craig, Columbus Dispatch.
A majority fear to tell voters where they stand on the issues
COLUMBUS -- "By way of justification for dodging Vote Smart, Ohio Democrats point to the experience of state Rep. John Boccieri of New Middletown. In the 2000 campaign, Boccieri, who was challenging a Republican incumbent, answered a question about separation of church and state. His opponent used the answer in attack ads that suggested that Boccieri doesn't believe in the Ten Commandments. OK, that does sound nasty. Nobody would enjoy having their words used against them that way. But more to the point, Boccieri won the election," editorial, Columbus Dispatch.
WASHINGTON, DC -- "Ohio Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell is on the 15-member panel, filled with nationally known political figures such as former national GOP chairman William E. Brock. John Green, director of the Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics at the University of Akron, is in charge of managing the task force's work,'" Jonathan Riskind, Patty Lynch, Columbus Dispatch.
Bush administration rejects speaker's plan to reward fund-raisers
 CLICK TO ENLARGE |
COLUMBUS -- "The latest wrinkle is what Republicans have been saying for years: Disclose everything so people will know where the money came from and can vote accordingly. But even some Republicans are slow to warm to disclosure, especially after Ohio Citizen Action began insisting that the donor's occupation or employer be clear for every source of money. Senate President Richard H. Finan, R-Cincinnati, said givers are shy and would prefer to remain in the background so they won't get on everyone's mailing list," Lee Leonard, Columbus Dispatch.
COLUMBUS -- "Ohio Supreme Court Justice candidate Tim Black has raised more money in the first six months of the 2002 campaign than the total amount he generated during Election 2000, according to a study released today by Ohio Citizen Action. Evelyn Lundberg Stratton fast approaches her 1996 total of $476,253 with $439,099 in contributions so far. 'During the length of one term for Ohio Supreme Court justice, the amount generated by candidates has jumped dramatically,' said Catherine Turcer, campaign reform director for Ohio Citizen Action. 'The total amount raised by all the candidates during the 2002 primary period is larger than the total amount raised during all of Election 1996,'" Catherine Turcer, Patty Lynch, Ohio Citizen Action.
Full text release, study (130KB .doc), judicial survey.
COLUMBUS -- "Complaints about secret campaign money," Jo Ingles, Ohio Public Radio.
