Capping Contributions: Can We Become Known as “Clean Seventeen?”

Post #14 

Today, the most widely read political blog, Maryland Politics Watch, began a six-part series on the topic of campaign finance (You can find it at www.maryland-politics.blogspot.com.)

Against the advice of many talented campaign advisors, I made a major announcement at my State Senate campaign kickoff event several months ago.  Campaign finance reform is not the #1 most important issue for most people in these challenging economic times.  It is, however, a key factor for winning and retaining the voters’ trust in their elected officials. 

Most people believe that it is “Special Interests” (defined differently by everyone, I suspect) that have a disproportionate influence in policy decisions.  Insurance companies are seen to have a heavy hand in health care reform.  Oil companies are perceived as blocking many needed environmental proposals.  As an independent-minded Democratic member of the House of Delegates, I voted the way I thought best for my district, Montgomery County, and the State of Maryland.  That meant that I voted both with and against the views of the Governor, the Speaker, and any of a number of organizations.  I operate from the premise that I was “hired” by the people to make the best decision I could.  Unfortunately, campaign funding leads many people to the opposite conclusion.

Current Maryland law allows you, the reader, to make a $4,000 contribution to the candidate you support.  If you are associated with a political action committee (PAC), the limit increases to $6,000.  The most worrisome part is the so-called “LLC Loophole.”  This permits anyone with multiple corporate entities to write checks for the maximum amount from each account as a way of evading the limits for the rest of us. 

Back to my kickoff announcement.  At that event, I pledged to voluntarily cap my donations at 50% of the allowable limit.  $2,000 for individuals or $3,000 for a PAC still seems like a lot of money to me!  I also promised that I would voluntarily close the LLC Loophole.  I also called on all candidates for the House or Senate in District 17 to abide by the same limits.  Five months have now passed, and none of them have made the commitment to be part of “Clean Seventeen” on campaign finance.

All of these voluntary restrictions will make it more difficult for me to raise the monies I will need to communicate with the voters in order to win their support and their votes.  For that reason, I am working very hard to raise my campaign funds in modest amounts from neighbors, friends, and colleagues.  A check for $50 from a Gaithersburg activist or a $100 online gift from a friend in Rockville generally also mean volunteer support and their votes! 

I would love to hear from you, dear Blog reader!  How important is campaign finance reform to you?  Do you share my hope that others will take this same pledge so that we become known statewide as “Clean Seventeen” here in Rockville, Gaithersburg, and Garrett Park?  Send an email to Blog@CherylKagan.org or click on the "Comments" link below to express your views.  Please be sure to indicate which post (#14) you're addressing.

Thanks for reading.  I will post again soon.