Huntington Beach Council Strikes Blow For Liberty
Posted by: Jubal | 04/23/2008 10:12 AM
There's some good news on the local government front. On Monday night, the Huntington Beach City Council voted 4-3 to eliminate campaign contribution limits. The limit had been $500.
That's right. Not just increase, but abolish limits on how much one can contribute to the candidate of his or her choice.
That's fairly stunning considering most local elected officials are fairly timid about seeking even a modest increase in contribution limits, lest they be tagged by do-gooders as being against the people and clean government.
Councilmembers Don Hansen, Gil Coerper, Joe Carchio and Cathy Green voted for lifting this limitation of political speech.
Mayor Debbie Cook, Mayor Pro Tem Keith Bohr and Councilwoman Jill Hardy voted against to.
Believing contributions limits lead to clean government and get money out of politics is akin to thinking it really is the Tooth Fairy who takes your tooth from under your pillow and leaves a dollar. Limits simply re-direct the flow of dollars from campaign commitees controlled by the candidates to independent expenditure committees over which candidates are legally barred from controlling.
A recent report from the California Fair Political Practices Commission made that abundantly evident.
The best way to get money out of politics is to reduce the size and scope of government and its involvement in the market.
Kudos to the HB Council majority for striking a blow for political liberty, especially Councilman Don Hansen, who led the charge. May other councils currently sporting contribution limits follow suit.
That's right. Not just increase, but abolish limits on how much one can contribute to the candidate of his or her choice.
That's fairly stunning considering most local elected officials are fairly timid about seeking even a modest increase in contribution limits, lest they be tagged by do-gooders as being against the people and clean government.
Councilmembers Don Hansen, Gil Coerper, Joe Carchio and Cathy Green voted for lifting this limitation of political speech.
Mayor Debbie Cook, Mayor Pro Tem Keith Bohr and Councilwoman Jill Hardy voted against to.
Believing contributions limits lead to clean government and get money out of politics is akin to thinking it really is the Tooth Fairy who takes your tooth from under your pillow and leaves a dollar. Limits simply re-direct the flow of dollars from campaign commitees controlled by the candidates to independent expenditure committees over which candidates are legally barred from controlling.
A recent report from the California Fair Political Practices Commission made that abundantly evident.
The best way to get money out of politics is to reduce the size and scope of government and its involvement in the market.
Kudos to the HB Council majority for striking a blow for political liberty, especially Councilman Don Hansen, who led the charge. May other councils currently sporting contribution limits follow suit.
CATEGORY:
Liberty, Politics Behind the Orange Curtain
"it really is the Tooth Fairy who takes your tooth from under your pillow and leaves a dollar."
Galloping inflation.
And allowing HB to have no limits on raising cash is akin to having an AA meeting sponsored by Jim Beam. I'll take any response over at Navel Gazing, gracias very mucho.
It sounds like Debbie Cook may have alienated her colleagues when she exclaimed that she shout the contribution limits were too high and that if she had her way, she'd lower them to $100 per person.
What?
Anyone who's run a campaign knows how insanely difficult it would to raise funds in increments of $100 or less.
No candidate of modest means would have any ability to compete with a wealthy lawyer or somebody who inherited their wealth.
Oh wait...
Interesting how the pendulum swings Debbie Cook.