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00SL2
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As I was gathering this information I tuned to the Bob Leonard show and he discussed some of the ideas here, Walling and Kildee, and the antics of city council! If you get a chance, watch it when it's uploaded to FlintTalk. Bob said he'll be back after the first of the year, God willing.
Additionally, I read within the last several days but can't find the source now, that Dan Kildee and Dayne Walling were to be guest speakers (?) at some meeting or function this week(?). Anyone have details?
[Edited to add: See Terry's post, College Cultural Neighborhood Association meeting 11/27/07 meeting notes, http://www.flinttalk.com/post-19044.html#19044.]
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Re-Run (9 months old):
quote:
Following the money
Legislation would shine light on secret political accounts
GENESEE COUNTY
THE FLINT JOURNAL FIRST EDITION
Sunday, February 18, 2007
By Marjory Raymer
mraymer@flintjournal.com • 810.766.6325
QUICK TAKE
# How campaign finance works
Campaign finance in Michigan is multi-layered, some of which is very public and some of which is very private. Here is a look at some of the current major funding sources for politicians:
# CAMPAIGN ACCOUNTS: By law all candidates have these. Individuals and political action committees funnel cash into them to support candidates' election bids - paying for everything from bulk postage to bank fees for insufficient funds. Funds are disclosed through reports filed with the secretary of state.
# LEADERSHIP ACCOUNTS: Technically, these are political action committees operated by politicians. As lawmakers run for powerful positions in the Legislature, they use these accounts to dole out contributions to their colleagues in an attempt to woo their support. Funds are disclosed through reports filed with the secretary of state.
# CORPORATE ACCOUNTS: These typically take the form of a nonprofit - either a 501(c)3 or 501(c)4. They often have vague names and purposes. Legislative staffers, not the lawmakers themselves, usually are listed on what little paperwork is required. Those with less than $25,000 file paperwork with the Internal Revenue Service simply stating that they exist, with no accompanying detail. Those with more than $25,000 require a simple accounting of revenues and expenditures, with no detail on where the money went or came from. Corporate accounts would also include so-called 527s, which are named after the tax code under which they are regulated. They were the focus of federal reforms and now require some disclosure through the IRS.
The public could get new insight soon into the secret world of money in politics - at least if two local lawmakers get their way.
Sen. John J. Gleason, D-Flushing, and Rep. Richard Ball, R-Bennington Twp., are crafting legislation that would close a loophole by forcing disclosure or even limiting contributions made to non-profit organizations formed to skirt Michigan's strict campaign finance laws.
"It will probably stir a hornet's nest," Ball said.
The legislation would target "corporate accounts," virtually unregulated accounts often set up as non-profit organizations dedicated to voter education.
Gleason calls them unethical.
The secret non-profits can be used for everything from attack ads to polling. And they rake in unlimited contributions, usually from corporations or others who want to remain anonymous.
"Any time you have secret accounts or slush funds like this, you only compromise the integrity of being in office,"
Gleason said.
They fall outside of Michigan campaign finance laws, which ban corporate contributions and cap donations from individuals and political action committees. The laws also force politicians to reveal who gives them money and how much as well as what they spend it on.
Corporate accounts are so unregulated that no one even knows for sure how many of them there are.
"I'm just so delighted that
it is being pushed on a bipartisan basis, but it is going to be a challenge - because those that are determined get very inventive about how they break the rules,
" said Rich Robinson, executive director of the Michigan Campaign Finance Network, a watchdog group.
In October, The Flint Journal linked three local lawmakers to corporate accounts - Rep. Brenda Clack, D-Flint; Sen. Deborah Cherry, D-Burton; and
former Sen. Bob Emerson, D-Flint, who now serves as budget director for Gov. Jennifer Granholm.
Non-profits must file with the Internal Revenue Service, but these corporate accounts remain difficult to trace. They often have vague names and are formed in the name of staff, instead of the lawmakers themselves.
For instance, until shortly before he left office,
Emerson controlled a 501(c)4 called "Michigan's Future" and raised more than $100,000 in both 2003 and 2004. Two staff members were listed as officers, but Emerson's name did not appear on any of the paperwork.
And, for those funds that receive less than $25,000, such as Clack's and Cherry's, not even basic annual reports are required.
The legislation being pursued by Ball and Gleason would not ban lawmakers from taking corporate checks - but if they did, everyone would know about it.
And, the news would come at the worst possible time for elected officials - with disclosure reports due every July 1 and Nov. 1, just before the primary and general elections when voters are watching most closely.
"If these things are on the up-and-up, there shouldn't be any problem," Ball said.
Enough disclosure could significantly undermine the existence of corporate accounts because they are formed expressly for the anonymity they provide, Gleason said.
Donors willing to be named already give to campaign funds and leadership PACs.
The hard part now is figuring out exactly what the legislation should say so that it completely closes the loophole, including covering accounts put in staff's name, Ball said.
It most likely will take several weeks before any bill or bills are introduced as lawmakers and legal experts tweak the language.
Gleason said he expects the proposal to be a part of a larger package of ethics legislation designed to reassure voters who often are skeptical of politicians' motives.
Then, it will be up to lawmakers themselves to decide whether anything should be done.
Gleason is optimistic - if for no other reason than he doesn't believe, politically speaking, that anyone can vote no.
"I think there has been enough public embarrassment that they can't help but support it," Gleason said.
***
Time to check in with Gleason to see what the status of this proposal is and get it moving.
Check this out:
quote:
Walling moves on with new community agency
Posted by Marjory Raymer | The Flint Journal November 21, 2007 20:00PM
Categories: Flint
FLINT -- Failed mayoral candidate Dayne Walling is moving on, but not giving up.
Walling lost to Mayor Don Williamson earlier this month by 581 votes. Now, he is forming a
new nonprofit called Flint's Future Now that he said will focus on community issues and on holding elected officials accountable.
And, eventually, Walling said he'll return to politics.
"I expect to run again,"
Walling said. "I think just being honest, that four years is a long time in politics, but having come so close I feel a responsibility to continue to push forward."
Walling won nearly 12,000 votes and plans to tap into his network of supporters to push for a more diverse economy, safer neighborhoods and more opportunities for youth through Flint's Future Now.
"We need to continue to focus on Flint's future even though there is not an upcoming election. Too often in Flint, we only talk about issues that matter at election time," Walling said.
An organizational meeting is planned for Dec. 3 and an official kickoff is expected in January.
Walling said the group will issue monthly "action alerts" to encourage residents to get involved
in the community.
For the time being,
Flint's Future Now will set up shop in Walling's former campaign headquarters
on Grand Traverse in Flint.
All the election materials will be packed away and the group is open to everyone, whether they supported his candidacy or not, Walling said.
He said
the group also will issue report cards based on voting records for elected officials, including City Council and the Genesee County Commission.
The organization, which Walling said he plans to form as a nonprofit, is a volunteer based.
Walling, who worked full-time on his campaign, said he also is continuing to pursue several job possibilities, including at a local foundation and college.
Source: http://blog.mlive.com/flintjournal/newsnow/2007/11/walling_moves_on_with_new_comm.html
Compare to (Note the variations in "Focus."):
quote:
Walling moves on with community agency
FLINT
THE FLINT JOURNAL FIRST EDITION
Thursday, November 22, 2007
By Marjory Raymer
mraymer@flintjournal.com • 810.766.6325
QUICK TAKE
About Flint's Future Now
#
Focus: Diversifying the economy, creating safe neighborhoods and providing more opportunities for children
# Organizational meeting: 7 p.m. Dec. 3 at 940 S. Grand Traverse, Flint
# Phone: (810) 280-7684
# E-mail: info@flintsfuturenow.org
# Web site: www.flintsfuturenow.org
FLINT - Failed mayoral candidate Dayne Walling is moving on, but not giving up.
Walling lost to Mayor Don Williamson earlier this month by 581 votes. Now, he is forming a new nonprofit called Flint's Future Now that
he said will focus on community issues and on holding elected officials accountable.
And, eventually, Walling said he'll return to politics.
"I expect to run again," Walling said. "I think just being honest, that four years is a long time in politics, but having come so close I feel a responsibility to continue to push forward."
Walling won nearly 12,000 votes and plans to tap into his network of supporters to push for a more diverse economy, safer neighborhoods and more opportunities for youth through Flint's Future Now.
"We need to continue to focus on Flint's future even though there is not an upcoming election. Too often in Flint, we only talk about issues that matter at election time," Walling said.
An organizational meeting is planned for Dec. 3 and an official kickoff is expected in January.
Walling said the group will issue monthly "action alerts" to encourage residents to get involved in the community.
For the time being, Flint's Future Now will set up shop in Walling's former campaign headquarters on Grand Traverse in Flint.
All the election materials will be packed away and the group is open to everyone, whether they supported his candidacy or not, Walling said.
He said
the group also will issue report cards based on voting records for elected officials, including City Council and the Genesee County Commission.
The organization, which Walling said he plans to form as a nonprofit, is volunteer based.
Walling, who worked full-time on his campaign, said he also is continuing to pursue several job possibilities, including at a local foundation and college.
***
Source:
http://www.mlive.com/flint/stories/index.ssf?/base/news-47/1195737615239000.xml&coll=5
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Tue Nov 27, 2007 10:00 pm |
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last time here
Guest
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| well, he cartainly has interesting advisors. |
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Wed Nov 28, 2007 2:29 pm |
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