Apr. 3, 2006
The Reality of Reform Takes Shape in Raleigh
By Chris Heagarty
RALEIGH – As members of the N.C. House meet to review changes to elections and ethics laws in the wake of recent investigations of Speaker Jim Black, one of many subcommittees – suggested by Black himself – charged with reviewing and recommending reform proposals has taken the money-in-politics bull by the horns.
But is real reform a possibility?
Chaired by Wake County Representatives Deborah Ross (D) and Rick Eddins (R), the subcommittee on Campaign Finance/Reporting & Election Laws has held several meetings, organized a public hearing, and contacted national experts for their testimony.
How serious are the subcommittee members about real reform? They recently reviewed a proposal to limit what retiring legislators could do with their left-over campaign funds, making it illegal for lawmakers leaving office to use these funds for their own personal enrichment, eliminating the little nest egg some legislators had built for themselves.
However, rather than trying to sink this proposal, which would have been in their financial best interests, the legislators went the other way.
“If using campaign funds for your personal benefit when you retire is wrong,” asked Cabarrus County Representative Jeff Barnhardt (R), “then why isn't it wrong to use those same funds the same way while you're still in office?”
Good question. And Barnhardt's fellow subcommittee members agreed – there is no good answer. So they expanded the bill to keep campaign accounts from turning into personal slush funds.
Given this good start, it should come as no surprise that the subcommittee decided they needed to get down to the root of the problem: money in politics.
Whether it's video poker vendors suspiciously covering up donations or well-funded independent campaigns by a millionaire on the other side of the state who just doesn't happen to like you, these legislators realized that there are threats to good government and that these threats like to operate through the elections process.
The subcommittee has begun looking at alternatives from other states and other branches of government that might help candidates run for office without the influence of well-funded special interest groups. One option that looks promising is public campaign financing.
In 2004, 12 of the 16 candidates for statewide judicial office took advantage of the new N.C. Public Campaign Fund. They agreed to voluntarily limit their fundraising and campaign spending, in exchange for financial aid and the possibility of matching funds from the Public Campaign Fund.
The results? The candidates received the funds needed to run for office, but had to say no to PACs and most special interest contributions. In 2002, more than 40 percent of all the money spent in these races came from lawyers. In 2004, that amount fell to about 11 percent, thanks mainly to the public financing option.
State Court of Appeals Judge Wanda Bryant, who ran before and after the new laws for judicial campaigns were implemented, testified before the subcommittee that “the difference between 2002 and 2004 was night and day. Having campaign finance reform allowed judges a larger level of independence from contributions, and a better perception of that independence from the public.”
Bryant, a Democrat, was joined by Republican Don Hyatt of Cary in testifying to the merits of public campaign financing. The Town of Cary used public campaign financing in its 2001 elections before the program was ended by the State Board of Elections. Hyatt had participated in that program.
“Most people are disconnected from the political process, not because they don't care, but because they feel helpless in the face of well-coordinated special interests funding campaigns to the tune of thousands and thousands of dollars, often backing candidates they have absolutely nothing in common with,” Hyatt testified to the subcommittee members. “You can help change that by allowing municipalities like Cary the opportunity to try new and innovative approaches to campaign financing. Citizens may feel helpless but please don't leave them hopeless.”
Comprehensive campaign finance reform, such as public campaign financing, is something that, despite its benefits, will face a strong challenge from some legislators who want to keep doing business as usual. But if this small group of state House members who are serious about change can craft a bill for real reform, then perhaps there is something to hope for after all?
Chris Heagarty is the executive director of the N.C. Center for Voter Education, a Raleigh-based nonprofit and nonpartisan organization dedicated to improving the quality of elections in North Carolina.
3933 Arrow Dr.
Suite 101
Raleigh, N.C. 27612
877.258.6837 (toll free)