The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee should ban donations from lobbyists and political action committees permanently, not just for a June 18 dinner hosted by President Obama, a coalition of 50 campaign finance advocates and progressive bloggers said in a letter to the Democratic organizations.
The coalition also launched a website to garner public support for their cause, called "StopFakeReform."
"We read that you have chosen to accept President Obama's ban on fundraising from PACs and lobbyists, but only for June 18 - the day he headlines a fundraiser for you," the letter says. "This isn't just hypocritical - it defies common sense that you'd think the public would believe this was a principled stand against special-interest influence."
Organizing the effort is Change Congress, a group urging donors to boycott giving money to federal candidates until lawmakers enact comprehensive campaign finance reform. The outfit says that it has been able to get pledges from donors to withhold $1.28 million in funds to candidates.
Jennifer Crider, spokeswoman for the DCCC said it isn't correct to say that her group and the DSCC are foregoing lobbyist and PAC money for "one day," rather they agreed not to raise money from lobbyists and PACs for one event, at the request of Obama.
"Democrats enacted the strongest ethics and lobbying reform in history. Our fundraising is fully transparent," said Crider, noting that Rep. Christopher Van Hollen, D-Md., who is chair of the DCCC, was author of legislation in 2008 in the House that resulted in the enactment of strict reporting rules on money bundlers.
Other signers of the letter to the parties include Public Campaign, Public Citizen and progressive bloggers from key states like California, New Jersey, Nevada and North Carolina. See the letter and list here.
--Bara Vaida
Comments
To post a comment, you must provide a name and a valid e-mail address. Messages must be limited to 400 words. By using this service you agree not to post material that is obscene, harassing, defamatory, or otherwise objectionable. Although Under the Influence does not monitor comments posted to this site (and has no obligation to), it reserves the right to delete, edit, or move any material that it deems to be in violation of this rule.