Events Calendar
In This Section
Most Read Stories
Fourth of July Events; fireworks, neighborhood parades
Five years after attack, woman finds her way
Promises look promising for Browns
Ex-NFL quarterback McNair killed in Tennessee
DiLullo's closes doors after 63 years
Akron police arrest murder suspect within an hour
Blogs:
Pets:
Summit teams up with Rescue Waggin' to save dogs
The Heldenfiles:
Songs for an American Day
Patrick McManamon:
Touching on the Browns, Cavs
Akron Zips:
Opponent outlook: Northern Illinois
Browns Bulletin:
Single-game ticket sales begin July 11
Tribe Matters:
Laffey making it tough on self
Cleveland Browns:
Stallworth test showed marijuana
Kent State Sports:
Men's Basketball Scheduling update
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Updated: Free Agency: Another Gone - Apparently
All Da King's Men:
The Obligatory Palin Post
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Wow….Sarah Palin Resigns Governorship
Akron Law Café:
Abraham Lincoln and the Fourth of July
Varsity Letters:
Highland senior receives honor
See Jane Style:
Picnic Wear
Car Chase:
Where do We Go from Here?
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Happy 4th of July!
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Linda asks-where is the Ohio Chautauqua?
Sound Check:
Rundgren fans rejoice!: Second night of AWATS at The Civic added
HRLite House:
Morscruethal Behaviors or Just Lip Service?
Akron Gamer:
Hot link: Best of Nintendo at E3
The Ohio Elections Commission appropriately lowers the boom
Published on Sunday, Apr 06, 2008
Those representing the committees, All Children Matter Ohio and its Virginia affiliate, characterized the violations as technical, the fines of $2.6 million each out of proportion. They also attempted to argue that the commission was squelching free speech rights, as if Brennan will be hampered in widely expressing his views on education.
In truth, the often-toothless commission, acting on a complaint by Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, deserves credit for cracking down on what amounts to a money-laundering scheme. More, the laundering was done to keep Ohio voters in the dark about who was really supporting whom.
Brennan and his allies were well aware of similar shell games in political fund-raising, at both the national and state levels. They were warned by the elections commission about making large transfers from the Virginia-based political action committee (not registered in this state) to the Ohio organization, which in turn donated to individual candidates. They did so anyway. Why? Virginia, unlike Ohio, allows unlimited donations and corporate contributions.
The essential point the elections commission correctly underscored with its record fines is the need for transparency in the political system. In order to make an informed judgment at the polls, Ohio voters must have access to information about the source and amounts of campaign contributions.
All Children Matter left those principles behind when it arranged for a torrent of political cash to flow from Virginia to Ohio.
Get the full article here.

