Events Calendar
In This Section
Most Read Stories
Police accuse bank robbery suspect of gobbling up note (with dashcam video)
Man found dead in North Akron home is identified
Dad accused of forcing son into field, killing him
Coventry man killed in crash at I-77 ramp
NFL star Chris Spielman's wife loses cancer battle
College student mistaken for deer, shot to death
Browns' roster nearly devoid of consistent players
Blogs:
Pets:
Cat-loving chihuahua suckles seven abandoned kittens
The Heldenfiles:
Friday Night Notebook
Patrick McManamon:
For your Saturday entertainment …
Akron Zips:
Hitchens leads Zips in second-half comeback
Tribe Matters:
Seven players added to Tribe’s 40-man roster
Cleveland Browns:
Holmgren expresses interest in Browns position
Kent State Sports:
Kent State blown out in second half, loses to Temple 47-13
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Gameblog: Cavs vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Buckeye Blogging:
OSU – Michigan college football rivals meet in Baghdad
Varsity Letters:
Four area football teams play tonight
All Da King's Men:
Headed For Disaster
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Will Health Care Reform Pass?
Akron Law Café:
Health Care Financing Reform: (68) Democrats Secure 60 Votes for Cloture
See Jane Style:
Vintage Chic
Car Chase:
TIME TO GET YOUR COLLECTOR CARS WINTERIZED
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Silverdome Potentially SOLD!
Ohio Travels with Betty:
George is looking for a Thanksgiving buffet in Akron.
Sound Check:
Steely Dan Plays "The Royal Scam" at E.J. Thomas Hall
HRLite House:
Colloquium at University of Akron
Akron Gamer:
Nintendo's Mario endures even as games come and go
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.
