Joe Turnham: Quest for campaign cash destroying political process

Joe Turnham
Guest Columnist

Published: June 2, 2008

In Alabama Legislative races in 2006, it was not unusual for the most competitive Statehouse races to cost $150,000 to $250,000 for each candidate. State Senate races are now approaching $500,000 to $1 million. The constant and incessant quest for campaign cash by candidates and party committees is destroying the political process.

Gov. Bob Riley and the ALGOP 2010 Campaign to win legislative control looks on its surface like just another political fundraising exercise. But the program’s high dollar ticket price of $40,000 per person and its tightly held membership gives the appearance of selling unfettered access to the governor’s office and it is now raising concerns across Alabama.

Just prior to the opening of the 2008 legislative session, lame-duck Riley announced he was headlining the 2010 campaign to unseat Democrats, while previously calling for bi-partisan harmony. His announcement only created acrimony among legislators throughout the session.

By ALGOP upping the campaign dollar ante for 2010 means voters will see more attack TV ads, more slick color mail brochures and dozens more of those annoying robotic phone calls. It means campaigns will start earlier and seemingly go on endlessly. It means more high priced consultants will find ways to dig the dirt on political opponents.

Riley’s and ALGOP’s culpability in accelerating this type of politics is clear. Those $40,000 donors become part of the “Governor’s Circle” and are granted meetings, conference calls and special treatment by the governor’s office. Riley is actively raising these funds while the Legislature is in session.

Riley vetoed Democratic legislation last year that would have required lobbyists who lobby the executive branch to register and disclose their clients. He says he is for full disclosure, but why did he not put it in his special session call this week and pass significant campaign finance reform? This same bill passed the Legislature with strong bi-partisan support.

Republicans are using the Alabama Education Association (AEA) and their AVOTE PAC as their reason for their new interest in high-dollar political marketing. AVOTE is not a Democratic Party PAC. It belongs to the 100,000 teachers, school bus drivers and cafeteria workers who check off a few bucks a month for political activity. AVOTE has given over $1 million to Republicans in the past eight years. ALGOP offering that rational for its hyper-fundraising activity does not hold water.

ALGOP now brags of bagging over 100 high-dollar 2010 donors. Several of these donors own companies that could do business with the state. On March 5, newly elected Auburn University Trustee Raymond Harbert gave ALGOP a $10,000 (2010 plan asks for 10K each year for 4 years) donation. In May, he won a surprise 3-2 vote for a seat on the AU Board. Riley urged his quick confirmation in the Alabama Legislature.

Another 2010 Governor’s Circle member appears to be Dr. Swaid Swaid. Dr. Swaid is Riley’s appointee as Chairman of the Certificate of Need Board. (A board made famous in the Scrushy-Siegelman trial). Several Governors’ Circle members are general contractors, financial service executives, and real estate developers. Do people giving $40,000 to a political party just want good government?

I challenge Riley and ALGOP to join me in pushing legislation that would require disclosure of gifts to political parties over $5,000 be made public within 10 days from their receipt by filing electronically with the Secretary of State.

I also call on Riley to call a special session on campaign finance reform and to sign legislation requiring disclosure for executive branch lobbyists. Until he does, he should cease raising funds for the 2010 campaign!

Joe Turnham is the Alabama Democratic Party chairman.