Ohio senators are blogging today at DFA .....Ohio campaign finance reform.

[madfloridian]

I love this approach to getting the news out and urging people to call or write.

They are very concerned about the new GOP campaign finance reforms, or I gather lack thereof.
http://www.blogforamerica.com/archives/005674.html
Stop the Spread of Special Interest Money in Ohio
Senator Gregory L. DiDonato is the Senate Minority Leader from Dennison, Ohio.

For over ten years, Ohio has been plagued by one-party Republican rule. When the Republicans passed their first campaign finance bill around eight years ago, they said they were building the perfect system. They were right. They built a system perfectly full of loopholes. As a result, the FBI and IRS are now investigating Ohio Republicans for allegations of political corruption.

Our governor has now called the legislature into special session for the first time in nearly 30 years to pass so-called "campaign finance reform." I call it special interest protection. Their proposal would quadruple special interest contribution limits.

Ohioans need, and Senate Democrats support, less money and more disclosure in politics. Ohioans don't need their leaders beholden to special interests. We urge all Ohioans to contact their state senators and representatives and tell them not to sell the Statehouse—your Statehouse—to the special interests.

Then Senator Marc Dann
http://www.blogforamerica.com/archives/005675.html
SNIP..."Today, Democracy for America is pleased to welcome several Ohio Senators as guest bloggers on the topic of the Republican-driven campaign finance reform bill in that state. Senator Marc Dann is from Liberty Township, Ohio. He was previously on the Liberty Township Board of Education.

It's hard to believe that in the midst of federal and state investigations about political fundraising scandals, Ohio Republicans would propose quadrupling contribution limits. What they're proposing would allow a wealthy Republican couple to contribute $40,000 to a candidate in a single year—that's more than most working families make in an entire year!

And tonight Senator C. J. Prentiss
http://www.blogforamerica.com/archives/005676.html

Today, Democracy for America is pleased to welcome several Ohio Senators as guest bloggers on the topic of the Republican-driven campaign finance reform bill in that state. Senator CJ Prentiss is from Cleveland, Ohio. She has also been a State Board of Education Member as well as an Ohio State Representative.

The Ohio Republicans' campaign finance proposal would be funny if not so dangerous. The danger is that only the special interests and the richest Ohioans are able to afford to contribute $10,000. There may also be a chilling effect on average Ohioans who may decide the $25 or $50 they can afford to contribute won't make any difference. In essence, the GOP is catering to Wall Street elites' interest, not Main Street's middle class..."

[Liberty Belle]

1. KICK! I wish my legislators would do blogs to communicate.

Some won't even answer letters,the scumbags.

[madfloridian]

2. More on this topic from Toledo Blade. Dean's interview with reporters.

http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041217/NEWS24/412170394

Ohio Senate panel OKs campaign-funding plan
Bill would quadruple political-donation limits

By JIM PROVANCE
BLADE COLUMBUS BUREAU
COLUMBUS - A Senate committee yesterday set the stage for a full chamber vote on a controversial bill quadrupling how much individuals and political committees may contribute to candidates.
Opponents pointed to several issues they argue could be declared unconstitutional by the courts. The bill contains an unusual clause invalidating the entire law, including more popular provisions requiring extensive reporting of campaign contributions and spending, if a single section is struck down.

"There are some people who don't really care if this bill goes away," said Senate Minority Leader Greg DiDonato (D., Dennison).
The bill would quadruple the current cap on how much an individual or political action committee is allowed to give to a candidate from $2,500 to $10,000 for each primary and general election.

The debate attracted the attention of former Vermont governor and Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean.

"Full disclosure is nice, but the real shame here is the dramatic expansion of the power of the wealthiest corporations in America over ordinary working people's lives ...," he said in a conference call with reporters.

"You can disclose all you want after the fact, but what really matters is will a small group of people be able to pour enormous wealth into somebody's campaign and overcome all grass-roots support that another more qualified candidate might be able to engender," he said."

A full transcript of the interview should be available on the blog later today.

Meanwhile, another Senator from Ohio joins the fray.
http://www.blogforamerica.com/archives/005678.html

SNIP.."GOP Greed
Democracy for America is pleased to welcome several Ohio Senators as guest bloggers on the topic of the Republican-driven campaign finance reform bill in that state. Senator Bob Hagan joins us today from Youngstown, Ohio.

This campaign finance proposal from the Republicans is just about greed. It's unbelievable how much money is already pouring into our political system and corrupting it. I'm sure many of you reading this suspect that your government is for sale to the highest bidder. The Republicans' proposal in Ohio should confirm your worst suspicions...."