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Democrats: Spread of soft money must end

Lawmakers want to form a bipartisan effort to make it illegal for elected officials or candidates to accept cash contributions from 527s.

By STEVE BOUSQUET
Published March 9, 2006

TALLAHASSEE - Democratic legislators are demanding an end to the practice of lawmakers forming political committees supported by large checks from special interests and using that money for personal expenses such as meals, travel and cell phones.

Democrat-sponsored Senate and House bills would bar lawmakers, legislative candidates and statewide officials and candidates from raising or accepting money or coordinating with the so-called soft money committees, generally known as 527s or committees of continuous existence. A violation would be a third-degree felony.

The proposals do not seek an outright ban of the committees, a step riddled with constitutional questions.

Dozens of lawmakers, many of them Senate Republicans, have formed committees in recent years to finance bids for leadership posts, give money to colleagues' campaigns or expand their influence. Much of that money is solicited from special interests with a big stake in pending legislation.

"This is absolutely wrong," said Rep. Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach. "You should not be able to take a bundle of cash."

The Legislature's recent self-imposed ban on taking free meals, drinks and gifts from lobbyists omits campaign contributions. Democrats said that's the real source of special interest influence, and it must be stopped.

Others agreed. Common Cause, the League of Women Voters and Florida Public Interest Research Group all endorsed the soft money restrictions, and a Republican showed up to endorse the idea: Rep. Randy Johnson of Celebration, who's running for chief financial officer against Senate President Tom Lee.

Lee, who formed a 527 that raised $1.1-million, has pledged not to use any of that money in his CFO race. He said he liked the Democrats' proposal but wants to know more about it.

"I would like to see us address it, because it is an election year," Lee said. "I'm very interested in seeing it and helping them advance it, if it is constitutional. I know the stakes of the poker game up here."

The proposal has little hope of passage without widespread Republican support. The hard part for the Democrats is pushing campaign finance reform without making it appear to be a partisan move.

"If this looks like a Democratic idea, it's less likely to pass," said Sen. Dave Aronberg, D-Greenacres. "It's important that we get buy-in from the Republicans."

In calling for curbs on the influence of money in politics, Democrats did not absolve themselves of blame.

Legislative records show several Democrats control such committees, including Aronberg; Sen. Steve Geller, D-Hallandale Beach; and Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Dania Beach.

Sen. Nan Rich, D-Weston, sponsor of the Senate bill (SB 2660), has been associated with one of the funds, the Florida Senate Victory Committee. Checks of up to $15,000 have been received by real estate agents, hospitals, unions, parimutuels and insurance companies, all with a direct interest in legislation.

"It should not exist," Rich said.

Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, who is affiliated with Floridians for Principled Government, has raised $45,000. The total includes checks in the past month of $5,000 from a Naples development company and $3,000 from a check-cashing company.

Fasano said he was troubled by the appearance that Democrats, who are out of power and are struggling to raise money, now are eager to impose fundraising limits.

"I don't totally oppose their suggestion," Fasano said. "I give them an enormous amount of credit for bringing this to the surface, but I want to be careful in limiting the ability of people to contribute to the people they want."

Steve Bousquet can be reached at sbousquet@sptimes.com or 850 224-7263.

[Last modified March 9, 2006, 02:45:12]