A recall finance loophole a mile wide

by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

Senator Jeff Denham(R-SD12), who is facing a possible recall in his moderate district, is raising money. Lots of it. In fact, he found a loophole a mile wide. A loophole so wide as to make a recall attempt possibly a good thing.

According to Sen. Dehnham, there are no contribution limits to an anti-recall account. I've not verified this, but, I have no reason to doubt it. At any rate, I'm sure we can ask some of Gray Davis' old campaign staff. So, in today's Capitol Morning Report, we get this announcement for a fundraiser for Monday:

Jan. 28, Friends of Jeff Denham, Against the Recall (12th SD), reception, Sponsor $25,000, Patron $10,000, Individual $5000, "CA state law does not limit contributions to recall accounts." 5:30 p.m., Mikuni, 1530 J St. Contact: 916 498 9223.

Feel free to give Sen. Denham's campaign staff a call, if you so desire, but I can't imagine there's a whole lot of interesting conversation to be had there. But, if you offer him money, say $25K, you might get a very receptive audience. While I don't doubt that this is legal, it should be. Both pro-recall, and anti-recall, campaigns should be limited to contribution limits. One person, yes, I'm looking at you Mr. "Step Away From the Vehicle", should not be able to recall an elected official by himself. Similarly, one person should not be able to finance the defense of said elected official. The same thing could be said of ballot props, regarding the fact that these were supposed to be populist tools, rather than tools of the wealthy.  I suppose I would agree with that statement (and the regulation of funds for props), as well.