Questions for RMG: Local Committee Donations

Better transparency on donations (0.00 / 0)

We need a new website that pulls data from OCPF and remixes it so that you can easily see who has donated what to where. If you enter a name, that guys local candidates and committees should pop right up and what he gave.

There's a lot more you could do with this idea, but you see what I am getting at.  

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by: edfactor @ Wed Jan 23, 2013 at 21:19:55 PM UTC

Reinventing the Wheel? (0.00 / 0)

I fully support transparency but are you simply looking to reproduce what the OCPF website already shows you, if anyone cares to look for it?

Also, OCPF doesn't necessary list donations of a small amount, I believe it's $50.00 or less.  Someone can donate to plenty of candidates and committees but at the end of the filing period, a good sum of money will never be reflected by OCPF.

Now, a reporting system that captures from 1 penny to the maximum, that's transparency I would never object to existing.

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by: BNCordeiro @ Wed Jan 23, 2013 at 21:54:53 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

This wheel is square (0.00 / 0)

Brock -

That site is badly designed. After I get my stuff to the SC next week I will show you a quick mock up to show you want I mean.

And YES committees should track all kinds of help and make that available to outsiders.

But whatever we do, we must find ways to showcase who is helping the party in a more public way than OCPF searches.  

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by: edfactor @ Wed Jan 23, 2013 at 22:07:03 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Allocation of Funds (0.00 / 0)

While I agree with you totally on principle, we're a party of very limited resources and I'm not sold that re-creating the work already being done by the state government is really the best use of our scarce donor dollars.  I don't see how it directly elects our candidates or grows our local committees.

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by: BNCordeiro @ Wed Jan 23, 2013 at 22:14:53 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I do (0.00 / 0)

Personally, I donate to my committees whenever they have a fundraiser.  Now, most of those donations are below the OCPF reporting threshold so they're not evidenced on their website.  For example, the Dartmouth GOP is having a Lincoln Day Brunch coming up and that'll be a $25.00 donation.  The same committee historically has an annual Backyard BBQ and that is upwards of $40.00 at times (although in 2012 that became a fundraiser for Scott Brown).

I know that when we've had elected officials at our Dartmouth BBQs, everyone from the Sheriff to area legislators, to those legislators living far away have generally paid the same for a ticket as our other guests.  

I'm fortunate in that I only have 5 town or city committees.  My colleagues who have a dozen or more, especially those actively hosting multiple fundraisers per year, are in a bit worse a condition regarding their check books.  I know of a State Committee member a cycle or two back who opted not to seek re-election due to the constant drain on their bank accounts for all the donation requests.

I actually had a constituent, himself a municipal elected official, ask me if I pay for these donations - as well as other State Committee costs (such as gas, parking, etc.) out of my MassGOP State Committee Expense Account.  When I got done laughing hysterically, I politely informed my friend that there is no such thing as an expense account and that everything is out of personal funds for a volunteer position.  Yes, it's a labor of love.

I do know of several colleagues who have their own State Committee campaign accounts, and actively raise funds, but I am not one of them.

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by: BNCordeiro @ Wed Jan 23, 2013 at 22:04:04 PM UTC

I knew (0.00 / 0)

you would be the first to reply, Brock. I'm thinking more on the lines of elected officials though. And especially Reps, Senators, and state-wide candidates. If you're unopposed, why not use your fundraising clout to help out the local committees in your district?

Also, I'm not talking about paying the admission/donation price to an event. I'm talking about an outright donation. Like here's $XX to help you get going this year.

G.O.P. Growth. Opportunity. Prosperity. For all Americans.

Karl (TLC)Weld

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by: TLCWeld @ Wed Jan 23, 2013 at 22:17:38 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I wonder (0.00 / 0)

I wonder how many local committees solicit their elected officials for campaign donations, above & beyond the ticket price of a BBQ or brunch?

I also wonder how many local committee members donate, beyond the aforementioned ticket prices, to their own committees?  I don't mean passing the hat, as that isn't legal, but cutting a check for the good of the committee.

It's not legal to require dues, but I will say that as a Knight of Columbus we're able to do a lot of our charity work thanks to the annual dues of our brothers.  Of course, as a fraternal order we're also able to hold raffles (as Financial Secretary, I received my permit from my town clerk this afternoon) that can't be done politically.

Anyway, I don't discount your greater point.  I will admit that I wouldn't be able to personally bankroll to any large extent any of my committees, even today.  I especially couldn't do so when I worked an hourly wage in retail.  However, I do know some very generous elected officials who donate to candidates & committees, when asked.  I have a feeling, and it's just a gut reaction, that most are not asked.

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by: BNCordeiro @ Wed Jan 23, 2013 at 22:27:23 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

In 2010 I Heard (0.00 / 0)

5 of the 32 candidates for office paid. I know I paid for my friend. The Dartmouth picnic is always a must attend event. Janine and John are such wonderful hosts.  

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by: billxi @ Fri Jan 25, 2013 at 01:41:25 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

How much money did Kirsten Hughes and Rick Green donate in the past? (0.00 / 0)

Not worried about who they gave the money to (it could be an RTC or anyone running for office as an R).  I ask because a couple weeks ago I heard Green kicked in thousands and Kirsten is on record for kicking in 40 bucks.  Can we get clarification on this?  Because people can say anything but when they cut a check ...

Molon Labe

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by: Republican Ram Rod Radio @ Thu Jan 24, 2013 at 14:38:24 PM UTC

If Green (5.00 / 1)

is willing to drop thousands, he'd be better served (and so would the party) by chucking each local committee $50 as a symbol of commitment to growing the grassroots and helping those committees fund outreach to voters.

G.O.P. Growth. Opportunity. Prosperity. For all Americans.

Karl (TLC)Weld

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by: TLCWeld @ Thu Jan 24, 2013 at 15:20:01 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

For Christ sakes the man donated some serious cash and you're pissed because he didn't give it to the right Republicans? (0.00 / 0)

Kirsten on the other hand dropped 40 shitty bucks AND THE GIRL HAS LIKE 5 JOBS and an audition with American Idol in the spring.  

Molon Labe

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by: Republican Ram Rod Radio @ Fri Jan 25, 2013 at 16:34:36 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Easy Smoopy. (0.00 / 0)

I'm not pissed at all. I just think a better strategy long-term is well-funded local committees that have the resources to compete "on the street" with the Dem voter outreach and GOTV efforts. Shelling out dollars so a State Rep candidate can send out 50 uninspiring pieces of direct mail that immediately end up in the trash is a smart allocation of limited funds?

G.O.P. Growth. Opportunity. Prosperity. For all Americans.

Karl (TLC)Weld

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by: TLCWeld @ Fri Jan 25, 2013 at 16:42:17 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I think both candidates are bad, I wouldn't hire either of them for the job. (0.00 / 0)

That said, Kirsten is by far the worse of 2 evils.  I don't believe she will make 1 decision on her own.  Her people who support her are stumbling all over themselves with the same Freudian slips, backroom shit, and sneaking around that we see year in and year out.  

Molon Labe

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by: Republican Ram Rod Radio @ Mon Jan 28, 2013 at 15:02:14 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Another question.... to ask is (0.00 / 0)

Are you an active member in your local RTC?

And if so how long have you been a member?

and a nice follow up is what have you done with your RTC?

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by: Millie @ Sun Jan 27, 2013 at 20:09:33 PM UTC