A number of state legislators across the nation are taking advantage of the opportunity to collect significant amounts campaign funds ahead of the November 6 general election. However, they are running unopposed.
According to a new analysis by the Center for Public Integrity of National Institute on Money in Politics data, at least 26 state legislative leaders in statehouses across the nation -- including two members of Georgia's General Assembly leadership -- fall into this category.
These lawmakers -- in Georgia, Senate President Butch Miller of Gainesville and House Majority Leader Jon Burns from Newington -- are an attractive prospect for lobbyists and power-seekers as a sure bet. Contributions to influential politicians like these can buy face time and favor with those who set legislative agendas, experts say.
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According to the analysis by the Center for Public Integrity, as of Sept. 18, Miller has raised about $390,928. Burns has raised $222,859. Keep in mind -- both lawmakers are unopposed in the November general election.
“It makes a lot of sense to do what these contributors are doing,” said Michael Kang, a professor of law at Emory University who studies campaign finance. “They want to give to people in positions of power who are likely to be in positions of power for a while and can influence policy on the issues that they care about.”
State rules vary for what officials can legally do with their campaign funds, but a basic premise holds true for many state and federal politicians, according to Jessica Levinson, a political ethics expert and professor of law at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles. “Campaign purposes are OK. Personal purposes are not,” Levinson said. “The money is not to be used to line your own pockets.”
Miller and Burns are not alone. In some states, dollars raised figures are significantly higher. Iowa House Speaker Linda Upmeyer has raised $567,708; Massachusetts House Speaker Robert DeLeo has picked up $935,618. Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan has raised more than $2.6 million, and $5,891,029 is the top amount raised by an unopposed state legislative leader -- Illinois Senate President John Cullerton.
The speakers of the house, senate presidents, majority or minority leaders fundraising for unopposed re-election bids this year, like Burns and Miller in Georgia, appear especially popular with corporations, unions and other groups, which are more likely to lobby legislatures than individuals. Those 26 legislative leaders have gathered 84 percent of their funds from such groups, compared with 70 percent for the 81 leaders who do face opposition, the Center for Public Integrity’s analysis found.
► Here are helpful links for Georgia Voters:
Register to vote online: sos.ga.gov/elections
Change voter registration address: sos.ga.gov/elections
Check registration status: www.mvp.sos.ga.gov/MVP/mvp.do
Election offices by county: http://sos.ga.gov/cgi-bin/countyregistrarsindex.asp
