The Free Press, Mankato, MN

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February 8, 2006

Our View -- Fervor for fund-raising is troubling

Minnesota legislators of both parties, it seems, have opened the door rather widely this year to special interest influence peddling.

A report in Wednesday’s Star Tribune detailed numerous Democrat and Republican fund-raisers planned before the Legislature convenes that give the appearance influence can be purchased for the price of lunch tickets that run from $25 to $2,500.

Of course, there is nothing illegal about the fund-raisers. They are somewhat standard practice in what many assume to be a big election year as both parties struggle for the control of Minnesota government.

But the details surrounding how these fund-raisers are “marketed” have a worrisome tone.

The House Republican caucus recently sent an two-page invitation to lobbyists signed by the chairman of two powerful committees.

The letter, from House Regulated Industries Chairman Torrey Westrom, R-Elbow Lake, and House Jobs and Economic Opportunity Committee Chairman Bob Gunther, R-Fairmont, touted the accomplishments of Westrom’s committee, including blocking renewable energy standards.

The letter also contained a handwritten post script at the bottom that urged lobbyists to tell 10 of their clients with issues before the committee and urge them to contribute $200 to $300.

Gunther told the Star Tribune he didn’t write the letter or put together the event, but assumed it was done by political staff, just as such DFL fund-raisers are done.

The letter was described as “clumsy” by Republican House Speaker Steve Sviggum, who said it does not indicate a “pay-to-play” modus operandi.

Well-known Republican activist Sarah Janecek said the fundraising letter was “egregious and over the line.”

DFL critic Sen. Ellen Anderson, a proponent of the renewable fuels standard, said: “They might as well have put a collection box on the committee table.”

The DFL, however, is not immune to the smoky issue of influence peddling. The Associated General Contractors of Minnesota is sponsoring a “Winter Blast” fundraiser for DFL Senate Transportation Chairman Steve Murphy of Red Wing. The group and its members are major beneficiaries of more highway spending. A $250 donation was suggested for attending the event, according to the StarTribune report.

Again, everything perfectly legal.

Still, more and more, the appearance of influence peddling should get little sympathy from a public that has discovered something can be legal without being ethical.

While Minnesota legislators are prohibited from raising money from lobbyists during the session, the rule was written by those whose behavior it prohibits.

Legislators are allowed to hold fund-raisers while they’re having committee hearings, but are not technically “in session.”

That can get a little dicey as well. The regulated industries chairman fund-raiser was just a mile away from the Capitol and took place an hour after the committee finished a hearing attended by numerous lobbyists.

Perhaps fundraising is a fact of political life. But if legislators want to use that to justify these events, they should be willing to prove how average citizens who don’t have $250 to contribute have just as much influence as those who do.

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