FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tues., Sept. 23, 2008
CONTACT: Dena Espenscheid 605-271-8290
Supporter charges NO on 10's million-dollar campaign being funded by tax dollars
CONTACT: Dena Espenscheid 605-271-8290
Supporter charges NO on 10's million-dollar campaign being funded by tax dollars
SIOUX FALLS -- A supporter of Initiated Measure 10, a November ballot proposal that would prohibit elected officials from giving tax dollars to organizations that lobby or engage in political campaigns, Tuesday scolded county officials for using tax dollars to fund a national lobbying organization that lobbies Congress in favor of gun control and against legislation to protect farm and ranch properties in the state.
The official ballot description of Initiated Measure 10 authored by the Secretary of State reads as follows: “An initiative to prohibit tax revenues from being used for lobbying or campaigning, to prohibit governmental bodies from lobbying, to prohibit government contractors from making campaign contributions, to prohibit government contracts when the contractor employs a legislator or legislative staff member, and to require contracts with government contractors to be published.”
https://apps.sd.gov/applications/st25cers/virtual/01004.pdf
https://apps.sd.gov/applications/st25cers/virtual/01004.pdf
Dena Espenscheid, Sioux Falls, southeastern regional coordinator for the YES on 10 campaign, speaking before the annual meeting of the South Dakota Association of Counties at the Ramkota Hotel in Sioux Falls, told county officials that "the dirty little secret none of you want the people back home to know is that every one of you, every year, sends your constituents' tax dollars to a Washington, D.C. lobbying group that uses our own tax dollars to lobby against our 2nd Amendment and private property rights."
She noted that all 66 counties in the state, as well as the tax-funded state Association of Counties, is a dues-paying member of the National Association of Counties, using tax dollars annually to pay those dues. NACo is based in Washington, D.C., and lobbies Congress regarding county government issues.
NACo is on record supporting gun control legislation, and in 2007 opposed a bill sponsored by Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, D-S.D., to prevent county officials from condemning farm and ranch property to make way for more lucrative private development that would generate higher property tax revenues for counties.
Tax-funded lobby
supports gun control
NACo's American County Platform and Resolutions 2008-09 states: “NACo supports the requirement of a reasonable waiting period for the purchase of a handgun to allow for a records check, where possible, to ensure that the purchaser is not ineligible under existing federal law to possess a handgun.”
(bottom of second column, page 8: http://www.naco.org/Template.cfm?Section=American_County_Platform&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=27952)
Such waiting periods are opposed by gun rights groups such as the National Rifle Association.
Tax-funded lobby opposes
property rights protection
* In 2007, agricultural groups including the South Dakota Farm Bureau, Stockgrowers, and Cattlemen’s associations supported legislation introduced by Herseth Sandlin to protect farm and ranch property from condemnation by local government officials to make way for private development.
The South Dakota Cattlemen's Association said in a news release: “We applaud the leadership Representative Herseth Sandlin has exhibited by introducing H.R. 926, the 'Strengthening Ownership of Private Property Act of 2007,' also known as the 'STOPP Act.' SDCA policy supports efforts by Congress to rectify the potentially negative impacts of the 2005 Kelo v. the City of New London court ruling that upheld state and local eminent domain authority to seize private property for commercial economic development purposes." http://www.sdcattlemen.org/CMDocs/SouthDakota/H%20R%20%20926.doc
But the National Association of Counties – funded by the local property tax dollars paid by South Dakotans -- lobbied against Herseth Sandlin’s legislation.
The Bureau of National Affairs reported June 7, 2007: “State and local governments would be ineligible for federal funding…if they use eminent domain to seize property for private commercial development under legislation approved by a House committee. …Local government officials oppose the bill. Jim Philipps, spokesman for the National Association of Counties, said, ‘NACO is opposed to any effort by Congress to preempt state and local land use authorities.’"
"As a matter of principle, it's wrong to spend tax dollars for lobbying either side of such issues," she said, "but all the more so that county officials spend our tax dollars to fund lobbyists who lobby against legislation introduced by South Dakota's Congresswoman to protect South Dakota values."
Espenscheid and South Dakota Chamber of Commerce President David Owen debated Measure 10 Tuesday during county officials' annual meeting.
Espenscheid said worried opponents of the measure are financially threatened by the proposal and will spend at least $1 million to fight it, at least some of that money coming from tax-funded groups such as the Association of Counties.
She challenged Owen to immediately disclose the source of nearly $800,000 in television ads the opposition has already purchased, according to TV stations in the state.
"We challenge Mr. Owen and the other politicians, lobbyists, and government contractors who oppose Measure 10 out of financial self-interest to join us in reporting campaign contributions on a weekly basis, starting immediately, so voters can see just how much of our tax dollars the opponents of Measure 10 are laundering to fund their campaign to deceive South Dakota voters," Espenscheid said.
"The YES on 10 campaign also promises the taxpayers of our state that we will not spend one penny of their tax dollars on our campaign," she said. "We challenge the well-heeled opponents of Measure 10 to make the same public pledge, including refunding any money they've already received from individuals or organizations who are funded by tax dollars or who hold taxpayer-financed government contracts."
She said the NO on 10 campaign is comprised entirely of organizations that are either tax-funded or represent tax-financed government contractors.
* Taxpayer-funded lobbying organizations such as the Association of Counties that are funded by local government officials who use tax dollars to pay their membership dues, a practice Measure 10 would prohibit.
* Lobbying organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce which represent holders of taxpayer-financed government contracts, who would be prohibited by Measure 10 from making campaign contributions or job offers to state and local politicians responsible for awarding their contracts, a practice already prohibited by federal law for federal government contractors.
* Lobbying organizations such as public employee labor unions whose collective bargaining contracts require government employers to spend tax dollars to collect union dues and transfer those dues to union officials, a practice that would be prohibited by Measure 10.
* Lobbying and political organizations which represent politicians who can currently accept campaign contributions and job offers from government contractors, a practice already prohibited by federal law for federal elected officials, which Measure 10 would also prohibit for state and local candidates.
Espenscheid said each and every organization opposing Measure 10 "has a vested financial interest that's threatened by the proposal. They all want to keep their gravy train rolling, all at taxpayers' expense."
"South Dakotans will vote YES on Measure 10 because they overwhelmingly agree it's wrong for politicians to use tax dollars for lobbying or political campaigns, and wrong that government contractors are allowed to financially reward state and local politicians who award their contracts," she said.
Espenscheid said Measure 10 supporters are simply asking state and local officials to abide by the same rules that already apply to federal elected officials and federal government contractors.
They're also following the example of Gov. Sarah Palin, she said, who took on the political establishment in Alaska -- including her own party -- to end no-bid government contracting by oil companies and require state government contracts to be published on the Internet