September 18, 2008

Measure 10 backers charge opposition's million-
dollar campaign being funded by tax dollars

SIOUX FALLS -- Supporters of Initiated Measure 10, a November ballot proposal that would prohibit the use of tax dollars for lobbying or political campaigns, Wednesday charged that 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 groups funded by tax dollars.

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."

Dena Espenscheid, Sioux Falls, southeastern regional coordinator for the YES on 10 campaign, challenged opponents of the measure to immediately disclose the source of nearly $750,000 in television ads the opposition has already purchased.

"We challenge the politicians, lobbyists, lawyers, and government contractors who oppose this common sense ethics reform out of financial self-interest to join us in reporting campaign contributions on a weekly basis, starting this Friday, 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."

Wednesday, the NO on 10 campaign announced a coalition of multiple organizations that are either tax-funded or represent tax-financed government contractors. http://www.voteno.org/about.htm

* Taxpayer-funded lobbying organizations that are funded by local government officials who use tax dollars to pay their membership dues, a practice Measure 10 would prohibit:

South Dakota Municipal League, South Dakota Association of County Commissioners, South Dakota Association of County Officials, South Dakota Association of Towns and Townships, Associated School Boards of South Dakota, and School Administrators of South Dakota.

* Lobbying organizations representing 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:

South Dakota State Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Associated General Contractors of South Dakota, South Dakota Telecommunications Association, South Dakota Electric Utilities, South Dakota Retailers, Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce, State Bar of South Dakota, and South Dakota Association of Telephone Cooperatives.

* Lobbying and labor organizations 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:

South Dakota Education Association, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, National Education Association, AFL-CIO, and South Dakota State Employees Organization.

* 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:

South Dakota Republican Party and South Dakota Democratic Party.

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.

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