James Carvell's Champaign Reform Proposal

[Zkribbler]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
So no more camapign volunteers?

Interesting point.

[snoopy369]

Why would this interfere with campaign volunteers?

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by snoopy369
Why would this interfere with campaign volunteers?

Bar incumbants from accepting anything from people not members of their own family

Think about it.

[Tattila the Hun]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
So no more camapign volunteers?

They just need to be legally adopted.

[snoopy369]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
Bar incumbants from accepting anything from people not members of their own family

Think about it.

Sorry, I'm translating this into "actual possibly accepted legislation". In that case, the 'accepting' clause would have to have a value on it (even 0.01, but more likely $100 or so). Volunteering your time is not a donation or a gift (unless you wish to define your time as worth a particular amount) and thus is not something that could be prevented.

Again, preventing people from volunteering on campaigns would have some real first amendment issues, so I highly doubt it would occur

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by Tattila the Hun
They just need to be legally adopted.

[Whoha]

How about term limits?

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by snoopy369
Volunteering your time is not a donation or a gift (unless you wish to define your time as worth a particular amount)

I can't think of any real reason why it shouldn't be defined that way. As for it presenting 1st ammendment issues, that didn't stop the incumbent protection act from passing both Congressional and SCOTUS muster now did it?

How about term limits?

It's called the ballot box.

[snoopy369]

You may not think of a reason for it, yet it is not. AFAIK, volunteering your time is not defined as a gift (in-kind or otherwise) unless you choose to charge for the service and then donate the cost. You can't deduct volunteer time off your taxes for that reason (unless you do something like the above).

[Imran Siddiqui]

I'm a bit surprised no one made a joke about "Champaign Reform" yet.

What is that, allowing California sparkling white wines to call themselves 'champaign'? (yes, I know its lame, deal with it)

[mactbone]

I thought about it, but I like thinking that this is about Illinois.

You can take away our champaign, but you'll never take our bourbon!

[Zkribbler]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
I'm a bit surprised no one made a joke about "Champaign Reform" yet.

Oh, go to "H"

Under Carvell's plan, you can't give anything to incumbants. I think that would include time.

So an exception would have to be made for volunteers. But there'd also have to be a rule that no one but the candidate's campaign could give anything to the volunteers (e.g. meals, free transportation, T-shirts), or else special interests would hire "volunteers" to work for the campaigns.

[Dinner]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
Because bribery involves a provable quid pro quo and it doesn't cover each and every donation to a campaign.

Or bribery can be defined as any public official accepting gifts, donations, or capital from someone while in office. Hanging is to good for corrupt officials but life in prison will work.

[Victor Galis]

Originally posted by Zkribbler


But some of the spending will have to be in efforts to raise campaign money. That's why the 20% difference. The incumbants just have the money handed to them.

That way, legislators won't have to spend 60+% of their time begging people for money.

Yes, but what if a relatively poor guy gets elected somehow. Next term the other party runs a millionaire against him the does no fundraising and the incumbent is ****ed.

Quite frankly I'd like to see impartially-drawn districts first.

[snoopy369]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
I'm a bit surprised no one made a joke about "Champaign Reform" yet.

What is that, allowing California sparkling white wines to call themselves 'champaign'? (yes, I know its lame, deal with it)

Ahem, I would note that this is not true ...

http://apolyton.net/forums/showthread.php?postid=4884035#post4884035