It’s
interesting to note my opponent, who has been critical of every election bill
I’ve introduced, has released a dark money elimination plan that has a
strikingly similar foundation to the very legislation I introduced this year –
SB1403.
Terry
Goddard’s plan to expand disclosure of “major funders” and “doing business” in
Arizona as a non-profit corporation were included in SB1403,
which received unanimous support in the Senate Elections Committee that I
chaired. They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so I appreciate
the acknowledgement from Terry.
Unfortunately,
those are where the similarities end. Terry is just
another liberal candidate trying to dupe the public by promising things he
cannot deliver. His “bright line trigger” mandates any ad “mentioning any
person” appearing on the ballot, will be subject to disclosure and registration
requirements. The U.S. Supreme Court in Wisconsin's Right to Life ruled a
blanket disclosure requirement for mentioning a candidate is unconstitutional.
He is simply wrong.
However, the
most alarming provision is the “random” auditing of 10 – 20% of non-profit
corporations participating in express advocacy by the Department of Revenue. As
Terry always believes, bigger government and higher taxes can fix anything.
Additional government bureaucracy is rarely the
solution.
He claims
mandatory government interference in the business dealings of non-profit
corporations will help stop the flow of dark money. And this is based on the
far-fetched belief the Department of Revenue will remain completely
non-partisan, despite which gubernatorial administration is overseeing it. The
IRS was thought to be the most impartial of all agencies until it was revealed
they were targeting conservative groups seeking to attain non-profit status.
Terry wants to do the same in Arizona.
We
cannot allow Terry to repeat the discriminatory practices of the IRS in
Arizona.
Terry's plan
attempts to consolidate power in the Secretary of State’s office so he can play
judge, jury and executioner with every entity that becomes involved in Arizona
elections.
Instead of
seeking massive expansion of regulation and government overreach, I will focus
on realistic laws for all corporate political spending.
Next week, I
will release a comprehensive plan on how my administration will fix the
challenges facing the Secretary of State’s office. It will center on
streamlining processes and making the office run more efficiently. It will be
substantive and address multiple issues that need reform, not just a politically
expedient one.
Sincerely,
Michele
Maricopa County Republicans Has NOT received any monies to post this information,it is a courtesy post.
