A battle between residents of Parker North to annex their subdivision to the town of Parker, Colorado has implications to the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law that is supposed to reduce corruption in American politics.
Parker North is a housing subdivision of about 300 homes that is located close to the town of Parker, Colorado. Two residents of the subdivision wanted to annex it to Parker. Six other residents promptly began persuading other residents to oppose the annexation attempt. They began to print fliers and lawn signs, spoke to neighbors about their efforts and started an online discussion group to receive more feedback from supporters.
A supporter of annexation sued the group of six. Why? Because they are guilty of disobeying campaign finance laws and regulations relevant to McCain-Feingold. Any person who contacted the Parker Six or received a lawn sign from them would also be guilty of circumventing campaign finance laws.
Colorado's state government stipulates that when two or more people gather to fight for a political position and spend more than $200 in doing so, they are now an ''issue committee.'' There are many rules and regulations that people who form issue committees have to abide by in the state of Colorado:
''Committees must register with the government; they must fund their activities from a bank account opened solely for that purpose; they must report to the government the names and addresses of all persons who contribute more than $20; they must also report
the employers of plutocrats who contribute more than $100; they must report non-cash contributions such as lemons used for lemonade, and magic markers and wooden dowels for yard signs.'' Issue committees are defined in Colorado as one who opposes or supports a ballot question or issue.
The real reasons why political activity is regulated by this silly legalese is to protect incumbent politicians and strongly discourage opponents from political activism. If the government puts laws into place regulating advocacy of issues that are so burdensome, they hope that will deter people from getting involved. Henceforth, town councils and mayors won't be bothered by these irksome and annoying troublemakers. Just stay at home and watch American Idol or the baseball game!
The rationale for these campaign finance laws is to prevent corruption. Candidates will be corrupted if they receive political contributions from their supporters. They will vote or rule according to the wishes of who they receive money. How can there be corruption in ballot issue questions? What candidates are there to corrupt?
With the laws regarding disclosure of who and what is involved in ballot issue campaigns, political privacy is denied.
''The regulator's motto is
''Dirigo, ergo sum''-I boss people around, therefore I am.''
The Parker Six respond by saying that we have secret ballots regarding elections so why should the government know what position they take on a ballot question prior to voting? The Supreme Court has stated that anonymity is protection from retaliation from unpopular opinions.
An experiment was conducted by a University of Missouri professor where 255 participants, who were mostly college graduates, were asked to complete reporting requirements regarding three states' political disclosure forms. Only 41 percent of them completed them correctly.
''Burdensome disclosure requirements and other regulations are, in effect, taxes on political speech.''
The Parker Six defeated annexation. The group has filed a federal lawsuit to overturn Colorado's regulations as unconstitutional burdens on political speech. When John McCain campaigns in Colorado, I hope that some reporter asks him what he thinks of the Parker Six's victory and their federal lawsuit. I just want to see the look on his face.
