Grassroots Alternative to Big Bucks Campaign Financing

Recent articles about politicians accepting large contributions from from big donors of questionable character, even one being a fugitve, brings to light a problem that is destined to become one of the issues, not only in the 2008 campaign in the 20th Congressional District, but nationwide. Where and from whom are the candidates getting their money ?

The American people are tired of the influence that big money has on federal elected officials. Candidates often argue that they need to raise the majority of their funds from special interest groups, political action committees and big donors from outside their local districts because they need significant amounts of money for TV ads, voter poling, signs, radio spots, campaign staff members, etc., even though this makes them more beholden to donors outside the district than to the residents within the district. Candidates who refuse to accept big money donations, put themselves at a financial disadvantage during the campaign.

Two grassroots candidates for the 20th Congressional District Seat from opposite ends of the political spectrum are willing to take that risk. Morris Guller, a Democrat from Greene County, and John Wallace, a Republican from Columbia County, have come together to make a pact to demonstrate the frustration and outrage they feel concerning campaign financing and big money influence on Federal Office Holders.

"I believe that the need for such large sums of money is artifically created by the campaign consultants, advertising and marketing experts as well as the media, who ultimitely receive most of the money. We don't need the government or so-called experts to set the rules for us. Let the individual candidates set their own campaign financing standards and be judged directly by the people on Election Day." Wallace said.

"We actually compromised on the campaign contribution maximum amount of $75." said Morris Guller, Democrat from Greene County. "I was at $50 max from residents of the District and $25 from people outside the District," Guller said. "John was thinking $100 so we compromised, imagine that," Guller said.

To show our resolve we both pledge to accept monetary contributions of no more than seventy-five ($75.00). Guller also pledged not to take money from PACs, unions, lobbyists, and special interest groups including the DCCC. Wallace made the same pledge but offered that he would take contributions from local and state political parties if he wins the nomination.

"This is a very serious issue. The problem and the implied implications of corruption and scandal will not go away by themselves. The candidates must set the standards and we believe we have set the standards high. As a result, our two campaigns now have the strictest campaign financing standards for any candidates in the country " Guller and Wallace jointly said.