Dean: DNC files friend of court brief in VT over campaign finance reform.

[madfloridian]

This is baby steps to getting it done. I am sure it will crimp some styles. This is based on a law signed by Howard Dean as governor of Vermont in 1997.

http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=4463894&nav=4QcS

"Howard Dean is back in Burlington. He's telling the Vermont press, as chairman of the Democratic National Committee, he's joining a court case of national importance, a case that's rooted in Vermont.

"As DNC chairman, I very proud to do this," says Howard Dean, chairman of the Democratic National Committee. Howard Dean was Vermont's governor when he signed into a law a bill aimed at reforming how campaigns are financed.

The law was immediately challenged in court. After an eight year legal battle, the highest court in the land, the United States Supreme Court will hear the case at the of the month. The National Democratic Party thru Dean is getting behind the Vermont law.

"I think it is time that political parties stand up for real campaign finance reform," says Dean."

Tim posted this at the DNC blog, and I see that Governor Dean is getting some criticism from his party on this issue. I noticed a post here tonight from The Hill...that Dodd and Durbin are working toward public financing. Pretty much seem to go along with the other.

http://www.hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/020906/news3.html


Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean speaks at a news conference in Burlington, Vt., Monday, Feb. 6, 2006. Nine years after Dean proclaimed that 'money does buy access' in politics, he said Monday that the Democratic National Committee will back Vermont's strict campaign finance law when it is challenged later this month before the U.S. Supreme Court. (AP Photo/Toby Talbot)

[madfloridian]

1. Dean will be in ABC Good Morning America tomorrow morning at 7:00

Maybe he will discuss this then.

http://www.democrats.org/a/2006/02/open_thread_142.php

"Posted by Tim Tagaris on February 8, 2006 at 10:04 PM
Email this Print this Blog this
1.) Tune into ABC Good Morning America tomorrow morning. Governor Dean will be interviewed by Charlie Gibson at 7:00 AM.

2.) We have an exciting announcement coming tomorrow afternoon regarding the availability of a new web tool for you to use.

That said, open thread."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Also he will be on radio tomorrow night on VPR


HOWARD DEAN ON Vermont Public Radio
Thursday, 9 February 2006 at 7pm

Listen ONLINE at http://www.vpr.net/
Beneath the words "Listen Online"
is the current lineup.
Click on SWITCHBOARD

[FreedomAngel82]

2. John Kerry did it first in the Senate with Paul Wellstone in 1996

Link: http://www.thenation.com/doc/20040315/corn/3

The following year, a re-elected Kerry was in another lonely position as one of only five original sponsors of the Clean Money, Clean Elections Act, to provide for full public financing of Congressional elections. The measure would remove practically all special-interest money from House and Senate campaigns. (Kerry's colleagues were Wellstone, Leahy, John Glenn and Joe Biden--all Democrats.) "Kerry was totally into it," says Ellen Miller, former executive director of Public Campaign, a reform group pressing for the legislation. "He believes in this stuff."

In introducing the legislation, Kerry said on the Senate floor, "Special interest money is moving and dictating and governing the agenda of American politics.... If we want to regain the respect and confidence of the American people, and if we want to reconnect to them and reconnect them to our democracy, we have to get the special interest money out of politics." He was also a backer of the better-known McCain-Feingold legislation, a more modest and (some might say) problematic approach to campaign reform. But over the years he's pointed to the Clean Money, Clean Elections Act as the real reform. "It is a tough position in Congress to be for dramatic change in financing elections," says Miller. "It's gutsy to go out and say, 'Let's provide a financially leveled playing field so there is more competition for incumbents.' Kerry and Wellstone were the leaders and took a giant step. It was remarkable."

Kerry did it first in 1996.

[madfloridian]

3. Maybe if they all keep doing it every year....it will take hold some day.

Some are used to all that money flowing, and it goes against the grain with them.

[FreedomAngel82]

4. Right

Maybe Kerry and Dean should get together and put their plans together and enforce it.

[blm]

6. Resubmitting the Kerry-Wellstone bill would be great tribute to Wellstone.

.

[madfloridian]

5. One final kick for importance and to set your recorder for 7 am.

:kick:

[paineinthearse]

7. Dean will be in Massachusetts this Friday

Details in the Mass forum.