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Show r The Salt Lake Tribune, Sunday, November Unspent Campaign Funds: Whats the Answer for Solons? By Keith B j Dalecki Congressional Quarterly Whe WASHINGTON Rep. John H Dent. retired from Congre&s two years ago he was I , . 4... l. mu nA wrtmiw, V. Xiiil w uu w.ui it.ra ...UW $44,033 in unspent campaign funds. He solved the problem by putting th money in his pocket. This year, eomaft the 25 retiring House members face a similarjjdemma. According to reports on file with the peiferal Election Commission (FECI, the retiregmust decide what to do with almost $250,000 ' In surplus campaign money. Dents case is not unique, but it is not typical either. Some retiring members have very small campaign war chests One, Rep. Charles A. Vanik, has none at all. Vanik says he decided to retire this year rather than fight a battle that would have forced him to seek campaign contributions. Some members, Like Rep. James C. Cleveland, have donated what modest amounts they had to party campaign organizations. More Than $42,000 But others, like Rep. John W. Wydler. R-- Y havent said what theyll do with thousands of dollars in Wydlers case more than $42,000. Few issues are as sensitive to most congressmen as their campaign money, the grease that help slide them into office and often makes life easier once they get there. Sizable campaign war chests can frighten off potential challengers. A few members write off as campaign expenses rented cars, district expense, constituent entertainment," and even their own birthday parties. Until 1976, retiring members also could lay claim to money left in their congressional accounts used to buy stationery. Rep. H R. Gross, widely heralded as a watchdog of the Treasury, pocketed $23,611 from his stationery account when he retired in a, 1974 Go Further Both House mid Senate rules prohibit members from making personal use of campaign funds. Senate rules traditionally have gone even further, barring members from pocketing campaign funds after they retire. Last year Congress approved legislation prohibiting anyone from converting campaign funds to their personal use. But the law included a loophole that had the effect of exempting the 434 members of the House as of Jan. 8, 1980, from that prohibition. and William H. Reps. Andy Jacobs Jr., are trying to close that grandRoyer, fathered loophole. Jacobs is confident they will succeed in the ,next Congress by proposing an amendment to whatever campaign legislation goes to the House floor. It will pass with ease," Jacobs predicts. "The case for it is so obvious. Weve already made the moral judgment that its wrong to make personal REVENUES REDUCTION IN EDUCATIONAL COULD CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGE UTAH'S PUBLIC TO SCHOOLS, including CUT BACKS CURRICULUM (Gifted $ Talented) OF FACILITIES DETERIORATION FEWER Athletics) (Music Speech INCREASED VANDALISM Don't shortchange any youngster's education Today s students are tomorrow s leaders. VOTE V 4 musiqt from IOPE (Helping ne u ft jam; ilmns lor Public Education) aw mmi Oarld J Long Chairman Or penman BUY FROM US WE ARE THE MANUFACTURER & SAVE. COME GUARANTEE. PLETE IN COMPARE AND INSTALLATION TO YOUR WE SATISFACTION. DO OUR OUR COM- OWN FINANCING. -B- ASKETBALL STANDARDS Heavy Duty commercial basketball poles are quality thickness and range to 4V in diameter Largest selection in Utah m wall from 3 The heavy duty fiber g'ass backboard is free from all boll obstructions for accu rate ball rebounding Additional backboard selections include mason de hardboard and steel Adjustable Poles Available AND UP PLAN ?5o down holds orders til Christmas & reserves the pole & backboard of your CHRISTMAS i LAY-AWA- Y bun p penman 5 MON 205 West 1700 South i thru fRI 487-829- 1 SAT 9 2 use of campaign funds If Jacobs is correct, this will be the last year retiring congressmen will be able to cash m on campaign contributions TVta fata of 1vffmar C9rrirk?i?rTl is fS Hivar as the House membership Here are examples of members already have done what current lame-duc- k with excess funds$110,000 to College , donated $110,000 Rep Richard H. Ichord, to Southwest Baptist College in Boliv ar, Mo Ichord, a Baptist, agreed to help the the college establish an economics study center An aide said he may eventually lecture at the college. o Va , had almost Rep. Harley O Staggers, $70,000 in his campaign fund when he decided to retire. Although he transferred $3,500 to help his son in his unsuccessful campaign to succeed him. Staggers returned virtually all of the rest to the D-- individuals and political action committees tnat contributed to his campaign . started giving Rep Morgan F. Murphy, away his campaign war chest even before announcing plans to retire Beneficiaries included Catholic chanties, a hospital building fund and the campaign funds of Ctucago Democrats He still had $18,000 left at midyear. . and Tim Lee Reps James P Johnson, D-I- Carter, R Ky has a tough , $1,000 to a colleague who Rep Paul Findley, R 111 each gave Losing Campaign William H Harsha. a retiring Ohio ga.i $7.30 L Lis tiivi.--, money U a Democrat, Rep Dawson Mathis, for Mathis losing primary campaign against Sen Herman E. of Georgia used campaign Rep Bob Wilson, money to entertain constituents He spent $9,443 for "office expenses, official and constituent entertainment" in the five months following his January retirement announcement (Copyright) Rep Tal-mad- . 2, 1980 F 5 Jobless Rate Tails in Flint - The DETROIT (AP) unemployment rate in Flint, whose auto industry cutbacks have given it one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation, has declined to 17 4 percent, the state officials said Friday The September rate, lowered by auto industry callbacks, was down from 20 7 percent the previous month, the com mission said |
