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NEW POLL OVERVIEW:<br />
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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Michigan Senate passed Senate Bill 661, promoted as a campaign reform bill, on a 20-18 vote in November that would double campaign contribution limits and codify existing non-disclosure rules for election-season </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">issue ads.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><br />
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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Additionally the bill also would lift a long-standing prohibition against primary spending by political party caucuses that would allow committees run by current lawmakers to back state House or Senate candidates of their choosing - including themselves or their colleagues.<br />
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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Tea party activists say that the proposed change would protect </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">establishment</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> candidates from grassroots challengers. Some are referring to the bill as the </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">incumbent protection act.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><br />
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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Party caucus committees typically rank among the biggest spenders in Michigan House and Senate general-election races. The House Republican Campaign Committee was the state</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">s largest political action committee in the 2012 election cycle, spending $2.9 million in various races, according to the Michigan Campaign Finance Network. The House Democratic Fund was second at $2.3 million.<br />
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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In previous primary elections caucuses were barred from spending&nbsp; money in primary elections when they were formed nearly two decades ago. Supporters of the bill have questioned why that was the case. <br />
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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Senate Majority leader spokesperson Amber McCann stated that Senator Richardville feels that, <br />
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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Those members currently eligible for reelection are his colleagues and he thinks they work hard to represent their constituents and they should continue to have the opportunity to again appear on the ballot,</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><br />
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noting that Richardville</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">s pledge applied to all Senate Republicans, including those who might align with the tea party.<br />
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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Democratic caucuses also would be allowed to spend in primary elections under the bill, but all 12 Senate Democrats voted against the measure, and spokesman Bob McCann said the caucus is opposed to the proposal in its entirety stating that,<br />
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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">The only people in Michigan arguing for more money in campaigns, primaries or otherwise, are the Republicans and their special interest funders,</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">.<br />
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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Six Senate Republicans also voted against the bill, which is now in the House Committee on Elections and Ethics. House Speaker Jase Bolger, is generally interested in lifting the ban on caucus spending in primaries, according to spokesperson Ari Adler, but he is willing to listen to arguments against doing so.<br />
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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Government watchdog groups have criticized the bill because it would double existing contribution limits and protect the anonymity of donors that help fund electioneering ads masquerading as issue advocacy. Supporters say the limits have not been updated since 1977 and argue that legitimate issue ads are a form of free speech that should not be impinged upon.<br />
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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Tea party leaders offered mixed opinions on the issue of ad disclosures and contribution limits and they seem to be relatively unified in its opposition to caucus spending in primaries.<br />
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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Todd Courser, who narrowly lost his 2012 bid to become Michigan GOP chairman, said the bill is offensive to tea party activists and other conservative candidates who may choose to run on the Republican ticket.<br />
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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Activists are always concerned when it looks like the establishment or party elite are moving to give themselves greater tools or power to influence the process,</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> said Courser, who has been encouraged to run for lieutenant governor or the state House but has not yet made any decisions.<br />
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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Primaries allow the base to discipline the party leadership, and now you have a situation where leadership is going to give itself the ability to take an active role in funding primary campaigns.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><br />
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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Wes Nakagiri, a tea party leader who already announced his own plans to challenge Lt. Gov. Brian Calley at next year</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">s party convention, suggested the bill could also have a chilling effect on lawmakers, who may be less inclined to oppose bills backed by their party.<br />
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NEW POLL QUESTION:<br />
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Should the legislature pass bill to double campaign contributions and allow committees to fund primary candidates?<br />
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Yes<br />
No<br />
Undecided<br />
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TO VOTE IN THIS POLL CLICK ON THIS LINK<br />
<a href="http://www.clinton-countygop.org/content/should-legislature-pass-bill-double-campaign-contributions-and-allow-committees-fund-primary">http://www.clinton-countygop.org/content/should-legislature-pass-bill-double-campaign-contributions-and-allow-committees-fund-primary</a><br />
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(To enter your comments click on </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Add new comment</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> after you vote.)<br />
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PREVIOUS POLL QUESTION:<br />
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Should the legislature pass a law that would remove a question regarding a felony conviction from the employment application?<br />
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Yes - 14%<br />
No - 81%<br />
Undecided - 5% <br />
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NO COMMENTS WERE MADE ON THIS POLL QUESTION:<br />
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