Las Vegas Sun

November 26, 2009

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Letter: Campaign financing needs overhaul in Nevada races

Thursday, Jan. 30, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

Secretary of State Dean Heller stated that state laws must be changed to disallow anonymous donations through political parties. We agree.

Our analysis of the first two campaign contributions and expenses reports for the 1996 legislative races reveals that 46.2 percent of the donations are anonymous (under $500 or laundered through the parties). Who gave this money and what do they want in return?

We also agree that the bundling loopholes need to be closed. Bundling allows businessmen to use dummy corporations to skirt the limits on campaign contributions.

We strongly disagree with one part of the SUN article that stated: "The reports also disprove the political axiom that early money wins the race." The County Commission race between Christensen and Malone is an exception to that axiom but it does not disprove it.

The top 11 fund-raisers at the end of the second reporting period for Assembly races were all winners in November. In fact, out of the top 30 fund-raisers only three Assembly candidates lost. In the Senate, the only candidate who outspent her opponent and lost was Sue Lowden. So early money does indeed win races.

Paul R. Brown Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada (PLAN)

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