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By Anjeanette Damon (contact) 
Wednesday, March 14, 2012 | 4:05 p.m.
Shelley Berkley
Seeking to both wrest control of her own campaign message and eliminate caustic attack ads backed by often anonymous third party groups, U.S. Rep. Shelley Berkley called on her Republican opponent Sen. Dean Heller to sign a pact banning outside spending on television ads in the U.S. Senate race.
The pact mimics one signed by the major party candidates in the sharply contested Senate race in Massachusetts. Both races could determine which party controls the Senate next year.
Saying she wants to keep everyone from labor unions and the chamber of commerce to George Soros and Karl Rove out of the Nevada race, Berkley implored Heller to sign the pact.
“As secretary of state, he has spoken eloquently about the importance of full disclosure of candidates and groups, about restoring public confidence in the political process and about the legal and moral obligation of fair and honest campaigning,” Berkley said. “His passion for this issue is compelling. Let’s take a stand together.”
Heller’s camp did not respond kindly.
“Yet another sideshow in the Shelley Berkley campaign circus,” Heller’s senior advisor Mike Slanker said. “Three-quarters of her contributions come from outside of Nevada. If the congresswoman is willing to send her out-of-state money back, we are willing to discuss her pact.”
Berkley’s proposal seemed as much a campaign ploy as a sincere effort to force third-party spending from the race. She did not approach Heller about the pact prior to holding a press conference.
Yet a Democratic operative said she’s serious about keeping outside spending from polluting the race. He noted the public disgust with the onslaught of negative ads and the strategic advantage of both campaigns being able to control their own messaging.
He said the pact was carefully written so as not to antagonize Heller’s camp.
Berkley said neither candidate should allow third parties “to do their dirty work” and each should be willing to “sign their own name” to the ads that air in the race.
Under the terms of the pact, spending would be banned not just from the so-called super PACs that have played such an influential role in the presidential campaign, but also the more traditional campaign committees of state and national parties. If either candidate benefits from an attack ad funded by an outside group, that candidate would have to pay 60 percent of the ad’s cost to a charity of the other candidate’s choice. Berkley said the penalty should dissuade outside groups from spending in Nevada.
“They would actually be hurting the candidate they are trying to support,” Berkley said. “Neither Dean nor I can afford that kind of penalty.”
In 2010, outside groups spent more than $14 million in the race between U.S. Sen. Harry Reid and former Nevada Assemblywoman Sharron Angle.
Berkley noted that Democratic groups outspent the Republican organizations in that race by more than $400,000, arguing that she isn’t offering the pact as a way to gain a financial leg up in the race.
In Massachusetts, Republican Scott Brown donated $1,000 to an autism organization after a third party posted Google ads supporting his candidacy. However, whether the pact will actually succeed in keeping third parties out of such a critical race is still unclear.
In the presidential race, super PACs have spent more than $36 million on Republican presidential candidates, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Super PACs can raised unlimited amount of money from corporations, unions and individuals.
Originally, President Obama had spoken out against super PAC spending on his behalf, but ultimately he acquiesced to concerns that Democrats would be far outspent if he didn’t allow a super PAC to operate in his favor.
While Berkley said she has signed the pact, she didn’t vow to stick with it if Heller decides not to sign it, saying she would cross that bridge when she comes to it.
It’s unlikely, however, she would consider the pact valid and request Democratic groups to unilaterally disarm.
I like the idea of banning out of state money much more than Berkley's pact. In 2010 both Reid and Angle had about 95% of their funding come from out of state. In fact, according to opensecrets.org, Reid topped the list with Angle only 1 or 2 places away for out of state funds.
I think a state law banning out of state contributions would pass Constitutional muster.
What I would really want to see is a law saying that only people eligible to vote in a given race can make contributions. That would get outside money out of local races as well.
It wouldn't stop super-PACs and such, but it would sure put the brakes on candidates campaign finances.
I agree emphatically!!!
Ban away.
These ads are idiotic, (most often) factually inaccurate, out-of-context, invariably mean-spirited, and ad NOTHING to the conversation.
Please, please, please spare us!
As the law states no PAC can directly communicate with the candidate so any agreement is meaningless and unenforceable. Certainly not a good deal for Heller since he has a lot less skeletons in his closet.
It's a sad day when your plastic surgeon can't help anymore.
Berkley is like Obama, nothing but lip service. We need to stop the insanity of career politician like Berkley from padding her retirement. The longer she is in office the higher her retirement benefits. Heller is just a first term senator and has only been in Washington for two terms, Berkley will run attack ads and just state she had no control. Berkley is just making an attempt to look good now but blame others later. Berkley was fully behind Obama's failed stimulus, bailouts, healthcare reform, foreclosure, HARP, higher gas prices, unemployment and failed foreign policy. Berkley has been in office for 5 terms and has been benefiting from legislation passed over those 5 terms. She and her husband has benefited directly from Obamacare and now its time to keep her from padding her federal retirement. Do not vote for Berkley and let keep her retirement in check.
If I was Heller, although the thought is good, I wouldn't trust Berkley. She is nothing more than a schill for the failed administration. With this idea she's pandering to the voters. She will always blame others in the event that a super pac runs attack ads. She's voted for everything that has hurt this country and all this needs to be brought up in the campaign.
I agree with the ban. This looks like a smart move by Rep. Berkley.
Because she knows Sen. Heller, appointed to this Senate Seat, not elected, appointed, doesn't have a message, never had one and never will get one at all, so he would have no alternative but to say no to the proposition.
Because in the Tea/Republican Party world nowadays, that's all they got. BUY the election and make everything look like it's everyone else's fault but their own.
People need to understand we're talking about a Nevada government official who has the distinction of voting not once, BUT TWICE, for the stupid Ryan Plan that would bankrupt the elderly by giving them an inferior health plan to replace Medicare.
Not only that, but look at his overall voting record. He is not helping Nevada, he's hindering it. Typical Tea/Republican who believes in less government, but introduces all kinds of government intervention to make sure the government intervenes on every damn thing on their behalf and no one else's.
I applaud Rep. Berkley for going after him on this. And going after him hard, relentless and often. Because all indications show he would never live up to an agreement like this. Because in the Tea/Republican Party world, they place way more emphasis on money than they do people.
I still say the Nevada Tea/Republican Party blew their chance at this Senate Seat after Ensign quit. He ran with his tail between his legs, getting out while the getting was good, knowing he was going to get kicked out and/or prosecuted for corruption. Ensign is a sleaze bucket and, as far as I'm concerned, the Nevada Tea/Republican Party had their chance at this, and they blew it. Maybe Heller is blameless in this whole matter, but it's too bad. He has to face the music for his dumb political party. Enough is enough. Doesn't sound fair, but they MUST be held accountable for this Ensign debacle. And I intend to cast my vote to make sure they understand they blew it.
Rep. Berkley's got my vote. Her time in Congress has been exemplary, her votes have been timely and rational and she clearly has the best interests of Nevada in mind.
I'm sick and tired of this Tea/Republican Party extreme and radical agenda. I have no alternative but to vote all them bums out of power.
It's getting old looking at how Tea/Republicans vote all the time and then justify why they voted that way to do...nothing...not a damn thing.
We need forward momentum to fix not only Nevada, but America too.
Heller ain't it. I just hope people see this sham of a divided government is crap.
Serious buyer's remorse time. Toss him.
Miss Berkley can't you FIND SOMETHING ELSE TO DO--like expelling 13 million illegals and their kids who are bankrupting our non profits, local and state governments, school districts???? We DON'T WANT ANY MORE CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS. Just, get something EFFECTIVE done. Like mandating E-verify. If the illegals can't keep a job, many will go home. And 7 million more AMERICANS will have non-agricultural jobs that currently have illegals taking home the pay checks.
Nationally the Dim power-brokers as well as the unions are going to be very upset over this.
Shelley must be low on PAC money.
Is she rehearsing some comedy act for a Vegas lizard lounge or what?