Norby's Campaign Finance Reform Goes Down

OC Board of Supervisors Chairman Chris Norby's proposal to junk most of TIN CUP is replace it with a system that is simple, transparent and comprehensible lost for lack of a second -- which is a shame. Everything Norby said at today's Board meeting is exactly right, and it's greatly disappointing the other supervisors didn't follow his lead.

Norby's proposal would have, among other things, raised the contribution limit to match the state's of $3,600 per person. As readers well know, I think contribution limits are inherently arbitrary (as limitations maven Shirley Grindle herself admits) and ought to be scrapped entirely, but increasing them to even $3,600 is an improvement.

So it's back to the drawing board to fashion a new campaign finance ordinance to place on the June 2008 ballot to replace a TIN CUP ordinance that is ripe for replacement. Let's hope whatever the Supes come up with will be guided by the spirit of liberty and minimal government involvement in campaigns, instead of concentrating more control of political discourse in the hands of government in some futile quest to produce the pure, untainted campaign.

In the meantime, keep on fighting the good fight, Supervisor Norby!

Comments

['92 Grad]

Not that i can agree with Norby on just about everything he proposes, he is dead on with this one. And you are right Jubal, take it further and wipe the limits out! Let our democracy actually function like one.

[Busfreak]

I was surprised the Moorby minority did not show in this virtual 4-1 vote (I know there was not an actual vote). I thought the MOORlack and NorBY vote earlier in the day on Mr. Moorlach's proposal was an area for a deal between the two. Not that it matters for anything. Kudos for Norby for putting it forward.