Inflation Hits the Georgia State Ethics Commission, Politicians to Cost $100 More next time Around

It had to happen.


In a bold move to further fortify Georgia's entrenched special interests, the State Ethics Commission has raised the admissible contribution limits for candidates in our next election cycle. I guess times are hard for our republican and democrat brothers and sisters as fundraising wailing and gnashing of teeth were common refrains from the last election. It's a grand idea because new donors are rare birds and it's a lot easier to squeeze a little more juice from one of your corporate cronies than to go to all the trouble of dangling lucrative government contracts/set asides/tax breaks for a whole new set of  "donors".


And like most things related to politics, the new price structure for purchasing your very own Governor, State Senator or Representative is actually pretty damn cheap, at least in terms of the payback most "donors" get for tossing a few large at their politician of choice.


Here's the new price sheet for buying political influence in Georgia:

M E M O R A N D U M
FROM:	Patrick N. Millsaps, Chairman
RE:	STATE ETHICS COMMISSION INCREASES CONTRIBUTION LIMITS
DATE:	December 2, 2010
The Ethics in Government Act, specifically O.C.G.A. § 21-5-41(k), directs the State Ethics Commission to raise or lower the maximum contribution limits set forth in O.C.G.A. § 21-5-41 by $100 increments based on inflation or deflation as determined by the Consumer Price Index published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor. Such limitations shall apply until they are subsequently reviewed by the Commission. On December 2, 2010, the Commission approved an increase in the maximum contribution limits as follows:
the $6,100 contribution limit has increased to $6,300; the $3,600 contribution limit has increased to $3,700; the $2,400 contribution limit has increased to $2,500; and the $1,200 contribution limit has increased to $1,300.
	Updated 12/02/2010

 
 Candidates for State-Wide Offices 
No person, corporation, political committee, or political party shall make, and no candidate or campaign committee shall receive from any such entity, contributions to any candidate for state-wide elected office which in the aggregate for an election cycle exceed:

• Six thousand three hundred dollars ($6,300.00) for a primary election
• Three thousand seven hundred dollars ($3,700.00) for a primary run-off election
• Six thousand three hundred dollars ($6,300.00) for a general election
• Three thousand seven hundred dollars ($3,700.00) for a general run-off election

 Updated 12/02/2010 Candidates for All Other Offices 
No person, corporation, political committee, or political party shall make, and no candidate or campaign committee shall receive from any such entity, contributions to any candidate for the General Assembly or public office other than state-wide elected office which in the aggregate for an election cycle exceed:

• Two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500.00) for a primary election
• One thousand three hundred dollars ($1,300.00) for a primary run-off election
• Two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500.00) for a general election
• One thousand three hundred dollars ($1,300.00) for a general run-off  election

 Updated 12/02/2010