Ward’s show legislation DOA

By Dan Meisler DAILY PRESS & ARGUS 9/4/06

Just more than two months after introducing what he called a comprehensive reform of Michigan's campaign finance laws, state Rep. Chris Ward is scaling back his proposal.
The Brighton Township Republican said he is abandoning for the moment the most ambitious part of his plan — to ban the use of so-called soft money by union- or corporate-funded nonprofit groups like Moveon.org and the Swiftboat Veterans for Truth in the two months before a general election.

"I'm just not getting the support I was hoping for from some colleagues," Ward said.
But the rest of the package, which includes stricter disclosure requirements on campaign spending, has a brighter future, said Ward, who serves as House majority floor leader.
"Disclosure (reform) is broadly supported by politicians of both parties," he said. "I think that's something that can get done, and get done before this election. I want to get something done."

The latest plan is based on the so-called McCain-Feingold reforms approved in 2002.
Democrat Mike McGonegal, an industrial components salesman who is challenging Ward in the November election, said McCain-Feingold-style reforms would be a good first step. But he criticized Ward for introducing bills that never get acted on and then taking credit for trying to change the system.

"He just proposes laws that never get anywhere and passes that off as leadership," McGonegal said. "It's a start, but I don't really think Republicans have their heart into (campaign finance reform)."

When Mr. Ward proposed this legislation in late June on the second to last day of the Legislative sessions before summer break, we correctly pointed out this was nothing but something to use on the campaign stump. This proves us partially right. He used it in his slick, expensive brochure, but he hasn’t actually done any campaigning.

It’s also worth remembering how veteran journalist Jack Lessenberry called out Mr.Ward on his campaign finance reform show and tell and his close ties to special interests in the column he writes for midwestern newspapers

“State Rep. Chris Ward, a Brighton Republican, has introduced a package of bills designed to provide — ta da! — meaningful campaign finance reform!Be still, my sloshing heart. Actually, my personal blood pump never even skipped a beat once I noticed that the sponsor of these bills was Chris Ward. That is the moral equivalent of Monica Lewinsky opening a charter school of chastity. If Chris were in another occupation, he might have a mattress strapped to his back.

Turns out most of his “reforms” are actually aimed at limiting the activities of groups that favor Democrats, like labor unions. To be fair, old Chris does have a few ideas worth considering, like rules requiring more frequent reporting of where candidates get their money, and random audits of campaign committees.But mainly his “reforms “are boilerplate you-know-what, for election year consumption and fragging the Democrats.”