Most big companies are not in Utah. If they want to contribute to a candidate they like, they should be able to.
Because the federal government is too large and overreaching, various organizations are compelled to participate in elections nationwide.
Everyone would love to raise all their money from their district or state, but it's not reality. Only people who get "upset" about this issue in media and under dogs. It just isn't an issue.
Money is money; everybody has the right to contribute.
It has been a fact of life for generations in Utah politics. Attracting out of state money is a sign that you are a credible candidate who can win. We are in a new era of "independent expenditures" that is changing things in ways yet to be seen but I see this more on the national level than in Utah politics so far.
It is sad that outside money can have such a huge influence. But, until Utahns step up and take back their local races this will continue to happen.
It's just another opportunity to be hypocrites & lie to the public about the effect of money in politics
There are plenty of groups outside of Utah that represent interests that impact Utah. The US Chamber of Commerce is outside the state, but their pro-business issues affect our state, for example.
As long as there is transparency so the voters can make an informed decision about who may be influencing a candidate, then it should be ok.
Does outside money mean outside money from individual donors or from interest groups? Even money from outside groups benefits particular interests in the state of Utah. For example, there are businesses and industries in Utah whose national associations provide Rep. Matheson with money. Would it be considered outside money if the money helps to further an agenda with which local interests agree?
Outside money is just a fact of life. If the candidate fails to raise sufficient funds to define him/herself, outside money may do it for you. Bridgewater is the classic, most recent example.
It’s good for the economy--pumps money into local ad agencies, media, pollsters, etc.
I believe the time will soon come when we will have a restructuring of our whole system. There is simply too much money in politics.
We need ethical candidates who accept contributions with no string attached and who have personal values that are not compromised by a contribution. I think we do have them in 80% of the cases.
When we adopted the transparency of where the donations were coming from, I thought it would have a major impact on the voters but it has not seemed to make any difference. Voters are either not interested or don't care.
Outside money always raises questions about who the public official will be loyal to when conflicts arise about what is best for the state. Full and early disclosure is a minimum requirement to make a decision about how to vote.
Unless it is coming from an Islamic terrorist group, voters don't really care where a candidate's money comes from.
A PAC located in D.C. or somewhere else gets their money from businesses or individuals who live somewhere else or who have businesses somewhere else, etc. Follow the money farther to its source before "labeling" it.
It is a shame, but is the reality of politics today. The tea partiers are all about ideology, but they don't contribute any money to the candidates they support. If money cannot be raised locally, it demonstrates lack of interest in or little connection with local constituency.
It may muddy Utah politics but at the same time, we might as well use money from outside the state then out own. Think of it as an economic stimulus.
EVIL
It is a big problem for a fair and outside influenced campaign. Campaign financed reform is needed, but doubt any will happen
With so many campaigns competing for a limited resource, a successful candidate will probably have to turn to outside sources. That is not an inherently evil practice. Given Utah's conservatism, there are sources of outside money I would not seek or accept, such as liquor, tobacco, pro-choice. I think the source could be made an issue, but not the fact of outside money in and of itself.
I am so in favor of ethics reform and limiting campaign contributions. I doubt that it will ever happen, as the fox seems to run the hen house!
Thanks to the recent court decision -- what are we expecting? Of course, there will be outside monies coming in and in greater amounts than ever before. "All politics is local" has just become "all local politics is national" with this court decision.
If all politics are local, then it stands to reason that all political funding should be local as well. Wishful thinking, but anybody who is not a resident of a state should be allowed to contribute to an individual running for state office.
Actually, the root of the problem is the need for $$$$ in politics, no matter where it comes from. All money muddies the political process.
We need to consider public funding of campaigns. Until we do, money will buy politicians.
With the Supreme Courts decision on corporate money, it makes it easier to buy the seats. Why don't we have taxpayer-funded campaigns? This way the public would then feel that their voice is being heard. Do away with all private money. Then the playing field will be fair.
Sad that we have non Utahns are deciding our state's future. But that is the name of the game. We need public financing for our races.
Utah voters may tell pollsters that they care about out of state money, but their voting patterns suggest otherwise i.e. Orrin Hatch, Jim Matheson, etc.
Maybe on financial disclosures that outside Utah money raised must be less than inside Utah money. i.e. 60% from in state, 40% from out of state.
Won't be able to do a thing about it until we publicly finance campaigns in their entirety.
Respondents include -
Fred Adams, Stuart Adams, Jess Agraz, Jeff Alexander, Patrice Arent, Bruce Baird, Tom Barberi, Jeff Bell, Tom Berggren, Mike Bertelsen, Rob Bishop, Laura Black, Chris Bleak, Curt Bramble, Ralph Brown, Dave Buhler, Ken Bullock, Ric Cantrell, Maura Carabello, Rebecca Chavez-Houck, Lou Ann Christensen, David Clark, Peter Corroon, Lew Cramer, Richard Davis, Brad Daw, Alan Dayton, Margaret Dayton, Brad, Dee, Joseph Demma, John Dougall, Randy Dryer, Donald Dunn, Becky Edwards, Wendy Fisher, Ronald Fox, Natalie Gochnour, David Hansen, Jeff Hartley, Jeff Hatch, Lyle Hillyard, Bruce Hough, Scott Howell, Eric Jergensen, Mike Jerman, Kirk Jowers, Chris Kyler, Fred Lampropoulos, Douglas Larson, Larry Lunt, Matt Lyon, Ben McAdams, Gayle McKeachnie, JT Martin, Ethan Millard, Brett Millburn, Karen Morgan, Mike Mower, Val Oveson, Scott Parson, Jason Powers, Lauren Richards, Robin Riggs, Don Savage, Bryan Schott, Patrick Shea, Tim Sheehan, Randy Shumway, Soren Simonsen, Mike Styler, Todd Taylor, Gary Thorup, Michael Waddoups, Chuck Warren, Christine Watkins, LaVarr Webb, Todd Weiler, Ted Wilson, Carl Wimmer, Mike Winder, Thomas Wright
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