Ryan's war chest is practically bursting
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Click here to read Rep. Paul Ryan's campaign finance report.
JANESVILLE — The Democrats might rule in Washington, D.C., but a local Republican seems in no danger of loosing his seat in the House.
Rep. Paul Ryan issued a news release this week that effectively lays out the challenge to anyone who wants to run against him in 2010. His campaign office issued the release, saying Ryan had more than $1.28 million in his campaign treasury at the end of June.
Failure to raise anything near that kind of money has been the downfall of many a challenger since Ryan, a Republican, was first elected in 1998.
Ryan's news release claims that his bulging war chest is "due to a surge in donations from Wisconsinites" who "are supporting my efforts to stop across-the-board tax increases, runaway government spending and unsustainable borrowing."
The campaign reports that 2,620 Wisconsin residents have donated to Ryan's campaign since Jan. 1.
But the bulk of the money donated was not from Ryan's constituents in the 1st Congressional District, said Paulette Garin of Kenosha, who ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for the 1st District race in 2008.
The Democratic Party's nominee in the 2008 elections, Marge Krupp of Pleasant Prairie, had about $18,000 cash on hand at the end of March, according to the Federal Election Commission's Web site.
Krupp raised $161,179 in the 2008 election cycle, according to CampaignMoney.com.
Garin was the only other 1st District candidate listed with the Federal Election Commission, which said she had $39 on hand.
Ryan's press release boasts that Wisconsin residents account for 95 percent of his contributors over the past year and that 82 percent of his donors since the beginning of this year gave $100 or less.
Garin responded: "The real issue is how much of the money came from donors within the 1st Congressional District and what percentage of the donations came from political action committees."
A look at the dollar amounts shows Ryan represents monied interests outside his district, Garin said.
Of the money contributed for the 2010 election cycle, 40.5 percent was itemized contributions from individuals, Garin said, and only 12 percent came from within the 1st District.
If unitemized contributions are added, total contributions from the 1st District still add up to 23 percent of the total, Garin said.
Another 41.5 percent of Ryan's total 2010 donations come from "primarily Washington PAC's representing corporations and other right-leaning conservative organizations," Garin said.
"He does not represent his constituents. For six terms he has supported disastrous policies such as off-shoring, privatization and the bank bailout while his district has suffered job losses resulting in double-digit unemployment, home foreclosures, factory closings and thousands of citizens losing access to quality, affordable health care," Garin said.
Jul 17, 2009 at 7:44 p.m.
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Sorry, kiowamohican, I don't even love my own congressman. Sensenbrenner? Loves to vote on bills that benefit his investments.
Jul 17, 2009 at 9:40 a.m.
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This is just a classic case of "I hate congress...Congress is corrupt...But I love my own representative. He/she is as pure as the wind driven snow"...And hence why you rarely see an incumbent beat, barring a massive scandal (and often that won't even do it!).
Jul 17, 2009 at 5:54 a.m.
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Oh, give me a break. Garin was running against Ryan; all politicians weren't. And my not being in the 1st CD I didn't vote for either one of them. But I did vote for McCain.
The issue I speak to is political corruption, and McCain's past indicates he may have fixed it. But he was also corrupted by the money.
Jul 16, 2009 at 11:42 p.m.
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Jack, your first comments are not consistent with your second. If Ryan is bought and paid for, and all (politicians) are bought and paid for; how do you justify saying "Garin has her head screwed on right"? If you only criticized Ryan because this blog was about him why elevate Garin when this blog is not about her?
Jul 16, 2009 at 1:16 p.m.
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Great idea Mr. Lohman. Each candidate for public office, incumbent or not, should be given a fixed amount for operating their campaigns. PAC contributions should be eliminated. Special interests own our politicians and hijacked our political system. Too often the candidate with the most money wins. Term limits are not the answer but preventing politicians from becoming lobbyists would help.
Jul 16, 2009 at 11:43 a.m.
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Well, RetiredAirForce, you are absolutely correct. ALL POLITICIANS are bought and paid for, but this blog is only about Ryan. That all are corrupt doesn't excuse him for being the same.
If you reviewed my web site you will see that I target both. The Dems get their money from labor and the R's from business. Being overly lopsided on labor is just as bad as being lopsided for business.
The point is, I don't want my politician getting his money from ANY special interest, not even the ones I agree with. I want them fighting for their people and they can't be if they are corrupted by private dollars. Special interests give money for only one reason... it works! But to the detriment of constituents.
I support public funding of campaigns, and at $6 per taxpayer per year (at the federal level) it would be a bargain.
Jack Lohman
http://MoneyedPoliticians.net
Jul 16, 2009 at 11:27 a.m.
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It seems that Ryan has done his congressional duty by spending most of his time fattening his war chest. It's time to stop the special interests and give America back to the people. Impose term limits and stop lobbiest!
Jul 16, 2009 at 11:04 a.m.
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Do you have any facts to back your comments? Not saying you are wrong, but providing data to support your statement is easier for all voters to understand. This whole idea of one official is bought and paid for yet another is not talk is insidiously devoid of reality based on the actual dollars candidates receive during the campaigns.
To put this in a perspective of which candidate got what % of their money from PAC’s (as you say special interests), a quick look at campaignmoney.com or opensecrets.org reveals a slightly different picture. Baldwin received 49% of total campaign donations from PAC’s (2008 election), Kagen 62%, Kind 76%, Moore 81%, Obey 66%, Petri 84%, Ryan 57%, and Sensenbrenner 67%.
Yes I agree all are high, but how does this equate to Ryan being bought and paid for if the others are not?
Jul 16, 2009 at 10:18 a.m.
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Problem is, Ryan is bought and paid for by the special interests that fund his elections. He supports their causes, not those of the 1st CD. Garin has her head screwed on right, and it's aimed toward the citizens. Especially in health care.
Jack Lohman
http://MoneyedPoliticians.net
Jul 16, 2009 at 7:22 a.m.
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I like The way Congressman Ryan and Senator Feingold's campaign. They don't mention their opponents names in the t.v. political ads.
Jul 16, 2009 at 1:14 a.m.
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I have never voted for Mr. Ryan..but he is an effective politician whom I respect.. with this war chest he is virtually unbeatable..
Jul 16, 2009 at 12:56 a.m.
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The “news release” cited in the story is a FEC required report from the campaign. The story further investigates the monies by gathering criticisms from an unsuccessful democratic candidate (who never got past the primary election.)? What is the point of their critique?
If the author really wanted to show, beyond a single quarterly report, what campaign(s) collected money from outside district or state lines the result would have not supported the criticisms of Garin.
Looking at the past full election period, 2008, not a quarterly report, Ryan did receive 22% of funding beyond state lines. Too much? Well it might be until you look at the other congressional races (elected) within the state. Obey received 88% from beyond state lines, Baldwin 47%, Sensenbrenner 39%, Kind 36%, Moore 35%, Petri 35%, and Gard 13%.
I think criticizing campaign donations (influence) is important but so is perspective.
Jul 15, 2009 at 11:32 p.m.
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"I thought republicans were for term limits.... "
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Neither party is for term limits.
Jul 15, 2009 at 8:42 p.m.
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Huh, I thought republicans were for term limits.... Maybe that’s only if incumbent is not a republican. I guess they just sing what ever tune might get or keep 'em in office. IE:Jamie Lynn Spears parents were horrible for allowing her to get pregnant, Yet Sara,abstinence only,Palin's family is hands off! (Remember all that was said about Chelsea Clinton?) MY opinion, term limits would move ALL the power (money) from individuals to political parties (behind close doors). I’m against it, no matter who’s in office. There have been many great politicians whose belong in office. Paul Ryan is ALMOST one of them. Democrats have had no one to run against him. They’d better find someone before he takes Herb Kohl’s seat.
Jul 15, 2009 at 6:58 p.m.
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Sure hope Ryan is challenged. Been in office since '98 and who has he helped besides G.M.? Now thats not an option any longer what has he really accomplished for the rest of us? long talk,photo ops,march in parades.
Jul 15, 2009 at 6:52 p.m.
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Bad headline. Like Tammy, Herb or Russ are hurting for campaign dollars....
Jul 15, 2009 at 6:46 p.m.
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awww come o give him a break.......
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