We all want to be Mr. Smith and have the chance, as the average working-class man or woman, to have our voice heard. If life were like a Frank Capra movie, Mr. Smith would go to Washington, D.C. Or the governor’s mansion. Or the state Supreme Court.
But realistically, it takes a great deal of money to finance a campaign. You have to be fluid enough to “lend” your campaign funds before you even make enough money fundraising across the state for a successful race. You need to hire a professional staff, rent office space, pay for advertising, and fund statewide trips to forums, meetings, press opportunities and events.
And with all that at your disposal, then and only then do you have that shot to become enough of a household name that you survive the primary election for the seat. And then it’s on to the general election, where there’s an even greater push for recognition of your platform, your values and beliefs, and what you’ll do in office to affect change. It’s not that money buys a seat. It just helps a whole heck of a lot to finance a successful campaign.
And that’s why Mr. Smith doesn’t go to Washington very often.
It’s not that we don’t think he should have that opportunity. It’s just disappointing that a pilot program for public campaign financing won’t likely stand up to a Supreme Court challenge.
The state’s attorney general’s office says previous court rulings — like the Citizens United that dealt with corporate contributions to campaigns — set a precedent that won’t allow the state’s pilot project to survive a challenge. It has become an issue because Republican state Supreme Court candidate Allen Loughry wants the court to grant him $140,000 in public campaign matching funds. But the U.S. Supreme Court has said these types of programs violate First Amendment rights of campaign contributors.
So, is Loughry due $144,471 in public matching funds to make up for the $494,471 that incumbent Justice Robin Davis spent through June 30? He’s already been given $350,000 at this point, and could get up to $400,000 before the Nov. 6 general election, The Charleston Gazette reports. In a perfect world, yes. But this isn’t a perfect world, and legal precedent and the state constitution may be against him at this point.
And Loughry makes an honestly good point that “there is a compelling interest for publicly financed judicial campaigns, to avoid any perception of judicial bias toward lawyers who made campaign contributions,” the Gazette reports.
There is a compelling interest, but perhaps that will take an overhaul of the system that selects justices in West Virginia and not a pilot program that’s constitutionality is being called into question.
Opinion
Pilot program for public campaign financing not likely to meet legal test
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Appropriate rationale, safety go away in face of drug addiction
The No. 1 prescribed drug among Medicare patients in West Virginia isn’t for heart disease, high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
No, it’s the very powerful narcotic hydrocodone-acetaminophen, known by brand names like Lortab, Lorcet, Dolorex and Vicodin. -
Three Rivers Festival offers chance for city to celebrate
What were you doing 34 years ago?
That was when the West Virginia Three Rivers Festival was born.
It didn’t start out as the Three Rivers Festival. It actually started over Labor Day weekend in 1980 and it was called Septemberfest. -
Seizure of AP phone records is an insult to an independent press
Distrust of government secrecy has been elevated to an exceptional level with the disclosure the Justice Department covertly examined two months of Associated Press phone records to determine who leaked details to the AP about a foiled terrorist plot.
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We change — at least a little — after each attack
How well do we remember the world as it was before 9/11?
Do we remember what airline security was like? Life before the Patriot Act? What was the school environment like before school shooting at Columbine and Sandy Hook? -
Record-breaking years for Pierpont, FSU give students strong opportunities
When people make the decision to further their education — whether they’re going to college immediately after high school or heading back to the classroom after several years of being in the workforce — there are plenty of potential obstacles to consider.
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Sound policy would give coal a chance, not erase challenges
It’s no secret that the region’s coal industry faces challenges from many sides.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration, through a report it began releasing last month, forecast that although total U.S. coal production is expected to rise after 2016, Appalachian coal will not. -
Peace Officers Memorial Day: Honoring those who keep us safe
Today, all U.S. and West Virginia state flags will be lowered to half staff in memory of the officers who died in the line of duty, making this state and this country a safer place to live, for Peace Officers Memorial Day.
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Each and every day should be Mother’s Day
Anna Jarvis, from our neighboring city of Grafton, began the tradition that on the second Sunday of May, mothers and motherhood would receive a national celebration and recognition.
From those early local beginnings, Mother’s Day has evolved and become one of the most celebrated days of the year. -
Teens need co-pilots to navigate social media
It’s tough to be the parent of a teen.
Heck, it’s tough to be the parent of a preteen. Ten is the new 15 these days. Fifteen is the new 21. Kids grow up so fast, and we have to fight them every step of the way to make sure they’re not growing up too fast. It’s a constant question of whether something is age-appropriate and the constant response of “all of my other friends are doing it.” -
Proposed bill levels playing field for local businesses
The study of economics is vast, complicated and debatable on almost every point.
There are those who are conservative in their estimates when given all factors to calculate into a model. - More Opinion Headlines
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Appropriate rationale, safety go away in face of drug addiction
