2008 Woodie Awards
Elections about more than hot dogs
A confederacy of dunces
Noel Runyan
Issue date: 10/15/07 Section: Opinion
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The Association of Student Government met Tuesday night to consider a number of bills, including Sen. Jacob Holloway's "Election Expenditures Reduction Act of 2007- 2.0." His bill aspired to an ideal of fairness and sanity that is too rarely seen in the political process. It was, of course, doomed to failure.
Holloway's bill contained two ASG campaign-spending limits - Executive candidates would be limited to $1,250 total with a maximum of $500 allowed in the event of a run-off. Senators would be limited to $500 in the general election and $250 in the run-off.
Now, strictly speaking, Holloway's bill did not fail. It survived the deliberation process and will actually take effect next fall. Yes, the physical body of the bill survived, but its all-important spirit was battered beyond recognition. It emerged a Frankenstein from that mad scientist's laboratory that is the ASG meeting, nothing more than the bastard child of Holloway's good intention.
The bill itself passed, but the spending limitation for ASG Executive candidates did not. We have the fine public servants on the ASG Election Committee to thank for that. I would just as soon see this bill die ignominiously after two minutes of debate than be enacted in its present, emasculated state. If you're not crying you should be laughing, because this new version of Holloway's bill is a joke.
Holloway raised several excellent points in the text of his bill. Consider the following: as of Dec. 27, 2006, the per-capita income for the state of Arkansas was $25,000. Also consider the fact that the current Executive spending cap, as the guardians of freedom and justice serving on the ASG Elections committee have preserved it, sits at $2,500.
What I wouldn't give to find someone who can justify spending ten percent of the state per-capita income on what is essentially a better-dressed version of a high school popularity contest. What a fascinating glimpse into a mind of reason that would be. Indeed, so enchanted am I by this prospect that I invite any and all members of the ASG Elections Committee to respond, in print, to my query.
Holloway's bill contained two ASG campaign-spending limits - Executive candidates would be limited to $1,250 total with a maximum of $500 allowed in the event of a run-off. Senators would be limited to $500 in the general election and $250 in the run-off.
Now, strictly speaking, Holloway's bill did not fail. It survived the deliberation process and will actually take effect next fall. Yes, the physical body of the bill survived, but its all-important spirit was battered beyond recognition. It emerged a Frankenstein from that mad scientist's laboratory that is the ASG meeting, nothing more than the bastard child of Holloway's good intention.
The bill itself passed, but the spending limitation for ASG Executive candidates did not. We have the fine public servants on the ASG Election Committee to thank for that. I would just as soon see this bill die ignominiously after two minutes of debate than be enacted in its present, emasculated state. If you're not crying you should be laughing, because this new version of Holloway's bill is a joke.
Holloway raised several excellent points in the text of his bill. Consider the following: as of Dec. 27, 2006, the per-capita income for the state of Arkansas was $25,000. Also consider the fact that the current Executive spending cap, as the guardians of freedom and justice serving on the ASG Elections committee have preserved it, sits at $2,500.
What I wouldn't give to find someone who can justify spending ten percent of the state per-capita income on what is essentially a better-dressed version of a high school popularity contest. What a fascinating glimpse into a mind of reason that would be. Indeed, so enchanted am I by this prospect that I invite any and all members of the ASG Elections Committee to respond, in print, to my query.
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