“Facing truth—Campaign Finance Law violations in Michigan House District 81"

Wisconsin Criminal Legislative Caucus Scandal- Milwaukee Post ^ | July 18, 2004 | Joe Alloway-R, Michigan House of Representative District 81

[housecandidate]

“GOP Candidates must talk truth when faced with it— “In response to Michigan Campaign Finance Law violations in Michigan House District 81

We have an obligation to our cause to determine if what we hear is factual or an outright lie. That’s exactly what I did in regard to the allegations from the Trupiano show featuring a former Michigan state employee.

This case could not have been more important to pursue, as it involved allegations of “illegal Michigan Campaign Finance law” in my District- that’s the Michigan House of Representatives District 81.

Unfortunately, each party continues to employee “at will political non-civil service” employees in our House Caucus Communications Office--- the Trupiano Show allegations focused on this issue.

Factually, both parties misuse the 40-50 person staffs in their caucus communications office and are guilty of hundreds of state ethics and campaign law violations.

[housecandidate]

“GOP Candidates must talk truth when faced with it— “In response to Michigan Campaign Finance Law violations in Michigan House District 81

I’ve had some posts resulting from my post on a piece I picked off the Tony Trupiano Radio Show—its true Tony is a “flaming liberal Bush hater”.

We have an obligation to our cause to determine if what we hear is factual or an outright lie. That’s exactly what I did in regard to the allegations from the Trupiano show featuring a former Michigan state employee.

This case could not have been more important to pursue, as it involved allegations of “illegal Michigan Campaign Finance law” in my District- that’s the Michigan House of Representatives District 81.

Now to outright deny any allegation or wrongdoing by members or our party or just dismiss them as lies is wrong.

We have an obligation to seek the truth, and if so fix what is wrong. If to the contrary, as difficult as it might be, take those leveling false allegations and prove these people wrong.

The days of “blind following the blind” in the GOP must never return because I, personally won’t stand by with honor as a member of the GOP backing or perpetuating a wrong for something which is clearly right.

Case in fact is Michigan’s passing of legislation and adopting term limits for the House and Senate of three two-year terms in the House, and two four-year terms in the Senate.

We’ve found term limits really don’t work as passed and have a legitimate need to revisit this issue again in Michigan.

Unfortunately, each party continues to employee “at will political non-civil service” employees in our House Caucus Communications Office--- the Trupiano Show allegations focused on this issue.

Factually, both parties misuse the 40-50 person staffs in their caucus communications office and are guilty of hundreds of state ethics and campaign law violations.

The problem facing us is it was we, the GOP who was caught and outed through this former staffer, Mark Powell’s allegations. Powell was the caucus political operative who had been assigned as campaign manger to an incumbent GOP member of the House.

To ignore this series of allegations with facts facing GOP leadership this is true and our actions are wrong is outright irresponsible in a state--- my district alone with a 20% jobless rate.

While Michigan faces the darkest days since the 1980s its criminal to continue for us to perpetuate an antiquated practice which threatens our GOP majority in the House of Representatives- whether this be an election year or not.

Wisconsin’s Caucus Scandal is a perfect example and clone to problems now faced here in Michigan. If we are wrong, there’s no other way than to make things right and move forward.

Allowing a handful of “at-will employees” to manage and intermingle a “partisan political campaigning machine” within the legitimate need for a communications office – just can’t be tolerated in 21st Century Michigan- and, to dismiss the fact or deny this truth will bring us down.

Electronic campaign finance reporting, computerized records and public Internet access to everything is reason enough not to be honest---

I’ve asked for change by ending this intermingling of state paid employees within partisan political campaigns. The facts are its wrong, illegal, and with service cuts to the public and education in Michigan- It’s downright immoral.

Freepers, the only reason in all of this for me is keeping us above board and without question or allegations of wrongdoing. Unfortunately, we have too many people tainted through use of these tactics in their campaigns that no one wants to bring about changing what is so blatantly wrong.

Please take a moment to review what ended in disbanding this system in Wisconsin and brought indictments to dozens of legislators and staff members.

For one, I thought we’d gone beyond the ignorance of our past--- Today, if we are wrong we must admit and fix whatever necessary to cast shadow on the GOP.

Its unfortunate through term-limits we elect people who merely exchange “their realtor lapel pin for that of a legislator’s”--- this link will help you understand through the mistakes of Wisconsin’s leadership: http://www.wisdc.org/caucusjointcomplaint.htm

Thank you- with all sincerity,

Joe Alloway