Campaign rules suggest Emmer to retire from House — or face fines
Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 12:48 pm
- 9 Comments
Rep. Tom Emmer’s gubernatorial campaign says the Delano Republican hasn’t decided yet whether he’s running for reelection in the Minnesota House of Representatives. But his campaign finance report indicates that the conservative known for fiery floor speeches may very well be retiring this year.
The Emmer for State Representative campaign gave the Tom Emmer for Governor campaign $2,200 at the end of the year, according to both campaigns’ finance reports. The only legal way one campaign can give to another campaign, according to Minnesota campaign finance law, is for that campaign to terminate within 12 months or face a hefty fine.
From the relevant statute:
A principal campaign committee that makes a contribution to another principal campaign committee must provide with the contribution a written statement of the committee’s intent to dissolve and terminate its registration within 12 months after the contribution was made. If the committee fails to dissolve and terminate its registration by that time, the board may levy a civil penalty up to four times the size of the contribution against the contributing committee.
Ben Harper, finance director for Emmer’s gubernatorial campaign, told the Minnesota Independent, “He hasn’t made that decision yet.”
But when he does make his decision public, $8,800 could be in the balance. That’s the fine for violating campaign rules should he opt to run for the House again.
Follow Andy Birkey on Twitter9 Comments
Comment posted February 10, 2010 @ 2:51 pm
Harper used to work for Michele Bachmann so he clearly is experienced in playing both sides of the ethics fence.
Comment posted February 11, 2010 @ 8:51 am
No worries for Tom Emmer. He is going to be our next governor as he is the best man for the job.
Comment posted February 11, 2010 @ 10:05 am
Good grief…who is the moron advising this guy? Anyone who has spent any time in political campaigns knows this is a fine line. Shame on whoever is in charge here.
Comment posted February 11, 2010 @ 6:19 pm
I thought Emmer keeps saying that he’s not a “career politician” and then won’t say what he’s doing. At least Seifert is letting everyone know his plan to leave.
Comment posted February 12, 2010 @ 4:55 am
Do you think Minnesotans want an insurance company lawyer as governor? NOT. Tom Emmer is doing whatever he cleverly can to get publicity. Tenther stuff, amicus brief, holding back announcements. Everything but posting his record of nothing.
Tom is an affable lumbering hockey playing lawyer and a good rollerblader (I saw him in Aitkin) but certainly not capable of providing Minnesota with what it needs as a governor. We don’t need a harsh brash lawyer. We need, and will get, Leslie Davis as our next governor. I know the votes are miniscule for me at this point but there’s a long way to go to the primary. And didn’t Jungbauer say the same thing about Pat Anderson before she quit? Sheeesh!
Leslie Davis, Republic(m)an for governor 2010. Check me out at http://www.LeslieDavis.org
Comment posted February 12, 2010 @ 6:39 am
Sue,
Representative Tom Emmer’s Campaign Chairman has paid campaign practices fines a couple of different times; it is probably paid for by the contributors to Emmer’s campaign as his Campaign Chairman’s committee paid his fines. In the case of Emmer’s Campaign Chairman you could say we as Minnesota taxpayers helped pay the fines because he was accepting public financing!
Comment posted February 12, 2010 @ 12:23 pm
Well, Tom Rees, sounds like the Emmer campaign needs an over-haul before it even gets some major steam going.
Comment posted February 23, 2010 @ 10:45 am
There’s no better candidate than Tom Emmer for governor. I’m behind him 100 percent!!!!
RSS feed for comments on this post.
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
