Miami-Dade County commissioners gave preliminary approval Tuesday to an ordinance
that would force elected officials and any candidates for elected office to disclose when they were soliciting funds for any political action committee.
Hmmm. Doesn’t that sound familiar? Am I the only one having de ja vu?
Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava, who sponsored the measure, said she got the idea while campaigning.
“I consistently heard from residents that they do not vote because they have lost trust in the political process and don’t think that their voice matters,” she said.
But who is she kidding? We’re not sure she would admit it — particularly since they share campaign consultant Christian Ulvert — but we are rather certain that Levine Cava got the inspiration for this rule from that shady Relentless For Progress PAC that collected $1.5 million from developers and contractors with business interests in the city in just a couple of months under the direction of Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine and former Commissioner Jonah Wolfson.
Read related story: Miami Beach: Levine and Wolfson on defense for shady PAC
A similar ordinance in Miami Beach — sponsored by Wolfson in a Hail Mary pass to save his rep — failed to get traction. But this law would cover electeds and candidates in both the county and all the cities inside Miami-Dade.
It does not prohibit elected officials or candidates from fundraising for political committees, whether they be
PACs or electioneering communications organizations (ECOs), which are PACs of a different name. The ordinance simply creates a new form they will have to fill out with the Elections Department if they do. On a monthly basis.
Campaign treasurers designated for all candidates will have to file an additional electronic report with elections each time they file a campaign finance report that would detail “solicitation activities on behalf of any political committee or electioneering communications organization,” according to the legislation, which gets rather specific (read: hallelujah).
“The report shall identify each contribution solicited, directly or indirectly, by the candidate, the name of the person or entity contributing the funds, the name of the political committee or electioneering communications organization on behalf of whom such funds were solicited, the amount of the contribution, and a description of the relationship between the candidate and the political committee or electioneering communications organization, if any.”
Whew. That’s a lot of disclosure. Ladra is wagging her tail.
Read related story: Ethics Commission finger waving plays important role
Same goes for electeds, who now have to file a report monthly even when they are not running for office. Bonus!
Failure to file a report will result in up to $5,000 in fines for violations found by the Commission on Ethics and Public Trust. As if they don’t have enough to do.
“Increased transparency and accountability 
has been my priority since I ran for office and this legislation is a simple, common-sense step towards a more engaged and informed Miami-Dade,” Levine Cava said in a statement. “Our entire community benefits when the relationship between citizens and our government is stronger and more participatory.”
Not everybody agreed. Commissioners Audrey Edmonson, Jose “Pepe” Diaz and Xavier Suarez voted against it. Ya think they just don’t want the extra paperwork?
Suarez told the Miami Herald he was concerned about First Amendment violations, which is silly since the state already has the same thing for state legislators and candidates and electeds are already required to disclose other things. Diaz said he was against it because he wants to raise money quietly for a group of veterans. Well, if it’s a PAC, it’s a group of veterans that support political action or candidates, so that’s not the same thing, Pepito. Also, is this the same guy who wants cameras in tow when he gives away hundreds of Thanksgiving turkeys. And since when do politicians not want to be known for raising money?
The ordinance now goes to committee in January for a full hearing and then back for a second reading at the commission, probably in February.
But can we ever really do that? Can we ever be sure that our electeds and
candidates are being transparent? After all, there are non-profits involved in campaigns now that do not have to disclose how they get their money or where they spend it.
The most recent local example is some outfit calling itself the Business Advisory Council, which has paid for two different radio commercials touting the excellent work and skills of our Mayor Carlos Gimenez. Nobody knows who they are or where that money is coming from.
Kudos to Levine Cava for a good idea and a first step. But I dare her to include non-profits in her legislation.
Or would more commissioners vote against it?
Shades of shady Miami Beach PAC in county disclosure law added by Ladra on
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