Plan would curb ‘pay to play’

By Cameron McWhirter

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

As Atlanta campaigns approach their climax, Common Cause Georgia has launched a lobbying effort for the next City Council to pass a “no pay to play” ordinance to limit political donations from individuals and companies that do business with the city.

City Council members said they saw the group’s intentions as good but wondered whether the legislation was practical. They also said the ordinance implies that donors that do business with the city only give to get or keep business, or “pay to play.”

Bill Bozarth, the group’s executive director, said an analysis of recent campaign contributions in city races found many donations came from people and companies that did business with Atlanta.

“Who gives money, almost without question, are people with some interest in gaining favor with the city,” he said.

The proposed ordinance would be added to the city’s procurement and contracting code to prohibit anyone with a city contract from donating more than $250 per election cycle to a candidate. Currently, any individuals and companies can give up to $4,800 in an election cycle, plus another $1,200 if there is a primary run-off and $1,200 if there is a general election run-off.

Under the proposed ordinance, companies and individuals getting city contracts would have to provide affidavits agreeing to the restrictions. Bozarth said similar legislation has been passed in New Jersey and Connecticut.

Bozarth said his staff reviewed contributions this year and found such donations endemic. They even found that the six City Council incumbents running unopposed this season still received donations from companies doing business with the city.

“These are candidates who didn’t even need the money,” Bozarth said. “You especially have to ask what was the purpose of the money.”

Common Cause would need to get a council member to sponsor the ordinance. Bozarth said several candidates in the upcoming election said they would be willing to do so.

Council members reached last week said the broad idea is a good one but the proposed legislation seemed problematic. Councilwoman Felicia Moore, who is running unopposed, said she will look at the ordinance but the proposed legislation assumes elected officials vote for whatever donors want.

“I don’t vote based on somebody giving a contribution to my campaign,” she said.

Councilman C.T. Martin, also running unopposed, said there was no evidence such donations affect votes. He also said candidates have to raise money every election year because they don’t know until late in the process whether any opposition will file.