Cheh Defens Political Donations with Constituent Service Funds
Written by on September 09, 2011, 04:50 PM
Below is what DC municipal regulations say about Councilmembers using their Constituent Service Funds. Since 2004, 9 Councilmembers have used their Constituent Service Funds to make over $5,000 in political contributions to various DC Democratic organizations.
3014.2 Citizen-service programs shall be prohibited from participating in any of the following:
(a) Promoting or opposing a political party or committee;
(b) Promoting or opposing the nomination or election of an individual to public office;
(c) Promoting or opposing any initiative, referendum or recall measure;
(d) Distributing campaign literature or paraphernalia;
(e) Using any funds for personal purposes of the elected official; and
(f) Conducting any other campaign activities covered in this Title.
Here is what Councilmember Mary Cheh said in answering uncomfortable questions about Councilmembers using their Constituent Service Funds to make political contributions to Democrat organizations on Kojo Nnamdi's Politics Hour. List to it here or read the transcript below. Never once has Councilmember Cheh or any other Councilmember cited DC law or regulation defending their political contributions to Democratic organizations with Constituent Services Funds. It's because the law they are referring to does not exist.
Time: 1:06 - 1:13
Mary Cheh: "When I asked for the $50.00 back, it's because I was uncertain about it."
(Councilmember Cheh sent a letter to the Office of Campaign Finance on September 1, 2011 stating her request for a refund was because it was "political in nature.")
Time: 1:37 - 1:45
Mary Cheh: "It's not the beneficiary of the money, it's the purpose for which the money was used, if it's used for a political purpose, then you may be talking about something..." (Public records show that political contribution by Constituent Service Funds were made to Democratic groups, not charitable causes.)
Time: 2:26 - 2:52
Mary Cheh: "If you read the limitations in the law... it talks about the purposes for which the money is being used. It doesn't say the beneficiary of the money. Therefore there was 2 things you can't do essentially. You can't spend money for political purposes and two you can't spend on yourself. Until you establish that these were spent for political purposes or for personal benefit, then your charges are irresponsible." (Public records show that political contribution by Constituent Service Funds were made to Democratic groups, not charitable causes.)
Mary Cheh: "When I asked for the $50.00 back, it's because I was uncertain about it."
(Councilmember Cheh sent a letter to the Office of Campaign Finance on September 1, 2011 stating her request for a refund was because it was "political in nature.")
Time: 1:37 - 1:45
Mary Cheh: "It's not the beneficiary of the money, it's the purpose for which the money was used, if it's used for a political purpose, then you may be talking about something..." (Public records show that political contribution by Constituent Service Funds were made to Democratic groups, not charitable causes.)
Time: 2:26 - 2:52
Mary Cheh: "If you read the limitations in the law... it talks about the purposes for which the money is being used. It doesn't say the beneficiary of the money. Therefore there was 2 things you can't do essentially. You can't spend money for political purposes and two you can't spend on yourself. Until you establish that these were spent for political purposes or for personal benefit, then your charges are irresponsible." (Public records show that political contribution by Constituent Service Funds were made to Democratic groups, not charitable causes.)
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