IT'S CALLED POLITICS:

Voter-outreach work had a partisan tilt: Contractors used public funds, aided Democratic causes. (Gary Delsohn and Dan Smith, September 17, 2004, Sacramento Bee)

Federally funded consultants hired by Secretary of State Kevin Shelley spent time registering voters for largely Democratic constituency groups and at partisan rallies, including one to "take back the White House," according to staff activity reports released Thursday.

Other contractors, paid thousands of dollars through federal funds from the 2002 Help America Vote Act, described outreach efforts at, among other things, the NBA All-Star week festivities, a reggae festival, a Janet Jackson "salute" and a community event on behalf of Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez, D-Los Angeles.

In several cases, consultants delivered "letters of commendation" from the Democratic secretary of state to business leaders at community events, including one to billionaire Los Angeles businessman Eli Broad, a longtime contributor to Democratic candidates. At other events, consultants distributed "My Vote Counts" buttons bearing Shelley's name.

The documents, released after a public records act request by The Bee, for the first time offer details of the activities of the outreach program - one that Congress requires be nonpartisan - overseen by Shelley.

Nothing wrong with using power to keep power. The GOP has to have sense enough not to fund its opponents.

Posted by Orrin Judd at September 17, 2004 6:19 PM