 t
first glance, Sen. Jim Jeffords's plan to offer refunds to Vermonters
who contributed to his recent reelection campaign seems a generous
gesture. Jeffords did, after all, run as a Republican, only to leave
the GOP just months after he was elected to a third term, and some
of his contributors might well be angry and disappointed at his decision
to leave the party. But a close look at the finances of Jeffords's
2000 campaign suggests that his offer is not as generous or as comprehensive
as it might seem.
Through a spokesman,
Jeffords said refunds will be limited to in-state contributors who
contact his office and ask for their money back. The spokesman told
the Associated Press that Jeffords has no plans to return donations
from other sources. As it turns out, that's an important distinction.
According to
Federal Election Commission records, Jeffords raised a total of
$2,087,965 in the 2000 election cycle. Of that total, $1,112,558
came from political action committees. That money won't be refunded.
Another $156,838 came from various arms of the national Republican
party. That won't be refunded, either. Another $65,500 came from
other politicians. That won't be refunded, either.
Jeffords took
in $816,078 from individuals. But of that total, according to the
FEC records, $345,513 came from people who live outside Vermont.
Their contributions won't be refunded. In addition, Jeffords received
some contributions from people who did not list a home state. Those
won't be refunded, either. Finally, Jeffords accepted a total of
$214,656 from individual Vermonters. It is from that amount that
any refunds will come.
So of the $2,087,965
Jeffords took in, just $214,656 — a little more than one tenth of
the total — is subject to requests for refunds.
It's a situation
that's bound to leave some of his contributors unhappy. For example,
Jeffords accepted $23,719 in direct contributions from the National
Republican Senatorial Committee, none of which will be returned
under Jeffords's present offer. He also accepted $133,119 in what
are called "coordinated expenditures" from the GOP, meaning
money the party spent on his behalf. That won't be refunded, either.
Jeffords also
relied on the help of many present and former colleagues in the
Senate — all of them Republicans. For example, FEC records show
Jeffords accepted $10,000 from a political action committee associated
with Sen. Don Nickles, $10,000 from a group affiliated with Sen.
Ted Stevens, $7,000 from Sen. Thad Cochran, $5,000 from Sen. Trent
Lott, $5,000 from Sen. Richard Shelby, $5,000 from Sen. Arlen Specter,
$5,000 from Sen. Chuck Hagel, $5,000 from former Sen. Connie Mack,
$2,000 from the late Sen. Paul Coverdell, $2,000 from the late Sen.
John Chafee, $1,000 from Sen. Larry Craig, $1,000 from Sen. Orrin
Hatch, $1,000 from Sen. Jeff Sessions, and $1,000 from former Sen.
Alfonse D'Amato. Jeffords also took $1,000 from a PAC run by New
York Governor George Pataki, $1,000 from former Governor Christine
Todd Whitman of New Jersey, and $1,000 from Rep. Chris Cox of California.
None are covered by Jeffords's individuals-from-Vermont-only offer.
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