Jeffords’s Money Game
The former Republican’s not-so-generous offer.

June 1, 2001 4:45 p.m.

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.