CauseNET The Common Cause Email Alert Network http://www.commoncause.org Monday, November 27, 2000 The following statement was released to the media this evening: STATEMENT OF COMMON CAUSE PRESIDENT SCOTT HARSHBARGER ON BUSH/CHENEY TRANSITION FUND Both of the men who may be the next President should avoid turning this delicate and uncertain time in our history into yet another frenetic fundraising opportunity, where Washington lobbyists are given the access- and influence-buying opportunity of a lifetime - a kind of initial public offering on what may be the next Administration. We call on Governor Bush to reverse the policy announced today by Secretary Cheney, whereby their ticket would actually raise private money to pay for a transition into office. It's a bad idea, and one that threatens to make an already precarious situation worse. We also restate our call to Vice President Gore to set reasonable limits on - and make immediate disclosure of - the contributions that he is receiving to fund his ongoing legal efforts. This post-election fundraising by both sides is a lamentable coda to a campaign season that has broken just about every fundraising record. That the ultimate outcome of the election is still murky at this hour should not preclude either candidate from thinking about who would serve with them in a new Administration. Soon enough, we will have a President- elect and the transition can begin in earnest - a transition supported by the office space and public funds provided for by law. Secretary Cheney has cited a 1992 precedent of President- elect Clinton's use of similar private funds during his transition period into office. We remind Secretary Cheney that that is not an especially lofty standard, given the Clinton Administration's track record when it comes to money in politics. CauseNET The Common Cause Email Alert Network http://www.commoncause.org Monday, November 27, 2000 CauseNET is the Email Alert Network of Common Cause, a nationwide, nonprofit, and nonpartisan citizens� lobbying organization working for open, honest, and accountable government at the federal, state, and local levels. --- You are currently subscribed to cc-action as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe click or copy the following link into your browser http://www.commoncause.org/cgi-bin/ccause/causeunsubscribe.pl?[EMAIL PROTECTED]. DO NOT reply to this message. To change your CauseNET address, follow the unsubscribe instructions above, and re-enroll online at: http://www.commoncause.org/causenet
