Does money win elections?

Long-time readers will remember that Keeping Stock was founded because of our opposition to Labour's odious Electoral Finance Act. Passed at the end of 2007, so that it could be in force for the entire period from 1 January 2008 until the General Election, the final vote was as follows:

A party vote was called for on the question, That the Electoral Finance Bill, the Broadcasting Amendment Bill (No 3), and the Electoral Amendment Bill be now read a third time.

Ayes 63	New Zealand Labour 49; New Zealand First 7; Green Party 6; Progressive 1.
Noes 57	New Zealand National 48; Māori Party 4; United Future 2; ACT New Zealand 2; Independent: Field.
Bills read a third time.

The EFA placed significant restrictions on electoral advertising during the regulated period in 2008, as was its intention. In the Third Reading debate, John Key said this:

This legislation today is designed for one reason alone, and that is to silence democracy, reduce participation, and put a legalised gagging order on the people that Helen Clark and her travellers do not like. There can be no other explanation for a law that will see New Zealanders spending one-third of their adult life subject to a law that is so bureaucratic, where the hoops are so bad, and that is so muddled that the Prime Minister has told people to consult a lawyer if they want to try to understand it. The Government cannot explain the legislation. What sort of democracy are we creating in this country when we are creating law so muddled that the Electoral Commission is confused by it, the Law Society is against it, former Prime Ministers have come out speaking against it, and the Minister has said the only hope for it is to apply common sense to law that has no fundamental common sense in itself?

Helen Clark does not care. She does not care for one reason: for blatant self-interest she will pass this law, because she thinks nobody will notice. According to Helen Clark, when issues get tough they are inside the beltway and nobody notices. Well, I have news for Helen Clark. Everybody has noticed, and the vast, overwhelming majority are opposed to this legislation. The only thing Helen Clark has been able to hide behind throughout this entire debate is some sinister kind of plot that is all about big money.

If there is big money involved in New Zealand politics, it is the big money of the Labour Party. These are the people who spent $50 million through Government agencies in a non - election year but nearly $70 million when an election was under control. That is the reason they no longer care about neutrality of the Public Service. You see, with Labour and an election the role of a communications manager is a political appointment. That is why Madeleine Setchell’s face did not fit. That is why Clare Curran’s face did fit. That is why Erin Leigh was defamed in this House by a Minister who used advice for which that ministry has apologised, and for which he will not. That is the reason why. And this—the audacity of this—from a party that got caught in the last election flogging $800,000! It has the audacity to lecture New Zealanders about big money.

After the 2008 election, Labour, to its credit admitted that the Electoral Finance Act was wrong, and not only voted for its repeal, but later supported replacement legislation. Electoral law reform was again largely bi-partisan, which is as it should be.

Over at Kiwiblog, David "Happy Feet" Farrar has blogged today about organisations who have registered with the Electoral Commission as promoters; check this out:

Just had a look at the Electoral Commission Register of Promoters, ie those planning to spend more than $12,000 in the general election or the referendum.

Remember how the left rail against money in politics, and those evil business groups. Well surprise surprise there is not a single business group registered as a promoter.

Goodness! Where is the Employers and Manufacturers Association? Where are all the Chambers of Commerce? Where are the export and trade people? They are nowhere to be seen.

Now there are separate lists for the electoral referendum, and for the General Election itself. The lists differ only in the inclusion of Vote for Change, the Green Party and the Campaign for MMP having registered for the referendum only. Otherwise those organisations who will be spending in excess of $12,000 are the CTU, the PSA, The NZEI, the Service and Food Workers Union, the Dairy Workers union, the National Distribution union and the New Zealand Nurses Organisation.

Now don't get us wrong; we have no problem whatsoever with trade unions campaigning at election time, provided that their members, from whom the money comes, have endorsed their plans. After all, unions exist for the sole purpose of getting the best deal for their rank-and-file members don't they?

But it does rather blunt the Left's argument that big money wins elections, when the only organisations who have registered to spend big money as third parties are organisations that traditionally support the Left.