Wednesday, October 27, 1999
Legislator seeks to end '2 Percent Club'
Butler prosecutor's practice 'outrageous,' Jacobson says
BY JANICE MORSE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
John Holcomb
|
HAMILTON — A state legislator is seeking a speedy hearing on a proposed law that would stop county officeholders from accepting campaign money from their employees.
As a result of a Cincinnati Enquirer report revealing political contributions coming from employees in the Butler County prosecutor's office, Rep. Jeff Jacobson, R-Dayton, on Tuesday sent a letter to a legislative committee requesting hearings on a measure that would eliminate the so-called “2 Percent Club” in Ohio.
Mr. Jacobson in 1995 successfully pushed for a law that prohibited state-level public employees from giving money to their bosses' cam paigns, but lawmakers then refused to establish that same restriction at the county level. The contributions are legal as long as they're voluntary and unsolicited.
The Enquirer report, published Sunday, showed that most of Butler County Prosecutor John F. Holcomb's campaign war chest comes from his own employees, and that most of them give about 2 percent of their salaries to the “kitty,” either by periodic personal checks or bank account debits. Some current employees say they are glad to give, but some ex-employees said co-workers pressured them to contribute.
“I think that Mr. Holcomb's arrogance and utter disregard for the civil rights of his employees proves conclusively why this bill is necessary,” Mr. Jacobson said. “I'd like to invite him to come up and testify and ex plain to the members of the House of Representatives why this reprehensible practice should be allowed to continue.”
Mr. Holcomb, who has repeatedly referred to Mr. Jacobson as a “jackass,” said, “If he wants to know what I say, why doesn't he call me up and ask me like a man?”
When the hearings are set, Mr. Jacobson said he will be sending an invitation to Mr. Holcomb, possibly within the next two weeks.
Mr. Holcomb wouldn't say whether he would accept that invitation. However, he said he would support any legislative attempt to set limits on campaign contributions.
Mr. Jacobson called the practices in Mr. Holcomb's office “outrageous abuse.”
“I have never seen an elected official so out of touch with their moral responsibilities to the people that work for him,” Mr. Jacobson said.
Mr. Holcomb said everyone who works in his office is part of a team, and everyone knows they aren't required to contribute to the campaign fund. But when asked whether he informs employees that the giving is optional, Mr. Holcomb replied, “I don't. I guess other people on the team say something to them.”
Mr. Holcomb, however, said he was concerned that only 80 percent of his employees were contributing as of January.
“(That means) 20 percent of them think they don't have to do a damn thing except suck up that paycheck,” he said.
PREVIOUS REPORTS
Voluntary donations questioned Oct. 24, 1999
About the 2 Percent Club Oct. 24, 1999
Prosecutor defends employees' donations Oct. 26, 1999
Legislator seeks to end '2 Percent Club'
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