May 12, 2012 12:35 AM UTC

Candidates and Campaign Loans

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• by: JimW

Campaign Loans – an Ethics Conflict?

As you look through the various campaign and campaign committee filings, one thing stands out. The number of candidates who are making loans to their campaigns as opposed to simply direct contributions. This essentialy guarantees that the candidate will raise money and repay themselves with an appropriate rate of interest. The campaign then becomes less of a matter of doing it in the public interest and more of an investment with a guaranteed rate of return. Think of it as a short term CD without the bank’s insurance. If you truly believe what you are doing is right then do it without the expectation of public payback.