The votes sure seem to follow the money. 

I don’t believe that anyone in the process said, “We’ll only contribute if you agree to support the voucher bill” or “We contributed to your campaign you have to support the voucher bill.”  I think the influence of money is subtler – it buys access, preferential treatment when you’re on the Hill during the session, and a greater perception of credibility with many legislators.

As I’ve been digging through the candidate’s financial disclosure reports, one name came up repeatedly – Parents For Choice In Education (PCE).  This pro voucher group (which received almost half its funding from an out of state group funded by anti-public education DeVos family , founders of Amway) gave with amazing generosity to a number of candidates.  On HB 148 – the school voucher bill – I wondered how did Legislators who received contributions from PCE vote on the voucher the bill?

The House.

The “yeas” first.

HB148 – the voucher bill – was sponsored by Stephen Urquhart who received $3000 in campaign contributions from PCE.  It passed by one vote in the House.

Andersen – $2000, Barrus – $250, Buxton – 0, Clark, D – $2500, Clark, S – $250, Daw, $500, Dee – 0, Donnelson – $300, Dougall – $250, Draxler – 0, Fowlke – 0, Frank – $500, Froere – 0, Garn – 0, Gibson – 0 , Grover – 0, Harper $250, Herrod – 0, Hughes – $1055.37, Hutchings – $500, Kiser – $250, Last – 0, Lockhard – $500, Morley -0, Neuenschwander – 0, Newbold – 0, Noel – 0, Oda – $1500, Painter – 0, Sandstrom – 0, Sumison – 0, Tilton – $1000, Urquhart – $3000, Walker –  $1706.97, Wheeler – $1,000, Wimmer $4,976.64, Wyatt – 0, Greg Curtis – $2931.57.  (Just under $25,000.)

The ”nays”:

Aagard – 0, Allen – 0, Becker – 0, Bigelow – 0, Bird – 0, Biskupski – 0, Bowman – 0, Brown – $1000, Cosgrove – 0, Duckworth – 0, Dunnigan – 0, Ferry – 0, Fisher, Janice - 0, Fisher, Julie – 0, Gowans – 0, Hansen - 0, Hemingway – 0, Hendrickson – 0, Holdaway – 0, Hunsaker – 0, Johnson – 0, King – 0, Litvack – 0, Mascaro – 0, Mathis – 0, McGee – 0, McIff – 0, Menlove – 0, Morgan – 0, Moss – 0, Ray – 0, Riesen – 0, Seelig – 0, Shurtliff – 0, Snow, G - 0, Wheatley – 0, Wiley – 0. ($1000 total.)

The Senate.  For the Senate, the members who were up for election in 2006 are in italics – members not up for election in 2006 would not necessarily have been fundraising in 2006, though they might have received some contributions (unlike Representatives, Senators serve 4 year terms are elected every other election – 2000, 2004, 2008).

The “yeas” first.

Senate Floor sponsor was Bramble who received $1000 – even though he wasn’t up for re-election.

Bell – 0, Bramble – $1000, Buttars – 0, Christensen – 0, Dayton – 0, Eastman – $1000, Hickman – 0, Hillyard – 0, Jenkins – 0, Killpack - $1000, Knudson - $1000, Madsen – 0, Niederhauser - $2609.62, Peterson - $500, Stephenson – $1383.66, Stowell - 0, Waddoups – 0, Walker – 0, Valentine – $3000. ($11493.28.)

Nays

Davis – 0, Dmitrich – 0, Fife – 0, Goodfellow - 0, Greiner – 0, Jones - 0, Mayne - 0, McCoy - 0, Romero – 0, Van Tassell – 0. ($0.)

I’ll let you draw your own conclusions.