Random Act of Journalism

Some 8 months after the data became available, the Minneapolis Star Tribune finally gets around to an analysis of campaign spending in the 2012 election.

The article (headlined "Spending on Minnesota legislative races has doubled in 10 years") describes how much more money has poured into races for the state legislature in recent years.

Not surprisingly, they bury the lede.  Yes, lots more money is coming into these races, but in recent years, it's almost all on the Democrat/liberal/progressive side of the ledger.

Consider these two facts brought out by the Star Tribune,

"Fueled by cash from unions and wealthy Minnesotans, the Alliance poured nearly $2 million into independent expenditures in targeted legislative races last year.

"Only the DFL Party, with $3.5 million in independent spending on legislative races, spent more in 2012."

 

And,

 

"Republican interests were outgunned that year not just in [King Banaian's] district, but in most other competitive races.

 

"The Star Tribune’s analysis showed that Democratic interests outspent Republican groups in 25 of the 40 most expensive contests. In those races, Democratic groups spent $6.9 million — 20 percent more than the $5.8 million mustered by Republican groups.

 

"While money is not the only determining factor, DFLers swept to victory in 32 of those races, with Republicans winning eight."

 

As I have documented before, much of the money is coming from out-of-state sources.  Minnesotans no longer have any meaningful say in their own politics.  The culprits are not the shadowy Koch Brothers on the right, but the wealthy liberals from the two coasts.