Return to Press Releases List

Contact:

Sean Pittman
 (305) 681-5042

TALLAHASSEE (March 17, 2000)-- At a news conference held today at the Florida Press Center, U.S. Senate candidate Willie F. Logan unveiled his campaign’s first television ad, alongside media adviser Bill Hillsman of North Woods Advertising. Citing the stranglehold of special interests, lobbyists, and "Big Money" on the federal government, Logan denounced the current political system as "corrupt" and launched his campaign’s first television ad in conjunction with filing a bill banning soft money in political campaigns.

"The biggest problem our nation faces today is the influence of big money and special interests on our federal government. It’s a national epidemic. John McCain said it best when he said ‘as long as special interests dominate campaigns, they will dominate legislation as well. Until we abolish soft money, Americans will never have a government that works as hard for them as it does for the special interest.’ Not only do I agree with Senator McCain, I think his crusade for campaign finance reform must grow and the state of Florida must join that crusade," Logan said.

"These special interests are not even restricted to U.S. citizens or companies," Logan said. "Last week, the House Appropriations Committee met to consider the Clinton Administration’s $1.2 billion aid package to the Colombian government for its supposed war on drugs. Because Colombia had hired powerful Washington lobbyists to shepherd the proposal --friends of President Clinton himself-- they not only got their $1.2 billion, but the Appropriations Committee sweetened the pot by throwing in another $500 million!" Logan exclaimed.

"Representative Majorie Turnbull and I have again this year filed a bill in the Florida legislature that will put strict limits on soft money contributions to political parties," Logan said. The bill, HB 1021, would create the "Campaign Finance Reform Act" and would clamp down on independent expenditures, eliminate unrestricted expenditures of funds for the purpose of jointly endorsing three or more candidates, prohibit expenditures in support or opposition to an elected public official without registering as a political committee, and strictly limit the flow of soft money to political campaigns.

"Those who oppose the ban on soft money and oppose efforts to overhaul our current campaign financing system are roadblocks to turning our government back to the people. HB 1021 would be the strongest measure yet to deterring special interests in Florida. Make no mistake, if we don’t significantly step up our efforts to pass this legislation, the quality and responsiveness of our government will continue to decline. Now is the time to turn things around," Logan emphasized.

However, Logan said that banning soft money in politics is merely the beginning. "I want to take this all the way to Washington and fight for public financing of all U.S. Senate campaigns, so working-class citizens are on a level playing field with big money interests. We can’t allow our government to continue to be hijacked by the highest bidder," Logan said.

"In the spirit of our bill and Senator McCain’s campaign finance reform crusade, I offer up a challenge to my opponents for the U.S. Senate. Do as I will do and renounce big money from your campaigns. Take a pledge to stop accepting special interest money, lobbyist money, and corporate money. Take a pledge to help change this corrupt political system – a system that caters to big corporations and special interests while ignoring the interests of millions of American working families and children. Send a message to Washington that we in Florida will not allow special interest money to steal our government away from serving the people anymore," Logan said.

In addition to filing HB 1021 this week, Logan said that his campaign for the U.S. Senate has made campaign finance reform an integral part of his message to the people of Florida. Joined by Bill Hillsman, president and creative director of North Woods Advertising, and the mastermind behind both Governor Jesse Ventura’s and U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone’s populist upset victories in Minnesota, Logan unveiled his campaign’s first television ad.

Entitled "Shades," the TV spot introduces candidate Logan as the one candidate in the race for U.S. Senate that will represent the people of Florida rather than be beholden to special interests. Taking a shot at both major parties, "Shades" points out the role of "Big Money" in politics and its corrupting influence on American democracy. Running as an independent, Logan speaks to a crowd from a stage in front of a projection of an oversized $1 million dollar bill. The "Big Money" backdrop and Logan’s address are reminiscent of George C. Scott’s opening monologue in the movie "Patton."

Logan said, "the first TV ad of our campaign clearly shows you how I intend to handle big money in this U.S. Senate campaign and as a United States Senator in Washington. The truth is, we have no choice but to reduce the role big money and special interests play in politics, and I am the only candidate in this race that is committed to doing it. I am the only candidate in the U.S. Senate race that will ban soft money entirely from my campaign and help return government to the people by fighting for public financing of all campaigns. For the first time, Floridians have a choice in who they send to Washington. Either keep the status quo by electing a Democrat or Republican, or help bring about real change by electing the independent, Willie Logan. The choice is yours. It’s about who you trust to fight for you and change the system."

As a symbolic protest against the insidious effects of big money, the commercial shows Logan putting on a pair of sunglasses to protect him against the "blinding influence of big money." Logan also announced that his campaign has a limited number of "Think Independent" sunglasses available for supporters by contacting the campaign. "Soon, we hope everyone in Florida will show their support for this measure by wearing their shades," Logan said. For more information on Independent candidate Willie Logan and his campaign for Florida’s U.S. Senate seat, visit the campaign’s website at www.logan2000.org or call the campaign at (305) 681-5042.