PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Emil Runge

July 9, 2007 (404) 668-2136 (cellular)

Cardwell Tells Perdue to Give PAC Money to Charity

Governor Should Lead By Example; Not Engage in Activity That is Not Legally Permissible

( Atlanta ) This weekend, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Governor Sonny Perdue used over three quarters of a million dollars that was donated to him for his re-election campaign to start a new political action committee. Dale Cardwell, Democratic candidate for U. S. Senate, thinks that's wrong and called on Perdue to either return the money to the contributors or give the money to charity. “In my view, PACs are the silent, behind the scenes cancer that is destroying our state and local governments. PACs have all but replaced our system of one person, one vote,” Cardwell said.

“Our state's chief executive should not be doling out cash in an attempt to win favor with other elected officials or to threaten them. The Governor should advance his agenda through open debate on the merits of his proposals, not by purchasing the support of other politicians,” Cardwell said.

Cardwell also pointed out that the money was given to Perdue for his re-election, and that using the money this way is not in keeping with the intent of the contribution. “The proper way to handle the excess funds from his campaign would be to refund them to the donors on a pro-rata basis, or to donate them to charity. For example, the Governor could donate the funds to the group homes for troubled boys, such as those established by Truett Cathy that are starving for funds and may close,” Cardwell said.

Finally, a previous ruling from the Ethics Commission suggests donating funds from their campaigns to PACs might be illegal. On April 9, 2000, The Athens Banner-Herald reported that the Ethics Commission made clear to Georgia candidates that it is illegal for them to take money given to them for campaign purposes and donate it to a PAC. “If it is illegal for a legislator to make a single donation to a PAC from campaign funds, it is clearly wrong for the Governor to take in excess of three quarters of a million dollars from his campaign and convert it to PAC use,” Cardwell said.

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Addendums include:

- Dale Cardwell Prepared Text, 7/9/2007

- Salzer, “ Perdue to use election funds for his agenda,” Atlanta Journal-Constitution , 7/7/2007

- Williams (Morris), “Slew of post-session complaints awaits Ethics Commission,” Athens Banner-Herald , 4/9/2000

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