Shays says He Scored Big in Bush Trip
By Justin Hill
WASHINGTON, April 10–Despite not benefiting from President Bush’s $1 million fundraising trip to Connecticut Tuesday, Rep. Christopher Shays, R-4th, said yesterday he got his “wish” when the president visited Shays’ hometown of Bridgeport to talk about national service.
The president came to the Constitution State for two fundraising events in Greenwich, one of the nation’s wealthiest communities. One event was for the Connecticut GOP and the other for Reps. Nancy Johnson, R-6th, and Rob Simmons, R-2nd, who are facing very tough reelection battles.
Shays received no money from the events although they were held in his district, but said it didn’t bother him.
“Believe it or not, I’m a really good Republican. I am. I’m a very good Republican, and I’m out there raising money,” said Shays, acknowledging that he was not in a “targeted race” and realized that some of his colleagues needed more cash for their campaigns. “I’m out there trying to help.”
Shays was the principal sponsor of the campaign finance reform bill passed by Congress last month over the strong objections of many Republicans including the House and Senate GOP leadership. But Shays said he wasn’t disappointed that the presidential visit didn’t enrich his campaign warchest.
“What did I get out of this? I got the president of the United States coming to talk about national serviceá. This is my legislation,” Shays said. “I got my wish in getting him all the way to Bridgeport” in addition to the Greenwich events.
“I was asked if I felt I should be a part of [the fundraiser]. And I said, you give me the policy stuff, and I’ll raise the money,” he added.
But a spokesman for the president pointed out that Bush has continually spoken for and supported national service legislation, and this week in more than one event he focused on volunteerism. The president, who announced plans for the USA Freedom Corps in his State of the Union speech earlier this year, staged two events this week touting national service-in Knoxville, Ky., and Bridgeport.
“He talks about it frequently,” said spokesman Ken Lisaius.
In a meeting last year, Shays and Reps. Peter Hoekstra, R-Mich., and Tim Roemer, D-Ind., told the board of directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service that they would work to reappropriate funds for the organization, which administers AmeriCorps and the Senior Corps. Shays introduced a bill in June 2000 to reauthorize the programs, which was killed in committee. He also unsuccessfully introduced a bill in 1993 making it mandatory for citizens to complete a term of community service.
Simmons and Johnson are in extremely tight races. Simmons, a freshman, is in a race that the nonpartisan Cook Political Report lists as a “tossup.” Because of congressional redistricting, Johnson is vying for a seat in the newly formed 5th District against Democratic Rep. Jim Maloney, who holds the seat in the current 5th District. The Cook Political Report describes that contest as “one of the most hotly fought congressional races in the country this fall.”
The fundraisers in Greenwich will help fill the coffers of the Republicans, who hold huge financial advantages over their opponents, according to documents filed with the Federal Election Commission. As of Dec. 31, Johnson had $1 million more in her campaign account than Maloney. She had $1.3 million on hand at year’s end, while the Danbury Democrat had only $295,613, according to filings with the FEC.
Simmons also holds a substantial edge over his potential Democratic challengers. He had $720,274 on hand on Dec. 31, compared with potential Democratic challengers Joseph Courtney’s $121,785, Jeff Benedict’s $24,196 and Steven Spellman’s $5,230 had on hand.
Shays also enjoys a comfortable fundraising advantage over his Democratic challenger Stephanie Sanchez, whom he defeated in the 2000 election by 58-41 percent. According to the FEC filings, he had $109,763 on hand at the end of last year, compared with Sanchez who reported raising $2100 but after her campaign operating expenditures had a deficit of $651.
Shays may not have had the president raise money for him, but he did get the perk of traveling with Bush aboard Air Force One for the trip to Connecticut . “I love it,” Shays said. “I’d even be willing to be a flight attendant” on the president’s plane.
Published in The Hour, in Norwalk, Conn.
