The commission's main job is to make sure public officials are managing their campaign chests properly and aren't being secretly swayed by special interest money. It keeps track of campaign and financial disclosure forms for about 6,000 officials and more than twice that many candidates in 759 cities and counties. It also registers and monitors the spending of more than 1,000 lobbyists. The reality, though, is most of its time is spent reacting. It usually only looks into complaints made by others and only launches its own investigations after seeing television or newspaper reports of questionable activity.
Lobbyists spend far more each year to woo legislators.
The state Department of Transportation spends more on brochures. Some of that might be changing. Gov. Roy Barnes' Campaign Reform Commission recently backed off any suggestion for increasing the agency's power. But it did suggest giving it more money in the next budget. Legislators wouldn't have to reach very deep into their pockets.