Thread: Political action committee helps students with costs

Political action committee helps students with costs
By ERIN CRAWFORD • REGISTER STAFF WRITER • January 3, 2008

About 150 students will receive an average of $150 to $200 to be used for gas money, hotel rooms or airline tickets from the Young Voter PAC, an organization founded in 2005 by a coalition of party insiders and aligned with groups such as Young Democrats of America.


"We basically sent e-mails saying, 'If you need a ride or a room, download this form and submit it,' " said the group's executive director, Jane Fleming Kleeb.

The group is spending $50,000 in Iowa, but some of it was spent in promotional ways to encourage young adults to caucus. Among the strategies: traditional and Web advertising, alerting students to the available money with text messaging, and use of the social networking site Facebook.

The group set a goal of assisting 75 students, but received about 150 requests for reimbursements.

Though Young Voter's goal is to increase the number of 18- to 35-year-olds voting, the group is targeting Iowa college students.

"Because of the caucus date being moved up during winter break, we knew a majority (of college students) might go to a parent's house or friend's house - and college students are on a tight budget, so we had to help them get back," Kleeb said.

Many Iowa schools have created temporary accommodations for returning students. Drake University and Grinnell College will open gyms for students who need a warm place to lay their sleeping bags after caucusing.

The largest number of students receiving aid attend Grinnell College. The Grinnell ward where most students vote attracts such a large turnout that it's one of the most delegate-rich caucuses in the state, said Alec Schierenbeck, president of College & Young Democrats of Iowa and a Grinnell student.

Grinnell student Julieta Garcia, 19, of Crown Point, Ind., drove back to the state Wednesday, carpooling with three other students. She expects to be reimbursed about $30 for gas expenses.

"I have a Honda Civic, so it's good for gas," she said, adding that she would have returned regardless to caucus for Sen. Barack Obama.

"I'm really excited," she said. "It's my first opportunity (to caucus) and I want to take advantage."

Schierenbeck said the cost of returning for a few days would be prohibitive for some students.

He paid $300 for an airline ticket to return from Brooklyn, N.Y., to Iowa.

"Some people criticize out-of-state students' right to caucus," he said. "The law is clear.

"I live here. I pay taxes here. I'm affected by Iowa's laws while I live here. And I really feel like I'm a member of the community. ... And I think some people have set up a double standard while criticizing student participation. I haven't heard anyone questioning snowbirds (who live outside of the state for part of the year) or those who've recently moved to Iowa for work. Have they lived here long enough to caucus?"

Schierenbeck said some in-state students are taking advantage of the reimbursements to return from their hometown to their campus town.

Reporter Erin Crawford can be reached at (515) 284-8438 or ecrawford@dmreg.com

Is this legal? This is a cacus but isn't it 'buying votes'?

Linked it to Democrats but thats about it.

http://www.youngvoterpac.org/board.php

Fences make good neighbors.