ENTENZA GIVES $300,000 TO GROUP THAT HELPED DFL HOUSE CANDIDATES

House Minority Leader Matt Entenza donated $300,000 of his own money to a major "527" political group, 21st Century Democrats, which in turn spent hundreds of thousands of dollars turning out young Democratic voters and which has contributed to the Minnesota DFL Party.

State Republican Party Chairman Ron Eibensteiner criticized that donation Thursday, suggesting that "it looks extremely suspicious" and could be a violation of campaign laws that prohibit coordination and earmarking of funds from individuals through 527s and back to campaigns.

Entenza, who led his DFL House members to a big comeback and near-takeover of the GOP majority in Tuesday's election, said the contribution is perfectly legal. The 21st Century Democrats group to which he contributed simply worked to turn out young voters and did not coordinate with or contribute to the House DFL caucus or its individual candidates, Entenza said. Source: Star Tribune, November 5, 2004

Entenza is a lying cheat. According to the 21st Century Democrats' website, their focus in Minnesota was on legislative campaigns and they helped the entire DFL slate of legislative candidates.

Entenza has no prior history of giving to this group and I find it interesting that he would suddenly give them $300,000. The House GOP should call for an investigation.