SENATE INCREASES TRANSPARENCY IN POLITICAL FUNDRAISING

Requires Governors-elect to disclose fundraising and lobbying during transition

AUGUSTA–Today in a 20-15 vote, the Senate approved a measure to increase transparency in fundraising by a Governor-elect during his or her transition into office.

“Fundraising by elected officials should be conducted in the full light of day, including the Governor-elect,” said Senator John Tuttle, D-Sanford, the Senate Chair of the Veterans and Legal Affairs.

The measure requires a Governor-elect to create a finance committee to oversee fundraising associated with the transition and inauguration, and requires the Governor-elect to appoint a treasurer to keep records of donations to the committee and file financial disclosure statements. A donor giving more than $100 must be disclosed.

“This bill provides greater transparency, and gives the public more confidence in government,” said Senate Majority Leader Seth Goodall, D-Richmond. “This is a good-government bill. It increases transparency and it is long overdue.”

The measure also identifies communicating with a Governor-elect or the Governor-elect’s staff to influence legislation as lobbying and as such must be disclosed in reports to the Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices.

The bill, LD 1023, An Act To Provide Transparency in Fund-raising by and Lobbying of a Governor-elect, faces more votes in the House and Senate.

###