As the Legislature’s campaign finance reform working group works its way through a 28-page draft bill this morning, it came to the part about requiring those who conduct independent expenditure campaigns in Idaho in the final 16 days before a primary or general election to file disclosures, including identifying contributors who made the 10 largest donations toward the effort in the past 12 months. A question came up: What if there’s a tie for largest donation – then, which ones should be named?

House Minority Leader Mat Erpelding, D-Boise, said, “The simplest way would be if tied, all tied shall be disclosed.” That was one of three options that legislative bill drafters had offered the committee. “So you could have more than 10,” said Co-Chair Sen. Patti Anne Lodge, R-Huston. “All right?” Erpelding asked for unanimous consent to make that the rule in the proposed bill, and there was no objection.  

The proposed bill also requires reporting of funders behind electioneering communications.