Lawmakers reject idea of eliminating limits on campaign contributions in Idaho
After much discussion, the Idaho Legislature’s campaign finance and ethics reform work group has agreed by unanimous consent not to change the state’s current campaign contribution limits.
“What we’re trying to do here is at least get something passed,” said committee Co-Chair Rep. Fred Wood, R-Burley, “and not do what other committees for the last 30 years have done, which is to fail to produce anything. And the second that we introduce changing contribution limits, that’s a whole different political issue, you’re going to introduce all kinds of politics into it. Whereas if we leave it alone, then that issue can’t come up and bite us and can’t try and stop us from increasing transparency and tightening up reporting requirements, which is what we really want to do.”
Senate Minority Leader Michelle Stennett, D-Ketchum, said, “I think I’ve made it clear what my preference would be.” Plus, she said, with the committee contemplating expanding campaign finance reporting down to the local level, “it seems like a very conflicting message” to remove limits at the same time. “So beyond my belief that it corrupts politics to put too much money in it, I think it just sends the wrong message on transparency,” she said.
The panel also agreed by unanimous consent to use Draft 27, not the farther-reaching Draft 28 that included removing contribution limits, as its working draft as it moves forward on developing legislation. There was some discussion of dropping the distinction between the primary and general election in contribution limits, but House Minority Leader Mat Erpelding, D-Boise, said that wouldn’t increase transparency, but would do the opposite.
At the end of that discussion, Wood asked the lawmakers, “Anybody want to change anything with regards to contributions?” There was a silence; no one responded. “I take that as a ‘no,’” Wood said. “So Kristin, we’re not going to change anything with respect to contributions.” That was directed to legislative staffer Kristin Ford, who is compiling the draft legislation for the panel.
The group also agreed by a similar unanimous consent process that it favors a move to monthly campaign finance reporting – much more frequent than the current law, which specifies certain dates before and after each election.
