Panels to OK
campaign reform

The Senate bill bans political
contributions from corporations
and labor unions

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By Crystal Kua
ckua@starbulletin.com

A campaign spending reform measure that limits political contributions is expected to move out of three Senate committees today but with changes.

The Judiciary; Tourism and Intergovernmental Affairs; and Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations committees heard House Bill 2844, which prohibits direct contributions from corporations and labor unions and forbids anyone with a state or county contract from making a campaign contribution.

"Clearly, this is an area that needs to be addressed," Campaign Spending Commission Executive Director Robert Watada told the committees. "We see a tremendous amount of abuse in this area."

But committee chairmen have stripped the bill of its content and replaced it with language similar to what the committees passed in Senate Bill 2431 during the first half of the session -- legislation seen by some as not as strong as the House bill. The change will likely send the issue back to conference committee.

The committees are scheduled to vote on the bill today.

In answer to a question, Watada told senators that the House bill would prevent a case such as the one reported yesterday by the Star-Bulletin in which an engineering firm is under investigation by the commission for allegedly funneling thousands of dollars in political donations through a slush fund.

"We're not talking campaign contributions," Watada said. "We're talking about a system which allows for ... people making contributions trying to buy influence."

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