Senate Moves Contribution Limit Increase

On the same day the legislation passed the Senate Local Government and Election Committee, the full Senate moved Senate Bill 661 all the way through final passage.

The measure, sponsored by Senate Majority Floor Leader Arlan Meekhof (R-West Olive), proposes to double the contribution limits for individuals and political action committees to candidates and caucus campaign committees. As an example, a political action committee currently cannot contribute more than $10,000 to a candidate for a State Senator in an election cycle. The legislation would serve to double that to $20,000.

The debate, over what will surely become a campaign issue in 2014, grew relatively heated at times on the Senate floor as Democrats offered multiple amendments that were ultimately defeated.

One amendment that was not defeated makes it clear in law that an expenditure only involves express advocacy for or against a candidate, when it asks voters to either vote for or against a specific candidate. This particular amendment is significant as it flies directly in the face of a proposed rule announced the same morning by Secretary of State Ruth Johnson. Secretary Johnson announced Thursday morning that she would be proposing an administrative rule to require groups funding issue ads to disclose their contributors and spending activities.

Six Republicans voted “no” with their Democratic colleagues: Senators Darwin Booher (R-Evart), Patrick Colbeck (R-Canton Township), Mike Green (R-Mayville), Goeff Hansen (R-Hart), Phil Pavlov (R-St. Claire), and John Proos (R-St. Joseph), leading to a 20-18 final tally.

posted by PAA Online , Friday, November 15, 2013 11:46 AM
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