Senate Votes Out Campaign Finance Changes

The Senate Elections and Government Reform Committee reported a bill allowing the creation of independent expenditure committees and permitting these committees to make unlimited contributions to another such committee not subject to the Michigan Campaign Finance Act. This legislation passed the full chamber Wednesday and has currently been referred to the House Committee on Elections.

SB 638 was reported out of committee with a vote of 4-1 along party lines with Senate Minority Floor Leader Morris Hood III (D-Detroit) being the sole opposition. The chamber vote was 25-13, also along party lines.

A Senate Fiscal Agency analysis defines an independent expenditure committee in the bill as one that receives contributions and makes independent expenditures pursuant to the current law. An independent expenditure is defined as one by a person if the expenditure is not made in concert or cooperation with a ballot question committee or candidate, a candidate’s authorized political committee or political party committee or its agents, and is not a contribution made directly to a candidate’s authorized political or political party committee. This bill removes the February 15 campaign statement reporting date and extends the filing requirement to an independent expenditure committee.

Supporters of the bill view this as bringing Michigan up to date with current statutes set by the Department of State in court cases such as Citizens United and Austin vs. Chamber of Commerce. Those opposed view this bill as creating more loopholes to abuse existing campaign finance laws.

This bill is currently in the House Committee on Elections.

posted by PAA Online , Friday, December 11, 2015 10:12 AM
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