The Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee heard testimony March 16 on a bill that would repeal Nebraska\u2019s Campaign Finance Limitation Act (CFLA) and amend the Accountability and Disclosure Act.<\/p>\n
Omaha Sen. Scott Lautenbaugh said he introduced LB142 because the CFLA has not limited the influence of money on politics in Nebraska as intended.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt has been a failure of historic magnitude and should be done away with,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Instead, Lautenbaugh said, the state\u2019s current campaign finance system has fostered the growth of independent expenditure groups that influence campaigns anonymously.<\/p>\n
The CFLA limits contribution amounts that candidates can accept from nonindividual donors, Lautenbaugh said, but independent expenditure groups face virtually no limits. He said such groups often sponsor negative mailings about candidates who do not have the campaign resources to defend themselves.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe public has a right to know who is saying what,\u201d Lautenbaugh said. \u201cWe should stop limiting our ability to respond.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added that eliminating the CFLA likely would result in more money being donated to campaigns rather than anonymous independent expenditure groups, resulting in greater transparency.<\/p>\n
Jack Gould of Common Cause Nebraska testified against the bill, saying it would \u201copen the flood gates\u201d to the influence of independent committee money on campaigns. Gould said his organization would like to see greater disclosure requirements regarding who finances independent expenditure groups, but said eliminating the CFLA is not the answer.<\/p>\n
LB142 also would require disclosure of campaign expenditures and contributions over $50. The current requirement is $250.<\/p>\n
Testifying in a neutral capacity, Secretary of State John Gale said lowering the minimum dollar amount likely would not add value to the state\u2019s disclosure requirements. The disclosure requirement is meant to provide transparency regarding substantial donations, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cFifty dollars isn\u2019t a significant influence on a candidate,\u201d Gale said.<\/p>\n
The bill also would require daily electronic filing of contributions and expenditures starting voluntarily in 2012 and becoming mandatory by 2014.<\/p>\n
Frank Daley, executive director of the Accountability and Disclosure Commission, testified in a neutral capacity on the portion of the bill affecting filing requirements.<\/p>\n
While in favor of increased online filing, Daley said complying with the bill\u2019s provisions would require a one-time cost of approximately $315,000 and $10,000 per year to maintain a new system.<\/p>\n
The committee took no immediate action on the bill.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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