Campaign Finance Proposal by Terri Lynn Land

Secretary of State Terri Land has a comprehensive campaign finance reform plan.

Land’s proposals include:

Requiring real-time online reporting of all contributions, receipts, expenditures and disbursements by every committee filing with the state.

Prohibiting committees from spending contributed funds until the information is posted on the Department of State Web site. As Land says, "Don’t spend a dime until it’s posted online!" The department’s Web site will be redesigned so that citizens can immediately view each committee’s recent transactions and current cash balance, similar to an electronic checkbook register.

I have no problem with that, but unless local races are now covered at the state level by MERTS, this will be a major pain in the arse. I really do not want to have to go to the Clerk's office every time I have a transaction. That's my only objection. That said, I certainly support this in principle. Currently, we only see part of the transactions, and only three to five times a year. January, Pre-primary, post primary, pre-general, and post general election statements. That's not good enough. I need to know what the opponents are doing.

Requiring committees to provide their unique identification number with each contribution made to a candidate committee or another committee. That helps regulators and the public better track contributions.

I'm not sure what this changes offhand. Mertz requires this now.

Requiring that the sponsors and financing sources of "issue" ads be reported.

I have no problem there as long as ads themselves are not restricted 30/60 days before like Mr McCain insists on.

Eliminating confusion by having all Political Action Committees (PACs) file with the Department of State. Some PACs currently register with county clerks.

This affects me, but I have no problem with that. All it changes is who sees them.

Keeping campaign finance laws current by requiring all new political communication mediums – such as the Internet and robotic phone calls – to carry a disclaimer that identifies who is paying for the message.

I hate those robocalls. As for internet, I need to see the specifics first, but I don't think it should be touched.

Closing a special allowance in current law that permits candidates to transfer money raised for their current office to a new committee created for seeking a higher office. Land wants to prohibit those transfers, usually made by incumbents, and require candidates to deposit money raised for their next campaign into a committee formed solely for that purpose.

I support this 100%, but good luck getting this passed.

Providing the Department of State with audit authority and subpoena powers so that it can ensure proper reporting and bring necessary data to compliance hearings. An effective compliance process needs the basic tools to do the job.

I have no problem with that.

The details are here.

I need to see everything in final form, but currently support this as long as the proposals are the same in their final form as they are here. I do get my guard up at anything internet related in regulation. That's my only concern.