#HB 1676 relative to campaign contributions and expenditures PASSES 230 to 82 #nhhouse #nhpolitics

HB 1676-FN-A, relative to campaign contributions and expenditures.  MAJORITY:  INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE.  MINORITY:  OUGHT TO PASS WITH AMENDMENT.

Rep. William B Smith for the Majority of Election Law:  This bill establishes a pilot program of public funding for candidates for state senator, with a termination date of January 2018.  The majority feels that taxpayers should not be asked to fund candidates they don’t support, and are not convinced that public funding provides the benefits claimed of lower cost and “cleaner” elections.  Additionally, costs of start up and administration of the program are not likely to be covered without use of general funds. Vote 15-4.      

Rep. Robert J Perry for the Minority of Election Law:  In the past 14 years, no candidate for governor has won the governor’s race without raising less than $1.2 million.  In the 2002 gubernatorial race, a candidate self-funded $10.6 million.  Over $2 million has been raised in each of the last four election cycles for state Senate, an increase of 45 percent since 2000.  Average Senate campaign spending is now $80,000.00 for an essentially volunteer position.  In 2010, 7 Senate candidates self-funded $10,000.00 or more.  This means the Senate will soon have few members who can identify with most of his/her constituents.  HB 1676 would create a clean elections funding pilot program for five Senate races selected at random by the secretary of state.  Candidates qualify for the financing after collecting a requisite number of private contributions.  A fund is established and funded from various sources, none of which would, under the floor amendment; involve use of the general fund.  Participating candidates would then use monies received into the fund to finance their primary and general election campaigns.  The pilot project would sunset on January 1, 2018.  A New Hampshire clean elections program would mitigate the disparity between wealthy and non-wealthy candidates; would reduce the number of hours dedicated to dialing for dollars and the potential obligations such contributions create; allow more time for constituent services; and provide more citizen confidence that the system is working in their best interests.

The Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United, opening the floodgates to unlimited campaign spending creates urgency for campaign reform.  The minority believes the time has come for New Hampshire to move toward reform, along with the other 20 states that have.  Our representative democracy depends on it.