Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Campaign Finance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee holds S 1186 after witnesses warn donor‑reporting requirement could chill speech
Summary
The Senate State Affairs Committee voted to hold S 1186 in committee after testimony that the bill’s requirement for PACs to report contributors over $1,000 could chill donations and advantage out‑of‑state groups; the sponsor said the bill targets quid‑pro‑quo corruption and seeks greater transparency.
Senator Okuniewicz presented S 1186, which would require a political action committee to report direct or indirect contributors who provide more than $1,000; if a PAC failed to report qualifying contributors it would be prohibited from spending those funds on an election in Idaho. The sponsor cited legal limits on restricting speech and referenced the U.S. Supreme Court’s McCutcheon v. FEC opinion as a constraint on how legislatures may regulate political spending.
Committee members asked several technical questions. Senators Toews, Shippy and Adams pressed the sponsor for clarification about how the bill treated non‑profit organizations and independent expenditures; Senator Okuniewicz said the bill did not affect aggregate spending or exclude classes of contributors and that non‑profits themselves would not be required to disclose their donors, though PACs that received contributions could be subject to reporting. Secretary of State Phil McGrane said his office is working to improve tracing of donors by incorporating Federal Election Commission registration numbers, but that tracing super PAC donors remains difficult.
A range of witnesses testified in opposition, including Heather Andrews (Americans for Prosperity Idaho), Heather Lauer (People United for Privacy Foundation), Ron Nate (Idaho Freedom Foundation), Megan Schmidt (Philanthropy Roundtable), Christian Welp (Catholic Diocese of Idaho), Edward Clark (Idaho Family Policy Center), Doug Taylor (FGA Action), John Hughes (AFL‑CIO) and David Claiborne (Idaho Dairy Industry PAC). Opponents warned the reporting requirement could chill free speech and donations and could advantage well‑funded out‑of‑state organizations.
Senator Den Hartog moved to hold S 1186 in committee; Senator Adams seconded and the motion carried by voice vote. Senator Anthon requested his nay vote be recorded in the minutes. The committee retained written testimony as an attachment to the minutes.
The bill remains in committee.
