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Senate Republicans Get Unanimous Vote on Campaign Finance Reform Legislation

(JUNEAU) - Recognizing that the people of Alaska have a right to be informed about groups or individuals who try to influence the outcome of public elections, the Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 363 on Wednesday.

Sponsored by the Senate Rules Committee, SB 363 establishes guidelines individuals must follow prior to promulgating a mass message to the public, which is designed to effect the outcome of an election, whether that message is delivered by, radio, television, print ads or direct mailing.

"During the 2000 election year roughly $375,000 was spent in Alaska by people and entities trying to influence the electoral process of the state, by use of mass communication," said Sen. Gene Therriault (R-North Pole), who carried the bill for the Senate Rules Committee. "Many of these people and groups who anonymously finance these politically charged ads, actually represent out of state special interest groups. I believe the people of Alaska have a right to know who is trying to influence their voting decision process."

SB 363 addresses specifically "electioneering communications," which are communications that:

1. Directly or indirectly identifies a candidate;
2. Addresses an issue of national, state or local political importance and attributes a position on that issue to an identified candidate;
3. Occur 30 days preceding a primary or municipal election or 60 days prior to a general election.

SB 363 establishes guidelines, which must be followed when producing or running mass advertisements that qualify as "electioneering communications," as defined above.

First money for mass advertisements cannot come from prohibited entities, which include: corporations, unions or 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporations.

Secondly, all financing of "electioneering communications," as previously defined, must be reported to the Alaska Public Offices Commission and no more than 10 percent of the ad's financing can come from sources outside the state of Alaska.

Finally, funding for mass electioneering communications may not exceed current statutory limitations already in place. The law currently caps political contributions at: $5,000 per year for political parties, $1,000 a year for groups and $500 a year for individuals and non-group entities.

SB 363 now goes to the House of Representatives for their consideration and passage.

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