Committee considers compromise version of PAC to PAC ban

May 09, 2008 09:40 am

— MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Members of a House-Senate conference committee are considering a compromise version of a bill to ban the transfer of campaign contributions from one political action committee to another.
But with one day remaining in the regular session it’s looking less likely the Legislature will pass the measure to restrict transfers of PAC contributions, which critics say make it easier for candidates to hide the sources of their campaign money.
Different versions of the bill passed the House and Senate in February. The conference committee has been trying to work out differences between the two versions for almost three months.
The sponsor of the original bill, Rep. Jeff McLaughlin of Guntersville, presented the conference committee Thursday with a new 31-page bill that bans PAC-to-PAC transfers. But it allows transfers from PACs to political parties, legislative caucuses and to “get out the vote” organizations like the New South Coalition and the Alabama Democratic Conference.
The compromise also adds additional reporting requirements for PACs. It allows PACs to give to political parties and caucuses, but parties and caucuses won’t be able to give the money to another PAC.
The conference committee met Thursday, but McLaughlin could not get Senate members of the committee to agree to the changes.
“I wouldn’t be comfortable signing that right now,” Sen. Wendell Mitchell, D-Luverne told McLaughlin. Mitchell expressed concern over a part of the compromise that would require PACs to pay one-half of 1 percent of their funds for the extra staff the Secretary of State’s office would need to keep up with the new reporting requirements.
McLaughlin has been pushing for a PAC-to-PAC ban for seven years. His original bill this session was three pages long, but he said he feels the 31-page compromise will still provided needed campaign reforms.
“This bill will require much more disclosure than we have now,” McLaughlin said. “This is a hard place to make real change. This would give us a net positive change.”
McLaughlin said late Thursday, there was still not an agreement but he would continue to work for one on May 19, the final day of the session.
One of the Senate committee members, Sen. Hank Sanders, D-Selma, said he thought there was still a chance the bill could pass this session.
“There are still a few things we need to work on. I hope we can come up with a compromise we will all agree on,” Sanders said.