PAC to PAC Ban Passed (For What It’s Worth)

Tuesday marked a milestone for the Alabama Senate as the PAC-to-PAC Transfer Ban bill was finally passed. There were many much neeeded amendments that failed. I presented an amendment that would require political parties and caucuses to file 40 to 50 day and 10 to 5 day disclosure reports prior to the election as required by all candidates for office. Like most other attempts to improve the bill, my amendment was tabled.

Representative Jeff McLaughlin (D-Guntersville) was on the Senate floor observing Republican attempts to seal the loopholes and shortcomings that had evolved since his version passed the House. As I introduced my amendment, I urged members of the majority to accept Republican amendments which would produce a true bipartisan reform bill. The citizens of Alabama expect their legislators to work together for the good of the state. The House members have excelled on this issue for six straight years. Now it is time for the Senate to do likewise.

The differences between the House and Senate versions will be hashed out in an upcoming conference committee meeting. Hopefully the compromises will result in a bill that will finally require financial transparency in our elections. We shall see.