Major increase in max contribution envisioned
A tiered system of campaign finance limits with a $10,000 maximum contribution is envisioned in legislation the state Senate Ethics and Elections Subcommittee will take up on Monday. Contributors to candidates for governor could give up to $10,000 under the legislation (SB 1690) sponsored by Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla. Currently, the limit is $500 per election. The proposal would also allow for contributions up to $5,000 for candidates in other statewide races, and a $2,500 max for House and Senate candidates. The Ethics sub meets Monday at 9 a.m. It also will consider another bill (SB 1504) that is a high priority for House Republicans because it would allow a second chance for legislators to get a measure before voters if the Supreme Court doesn’t like the ballot language. Republicans have been thwarted in efforts to get proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot by the courts – this would allow them to try again.