Senate Committee passes leadership funds bill

Would Democrats take advantage of new legislation that would allow top lawmakers to create committees to campaign for members of their political parties? The Democratic Party of Florida says it hasn't considered the question.

"I think that what we're focused on is stopping Republican slush fiunds," said Eric Jotkoff, spokesman for the party.

The Senate Ethics and Elections Committee passed a bill this morning that enables the Senate president, House speaker and minority leaders to create Affiliated Party Committeess to campaign and fundraise for members of their political parties. The bill, SB 880, also resurrects and modifies regulations on Electioneering Communications Organizations.

The bill was touted by the Republican majority as chance to improve transparancy in elections and panned by Democratic senators on the fear of resurrecting leadership funds banned in the state for about 20 years.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. J.D. Alexander, R-Lake Wales, passed 8-3. It is identical to a bill sponsored by Rep. Seth Mckeel, R-Lakeland, which passed its first committee last week and comes before its second Wednesday.

Incoming minority leader Nan H. Rich, D-Sunrise, and other committee Democrats panned the bill as resurrecting "leadership funds" banned in the state since 1989. APCs are filed on a quarterly basis, similar to political committees, and the lag time in reporting could lead to abuse. Sen. Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa.

The bill would restore and enact new regulations on Electioneering Communications Organizations. Much of the states ECO legislation was gutted last year, when a federal judge ruled it unconstitutional.

The new law restricts ECO regulation to ads that address a specific candidate within 60 days of a general election or 30 days of a primary. It also expands the amount an ECO can expend before disclosure, from $100 to $5,000. It also adds phones and direct mail to the list of regulated ECO communications.