Campaign finance bills filed in the Florida House and Senate for the legislative session that begins Tuesday signal that Florida lawmakers are poised to increase campaign-contribution limits for statewide candidates. Political consultants for candidates in both parties agree limits should rise, but by how much? There might be disagreement on that count.
HB 569, a priority of House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, raises the limit for gubernatorial candidates and for those running for Florida Cabinet positions to $10,000. Meanwhile, moving through the Senate will be SB 1382 -- spearheaded by Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater. Latvala's bill sets a more modest limit of $3,000. Under current law, candidates are limited to $500, a Lawton Chiles-era limit.
Randy Nielsen, a South Florida-based Republican strategist, said times change and so should the law. "A change from the current $500 limit is long overdue," he said. "In the 20 years since the $500 limit was established, statewide candidates have faced huge increases in the cost of TV and overall campaigns."
Nielsen explained, "Higher reasonable limits free up candidates from the constant grind of fundraising and give them more time to engage with real voters."
But Steve Vancore, consultant for Democratic candidates and co-host of the North Florida political talk show "Usual Suspects," said the House's $10,000 limit is too high. "It takes so much to raise seven figures at $500 a pop," he said. "You're forcing the system to move into soft money." Vancore believes the federal limits are more reasonable. "If a U.S. congressman can fund his campaign with a $2,500 limit, then local candidates can, too."
The House Ethics and Elections Subcommittee has already voted in favor of the proposal, sponsored by Rob Schenck, R-Spring Hill, which raises limits and eliminates Committees of Continuous Existence (CCEs). Only two committee members, both Democrats, voted against it Rep. Janet Cruz, of Tampa, and Rep. Alan Williams, of Tallahassee. In a show of good faith, Weatherford retired his Committee for a Conservative House CCE in January.
The House Appropriations Committee has also approved the measure, on a 15-10 party-line vote. Democrats complained a provision that allows candidates running for re-election to the same seat to carry over $100,000 from the prior campaign account amounts to incumbent protection.
Tallahassee-based Democratic strategist Screven Watson said CCEs used to have a legitimate purpose. They were set up to do something -- "recruit more conservative Democrats is one I remember. But now," he said, "instead of being an actual committee, they're one person who acts like a committee."
Latvala, he said, wants to structurally change CCEs so they survive, but he wants them the way they were intended: "I applaud that."
"Democrats and Republicans alike abused the process," Watson opined. "It should never have been used to fly people to Chicago or run up bar tabs."
While Latvala, chairman of the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee, wants the more modest bump in contribution limits, he is not convinced CCEs, which have been around half a century, need to go entirely. He believes steps should be taken to clean them up rather than eliminate them altogether. Latvalas bill, filed on Thursday, has not been taken up by any committees.
While the amount of money donated to campaigns could be the same, supporters of the legislation contend there would be more transparency as to where the money originates. Rep. Steve Precourt, R-Orlando, has blasted Democrats for their opposition to free speech. The House Majority leader also was quick to point out that the Supreme Court, with its Citizens United ruling, already defined political donations to be a vehicle of free speech.
Rounding out the changes, the House bill also includes a provision requiring more frequent reporting by Electioneering Communications Organizations (ECOs).
Reach Nancy Smith at nsmith@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
