Newark legislator calls proposals vitally important to Delaware elections
Today, state Rep. Eric Morrison filed two bills aimed at increasing public trust and providing accountability and transparency to candidate campaign finance reporting.
House Bill 291 would build upon what Rep. Morrison calls “lingering recommendations” from a 2013 report on campaign finance written by Delaware State Supreme Court Justice E. Norman Veasy.
“While some of the 107-page report recommendations have already become law, there’s still room for enhancements and improvements,” said Rep. Eric Morrison, D-Newark. “HB 291 would make it easier to identify illegal campaign contribution activity by requiring a donor’s employer names and job titles in campaign finance reports, prevent candidates from donating prohibited contributions to charitable organizations, and require the Delaware Department of Elections to provide a telephone number and online form for reporting suspected campaign finance violations.”
House Bill 292 would require the DoE to review every political committee contribution and expense report for possible violations regarding contributions or expenses, usually resulting in error and note on the public website if the department has reviewed the report or if it is pending review.
Morrison said HB 292 would bring additional accountability to both governmental agencies and elected officials and those seeking office. If a violation is found, the bill directs the department to work with the candidate to rectify the violations. Once the violations are corrected, the department would then post on their website an amended report from the candidate or their committee.
“One of the easiest ways we can increase the public’s trust in our government is to strengthen laws surrounding the way our elections are funded,” said Sen. Russ Huxtable, D-Lewes, prime sponsor of House Bills 291 and 292. “When too many of our neighbors believe that elections can be rigged or that all politicians are bought and sold by special interests, we have the opportunity to implement laws that increase transparency and accountability by which candidates running for public office must abide.”
“Currently, no one is reviewing campaign finance reports,” added Rep. Morrison. “A candidate files with the Department of Elections and the report is automatically posted on the web. The only way to ensure there aren’t any contribution or expenditure violations is to look at everything that’s posted. Yes, the system gives flags, but those flags don’t prevent reports from being submitted.”
According to Rep. Morrison, both bills are vital to restoring public faith in the electoral process and democracy.
“This is especially important considering that in recent years, per various research groups and agencies, Delaware has annually received anywhere from a “D” to an “F” rating regarding government transparency and accountability,” Rep. Morrison said.
HB 291 and HB 292 have been assigned to the House Administration Committee for consideration.