Bills are a-moving.
For the fourth time in recent years, the Senate is poised to pass campaign finance reform legislation.
On Wednesday, the Senate Committee on Government Operations voted 4-1 to move S.51 to the Senate floor.
The legislation states that candidates can only take political contributions from individuals, political parties and political action committees — in effect, prohibiting contributions from corporations, unions and LLCs.
The bill would also create a study group to look at and make recommendations regarding the public financing of elections.
The legislation now very closely mirrors a bill passed by the Senate last biennium, which foundered in the House, hindered by Covid-19 and opposition to banning corporate money from campaigns.
Deb Billado, chair of the Vermont Republican Party, said Wednesday that she would oppose the legislation. She said she had not perceived a problem with corporate money in Vermont politics.
Sen. Brian Collamore, R-Rutland, was the lone committee member to vote against the bill, opposing the prohibition on corporate money.
“I enjoy corporate contributions and I like them, so,” Collamore said.
Sen. Jeanette White, D-Windham, the committee’s chair, said she has also “enjoyed” corporate money.
“I have not ever turned them down. But I’m happy enough to have the corporations who want to donate to me form a PAC and do it that way,” White said. “I’m not a purist. “
Sen. Anthony Pollina, P/D-Washington, a longtime advocate for campaign finance reform, said Wednesday that he has never taken corporate money in any of his many runs for office.
“I got one in the mail one time from a local corporation, and I went across the street to where they were headquartered, and I said, ‘I don’t take corporate contributions,’ and they said, ‘Oh sorry,’” said Pollina, the committee’ vice chair.
“So they took it back and then just wrote me individual checks,” he added.
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