Back in August, Governor Markell signed three pieces of legislation designed to update the state’s campaign finance regulations. These new regulations are required to be implemented by December 31, 2012. As part of the process, the new regulations were posted in November 1, and Public Hearings are set for Thursday, November 29, 2012:
You can attend any of these meetings to provide comment in person (limit is 10 minutes to comment per person) or you can provide written comments online here.
As a reminder, here is a summary of what these new bills are intended to do:
House Bill 300, the Delaware Elections Disclosure Act , which represents the first major overhaul of Delaware’s campaign finance laws in more than 20 years. It closes a loophole with campaign advertisements, requires prompt reporting of third-party spending on campaign ads and requires greater disclosure from those who spend money to influence elections. Effective January 1, 2013.
House Bill 310, increases the penalties for late filing of elections disclosure reports from $50 a month to $50 a day; and $50 a day for incomplete campaign finance reports. Effective immediately.
Senate Bill 185, requires enhanced disclosure for lobbyists regarding the issues they are lobbying, inclusive of bills, resolutions and regulations.
As always, the devil is in the details of how the regulations are written as well as in how they are implemented. Any thoughts on what can be strengthened or clarified here?