Senate Committee Votes Down Campaign Finance Disclosure Bill

State Senator Ruben Diaz (D-Bronx) filed a “motion for committee consideration” on his bill (S.96) that would amend the Public Officers Law to require statewide elected officials, Senators and Assembly members  to link from their web site to their campaign finance reports on the State Board of Elections website, and also to list each campaign contribution (including the contributor and amount) the elected official has received in excess of $250.  Failure to do so would constitute a Class E felony.

Though praised as measure that would increase transparency, the bill did not have enough support by the members of the Senate Corporations, Authorities and Commissions Committee for approval.  Committee members expressed concern that the penalty for failure to comply — which could include jail time and would result in an elected official’s loss of their office upon conviction — was just too much for the offense.