CAMPAIGN FINANCING BILL MOVING AHEAD

(02/14/2007)

Legislation to create public financing for legislative campaigns in West Virginia has been recommended by the Senate Judiciary Committee. The plan is widely supported by groups who argue that special interest money, more often than not, determines who gets elected and how votes are cast. Some legislative candidates raise well over $200,000 for their campaigns for a $15,000 position. The bill (SB118) allows candidates to voluntarily receive public funding to run their campaigns and is based on laws in Maine and Arizona. Candidates would have to pledge to not spend their own or outside special-interest money and start by raising "seed money" from a large number of people to qualify for public financing. State Treasurer John Perdue has pledged $1 million from the state's Unclaimed Property Division for the fund and state residents would be able to donate $3 to the cause through an income tax check-off. Sen. Frank Deem, R-Wood, called the proposal a "liberal, socialist view," but a quick call for a vote left him and other opponents without chances to offer amendments. Statehouse watchers say they would be surprised if the bill passes.

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