Prohibits any person who works on a regular basis for a political committee for a statewide elected office from receiving compensation from an inaugural committee

BILL NUMBER:S2280

Title of bill

An act to amend the election law, in relation to limitation on compensation by inauguration committees

Purpose or general idea of bill

This bill would preclude inauguration committees from paying persons who worked regularly on political campaigns.

Summary of specific provisions

This bill would add a new section 14-125 to the Election Law, which would preclude inauguration committees from compensating a person who worked on a regular basis for the political campaign committee.

Justification

Campaign fund raising practices are having a corrosive effect on the public's confidence in the integrity of government. Too often, citizens feel that their individual votes are of little consequence. The cumulative impact is a significant threat to the fundamental values of democracy. Numerous accounts, have revealed disturbing instances of people who have worked regularly on a political campaign moving to jobs with an inauguration committee immediately after an election victory. Inauguration committees have solicited contributions with the avowed purpose of defraying expenses that might otherwise be borne by the state for inaugural activities. When the inauguration committee pays a former campaign worker substantial amounts of money, it may be that the payments are compensating the person for prior campaign work. This bill addresses the problem by precluding inauguration committees from compensating persons who worked on a regular basis for the political campaign committee.

Fiscal implications for state and local governments

None.

Effective date

This act takes effect immediately.