The "Granny D Bill" Passes The House, Commission To Study Public Funding Of NH Campaigns

by: Rep. Jim Splaine

Thu Jan 17, 2008 at 00:05:49 AM EST

The legislation, House Bill 794, has gone through a thorough review during the past year.  After a public hearing last March it was sent to a House Election Law Subcommittee which I chaired.  We held a dozen worksessions on the bill.  The Subcommittee even met with Maine State Representatives to learn more about how public funding of certain campaigns works in that state.  

House Bill 794 is dubbed "THE GRANNY D BILL," because this is her cause.  She walked across America in support of "clean elections."  In light of the ever-increasing costs of running for public office and the reliance on personal wealth or extensive fundraising in order to run for public office, this bill seeks to allow for a different approach to funding campaigns for potential candidates without such financial sources.

Legislation similar to the original version of HB 794 was almost passed by the 2000 Legislature.  A bill creating public financing of campaigns passed the State Senate that year, and came within 28 votes of passage in the House after a lengthy discussion.   GOVERNOR JEANNE SHAHEEN was prepared to sign the bill.

Under this legislation, a bipartisan Commission of seven public members will be created to dedicate themselves to the task of identifying alternative ways to fund state campaigns.  The commission will examine potential revenue sources for funding and develop recommendations to the legislative session of 2009.

This Commission, under the directives of the bill, may consider voluntary contributions, in-kind donations of services, and other means to generate revenue.  The Commission would include not more than three members of a political party.   No Commission members would currently hold elective office.   Two appointments would be made by the House Speaker, two by the Senate President, two by the Governor, and one by the Secretary of State.  The Commission would report back by December 1, 2008, in time for legislative action in 2009.  

Some twelve states already have "clean election" laws.  This concept has been publicly endorsed by leaders and people who have run for "higher office" from both parties:  former GOVERNOR WALTER PETERSON, former Gubernatorial candidate JIM RUBINS, former Democratic U.S. Senate nominee JOHN RAUH, former Gubernatorial nominee PAUL McEACHERN and former State Senators CLIF BELOW and RICK TROMBLY, among others.  I think the Commission will do its job well, and that it will come up with inventive, innovative ways to implement the concept there "The New Hampshire Way."  

The original version of House Bill 794 was cosponsored by Representatives PETER ALLEN, BETTY HALL, DANA HILLIARD, BARBARA RICHARDSON, SENATOR JACKIE CILLEY, and myself.   Several members of the House Election Law Committee worked especially hard on making the bill succeed, including DAVID PIERCE, who prepared the amendment creating the Commission, CLAUDIA CHASE and CHUCK WEED,who were on the Subcommittee along with David Pierce and Betty Hall and went to a number of meetings on the bill, and COMMITTEE CHAIR JANE CLEMONS, who helped in passage on the House Floor.

But this one was really a great victory for Granny D -- who repeatedly would tell us this isn't "about her," it's not even "about us," it's about our children, and our future.  

She's right.  Now it's onto the State Senate.  

AN ACT relative to campaign contributions and expenditures.

SPONSORS: Rep. Splaine, Rock 16; Rep. Hilliard, Straf 2; Rep. B. Richardson, Ches 5; Rep. P. Allen, Ches 6; Rep. Hall, Hills 5; Sen. Cilley, Dist 6

COMMITTEE: Election Law

AN ACT     establishing a commission to study the feasibility of public funding of state election campaigns.

ANALYSIS

     This bill establishes a commission to study the feasibility of public funding of state election campaigns.

     ­1  Commission Established.  There is established a commission to study the feasibility of public funding of state election campaigns.

     ­2  Membership.

           I.  The members of the commission shall be as follows:

                 (a)  Two members appointed by the president of the senate, no more than one of whom shall be a member of the same political party.

                 (b)  Two members appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, no more than one of whom shall be a member of the same political party.

                 (c)  Two members appointed by the governor, no more than one of whom shall be a member of the same political party.

                 (d)  One member appointed by the secretary of state.

           II.(a)  The president of the senate, speaker of the house of representatives, governor, and secretary of state shall seek to appoint members to the commission who have demonstrated support for a system of public funding of election campaigns and have knowledge or expertise in campaign financing or state budget issues.

                 (b)  No commission member may simultaneously serve in an elected state office.

                 (c)  No commission member may be a candidate for state elected office.

                 (d)  No more than 3 members of the commission shall be members of the same party.

           III.  All appointments to the commission shall be made within 30 days of the effective date of this section.  The secretary of state shall defer appointing a member under subparagraph I(d) until after the other members of the commission have been appointed, and shall utilize such appointment to ensure compliance with subparagraph II(d).

     ­3  Duties.  The commission shall examine potential revenue sources for public funding of state election campaigns and develop a recommendation to the general court for a plan to fund state election campaigns in a sustainable manner.  The commission may not consider revenue from the state general fund in developing its plan, but may consider voluntary contributions, in-kind donations of services, and other means to generate revenue from public and private sources.  The commission may also consider the legislative framework for a system of public funding of state election campaigns developed by the election law committee of the house of representatives, which the election law committee shall file with the secretary of state within 30 days of the effective date of this section.

     ­4  Chairperson; Quorum.  The commission shall elect a chairperson and other officers from among the members as necessary to fulfill its duties.  The first meeting shall be called by the first-named member appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.  The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section.  Four members of the commission shall represent a quorum.  The commission may seek assistance and staff support from any agency.

     ­5  Report.  The commission shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before December 1, 2008.

     ­6  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect upon its passage.