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BOISE, Idaho (AP) — An Idaho House committee has voted unanimously to introduce a bill closing a loophole that allows political action committees to receive some money without having to reveal the source until after Election Day.
Republican Rep. Greg Chaney of Caldwell told the House State Affairs Committee on Wednesday that current Idaho law allows for roughly two weeks in which political action committees can receive and spend large campaign contributions without revealing who gave them until a month after the election.
"This creates a certain amount of electoral activity that is done in absolute obscurity," Chaney told the panel.
The freshman lawmaker said the bill would require political action committees to report any contribution of $1,000 or more during the last two weeks of an election cycle within 48 hours of receiving it.
This is the same rule that political candidates and their campaigns currently have to follow.
"Transparency is key to our democratic process, and voters have a right to know who is trying to influence them during an election cycle," Chaney said in a statement.
Currently, Chaney said, political action committees can wait until after the election to report large amounts of money they receive or spend after the final campaign finance reporting period — from Oct. 1 through the 16th day before the election.
Reforming Idaho's campaign finance reports was one of the main highlights during last year's election, primarily in the secretary of state's race. Newly elected Secretary of State Lawerence Denney has said he supports transparent finance reports.
The bill did not garner any discussion. The committee will later consider the bill at a full hearing.
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