“Tennesseans Need To Elect Tennesseans” – Bill Filed To Limit Out-of-State Campaign Contributions

Image Credit: State Senator Frank Niceley / Facebook

The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –

As of now, there is no limit to the amount of funding state and federal-level candidates in Tennessee can receive from out-of-state sources to run their campaigns for office.  A Tennessee Republican Senator is looking to change that.

In a phone interview with The Tennessee Conservative, Senator Frank Niceley (R-Strawberry Plains-District 8) explained that current Tennessee law permits candidates to receive an unlimited amount of funding from individuals, corporations, and political action committees (PACs) from sources outside the boundaries of the Volunteer State.

“Tennesseans need to elect Tennesseans,” Niceley said, indicating that interests outside of the state should not have a majority hand in sponsoring campaigns for political candidates.

“Right now there is no limit to the amount these out-of-state super PACs can donate… and money equals votes,” Niceley said.

Niceley stated that this out-of-state influence is not in the best interest of Tennesseans and that on the federal level, it “weakens our position in D.C.”

Niceley’s bill, Senate Bill 0100 (SB0100) does not completely eliminate out-of-state funding, but if passed into law, it would ensure the majority comes from in-state.

The bill’s summary states –  As introduced, prohibits a candidate or political campaign committee from accepting contributions that exceed 30 percent of the total contributions received by a candidate or political campaign committee from persons who are not residents of this state at the time the contribution is made. – Amends TCA Title 2, Chapter 10, Part 3.

Niceley’s intention is for the bill to apply to political candidates on both the state level and federal level and considers his new legislation to be an extension of the residency bill he sponsored and was passed into law last year.

That bill, SB2616, now Public Chapter 857, established that congressional candidates must live in Tennessee for at least three years before running in a primary for a federal seat.

Supporters of Niceley’s residency bill stated that it was needed in order to prevent transplants who don’t know the area from securing key political seats.

With Niceley’s new legislation, the intent would be that our legislators have their greatest influence coming from inside the state they represent.

Niceley is currently working on securing a sponsor in the House for the legislation but expects he will find the support needed to make the legislation law.

The legislation states that it will take effect immediately upon becoming law.

About the Author: Jason Vaughn, Media Coordinator for The Tennessee Conservative  ~ Jason previously worked for a legacy publishing company based in Crossville, TN in a variety of roles through his career.  Most recently, he served as Deputy Director for their flagship publication. Prior, he was a freelance journalist writing articles that appeared in the Herald Citizen, the Crossville Chronicle and The Oracle among others.  He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor’s in English-Journalism, with minors in Broadcast Journalism and History.  Contact Jason at news@TennesseeConservativeNews.com