Image Credit: TN General Assembly
The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –
Controversial legislation pertaining to campaign finance was signed into law by Governor Bill Lee on Friday.
The new law makes several changes to campaign finance law which may prove detrimental to underfunded conservative candidates and funnels more money to the Tennessee Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Finance (BECF).
In light of the Tennessee Registry of Election Finance (TREF) board’s penchant for targeting true conservative candidates and organizations, the numerous changes that the legislation makes to existing state law with regard to the financing of political campaigns could prove to be harmful to grassroots conservatives who are running for political office.
BECF members asked the Senate sponsor Richard Briggs (R-Knoxville-District 7) to carry the bill by the Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Finance. The legislation was sponsored by Representative Tim Hicks (R-Gray-District 6) in the House.
During the legislative process, critics called the bill “dangerous” and according to one Tennessee news source, the ultimate aim of the legislation is to invite a lawsuit that will lead to the demolition of all PAC contribution limits.
Should PAC contribution limits be erased, Tennesseans can essentially expect to see the buying of influence en masse in communities all across the state.
The unlimited flow of lobbyist and out-of-state PAC money into the campaign coffers of state legislators will turn the heads of would-be elected officials away from local communities and what constituents want and turn up the pressure on lawmakers to keep the interests of dark money-funded lobbyists at the top of their list of legislative priorities.
As The Tennessee Conservative reported last July, candidates across the state received substantial amounts of money from out-of-state “dark money” PACs during the last election cycle.
Americans for Prosperity Action, School Freedom Fund, Team Kid PAC, and American Federation for Children spent millions of dollars on just 8 candidates, none of which enjoyed Tennessee grassroots support, but who were all in favor of Governor Bill Lee’s pet project: school vouchers.
In what appears to be money well spent, Lee’s Education Freedom Scholarship Act passed during a special session that Lee called in early February.
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
One Response
Lucifer’s RINOs, keeping little folks down.