The Senate Judiciary I Committee took up SB 966, expanded voter owned elections, one of 49 bills the committee will consider today. A committee substitute bill was proposed that in addition to expanding taxpayer funding to campaigns for all council of state races except the governor and lieutenant governor, makes a few changes. A write-in candidate is not eligible, qualifying contributions have changed, credit cards and PayPal are now accepted, minimum and maximum qualifying contributions are changed, can’t sell raffle tickets to get qualifying contributions and reduces the amount family members can give, and expands the Voter Guide to include all 10 offices for council of state, (presumably to alert taxpayers to just how vehemently they may disagree with those candidates they are compelled to fund.)
Senator Martin Nesbitt (D-Buncombe) proposed an amendment that would prohibit matching funds for an expenditure that supports or opposes all candidates for the same office or for an electioneering communication other than an appeal to vote for or against all candidates for the same office. Amendment passed.
Senator Tony Rand (D-Cumberland) proposed an amendment that appropriated $2 million this year and $7.16 million in 2010-2011 from the General Fund. That’s tax revenue, folks, from a budget with a $4 billion shortfall. Amendment passed.
Voice vote on the bill – passed. Has to go to Senate Appropriations now because Rand put the money in it (aargh!)
