HB190 - ericsundberg/legwiki GitHub Wiki
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Campaign finance; prohibited contributions to candidates. Prohibits candidates, campaign committees, and political committees from soliciting or accepting contributions from any public utility, as defined in the bill, and prohibits any public utility or any political committee established by such public utility from making any such contribution.
- Joshua G. Cole (chief patron)
- None
01/03/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24103456D PDF
- 01/03/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24103456D
- 01/03/24 House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
This bill has a fiscal impact statement.
1. Bill Number: HB 190
House of Origin| Stage | Status |
|---|---|
| Introduced | ✔ |
| Substitute | |
| Engrossed |
| Stage | Status |
|---|---|
| In Committee | |
| Substitute | |
| Enrolled |
2. Patron: Cole
3. Committee: Committee Referral Pending
4. Title: Campaign finance; prohibited contributions to candidates.
5. Summary: Prohibits candidates, campaign committees, and political committees from soliciting or accepting contributions from any public utility, as defined in the bill, and prohibits any public utility or any political committee established by such public utility from making any such contribution.
6. Budget Amendment Necessary: No.
7. Fiscal Impact Estimates: Preliminary; no state fiscal impact.
8. Fiscal Implications: The proposed legislation is not expected to have a state fiscal impact
9. Specific Agency or Political Subdivisions Affected: Virginia Department of Elections and State Board of Elections.
10. Technical Amendment Necessary: No.
11. Other Comments: This bill is a companion to SB326.
The language of HB190 can be viewed here.
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Thank you, Madam Chair.
HB190 aims to prohibit the energy companies which profit from ratepayers, our constituents, from contributing to the political campaigns and committees of the government officials tasked with regulating them.
This bill does not prevent individuals or unions from making contributions, only regulated monopolies.
I'm not here to cast shame on the money we took to get here; I'm calling for a Jubilee—I've been fighting for this law for 7 years now, every since I first ran for office. Leviticus 25:10 says our debts should be forgiven on Jubilee—let us wipe the slate clean, start anew.
I want to settle some concerns—opposition will state that the bill is:
- Unconstitutional;
- But Buckley v. Valeo clearly established it is within the government's interest to regulate campaign contributions to limit real or perceived' quid pro quo (favor for favor) corruption.
- Discriminatory;
- But this bill serves to end permitted discrimination against the masses; discrimination against the citizens who can only afford to "voice" their free speech as far as their very limited wealth can afford. This bill is an equalizer.
- Unprecedented;
- But New York prohibits corporate contributions;
- Connecticut prohibits public service company contributions;
- New Jersey has restrictions and regulations on public utility company contributions;
- Florida prohibits several industries from making contributions, including public utility companies;
- Forget red states and blue states, this is a democracy issue.
Some would quote James Madison, "if men were angels, no government would be necessary."
However, I like comic books, so I think this quote works best though: "who watches the watchmen?"
I hope it be the will of the body to report the bill and pass it to the floor for first reading.
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- Clean Virginia