Senate Rules Committee adopts rule banning campaign contributions during session, inserts 'legislative' qualifier

The Senate Rules Committee on Friday adopted a new rule, Senate Rule 15-9, prohibiting solicitation or acceptance of campaign contributions in areas under the Senate’s control and during days when the Senate is in regular or special session.

Chairwoman Nethercott opened the noon meeting in Capitol Extension Room 2 and said the item was a follow-up to the committee’s Feb. 12 discussion; LSO prepared the draft rule under consideration. Senator Rothfuss moved the committee adopt the rule and offered an amendment to narrow the in-session prohibition by inserting the word "legislative" into paragraph B.

Senator Rothfuss read paragraph B as amended: "No Senator shall knowingly solicit a legislative campaign contribution or accept a legislative campaign contribution by affirmative act on any day during which the Senate is in regular or special session." He also read paragraph A aloud, which the draft keeps broader: "No person shall knowingly solicit, offer, deliver, or accept by affirmative act a campaign contribution within any area under the control of the president of the senate pursuant to senate rule 2-2 f at any time." Rothfuss said the insertion would more precisely target legislative campaign solicitations during session days and cited the phrasing used in an Alaska example as a model.

Senator Garou, who seconded the amendment, said some might view the change as closing the barn after the horses had fled, but added the goal was to "make it crystal clear" by clarifying existing ethics and quorum rules. After a voice affirmation the amendment was declared passed.

With no public comment offered, the committee returned to the rule as amended. The clerk conducted a roll call during which Senators Garou and Rothfuss were recorded as voting "Aye." The chair announced the rule passed. The meeting was then adjourned.

The committee did not provide a full roll-call tally in the transcript; the record shows the amendment and the final rule were approved by affirmative votes recorded in the hearing.