Bill eyes campaign reports - Financial filings would be more often, on Net

Political candidates in Kentucky would have to make more information available about the campaign money they raise under legislation being pre-filed for the 2008 General Assembly session.
Campaign finance reports would have to be filed over the Internet and more frequently under the legislation, scheduled to be announced today by Secretary of State Trey Grayson, a Boone County Republican, and Sen. Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, chairman of the Northern Kentucky legislative caucus.

Thayer, who represents southern Kenton County including Independence and Taylor Mill, chairs the Senate State and Local Government Committee.

The bill passed the Senate earlier this year but it died without a vote in the House, said Grayson, the state's chief elections officer and a candidate for re-election in November.

"It is past time for the General Assembly to act on this legislation which represents the most comprehensive and significant proposal in years to increase the transparency of the elections process in our Commonwealth," Grayson said in a statement. "This bill will serve as a beacon of light onto how campaigns are funded in our Commonwealth all the while providing the information in a hassle-free and efficient format for citizens."

The bill calls for an additional report due 60 days before primaries for statewide offices, and an additional report due 60 days before general elections for all candidates.

It also requires all candidates who raise over $25,000 in one election cycle to file their reports electronically to the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance, which tracks, records and posts campaign finance reports.

Under existing law the next campaign reporting date for statewide candidates is Sept. 30, but the candidates can wait until Oct. 8 to actually file their reports.

Candidates, political watchers, party activists, contributors, reporters and the general public often devour campaign finance reports to learn how much money a candidate is raising and where the money is coming from, specifically individuals and political action committees, or PACs. The reports also list how a candidate's money is being spent.

"Kentuckians deserve a campaign finance system where transparency and access to financial information allow citizens to keep candidates and elected officials accountable for their campaign fundraising," Thayer said in the statement. "This legislation not only strengthens transparency and access, but also emphatically states that they are priorities of Kentucky."