The Alaska House has narrowly passed legislation that would set a limit on individual contributions to candidates after previous limits were struck down by a court
The bill passed 21-18 on March 16, with all the no votes coming from Republicans.
It next goes to the Senate, with about eight weeks left before the Legislature’s adjournment deadline. If the bill fails to win Senate approval and the governor’s signature, there will be no restrictions on the amount of money that can be donated to candidates in Alaska elections starting this year.
The bill, from Anchorage Rep. Calvin Schrage, would set a $2,000 limit on what an individual could contribute to a candidate each campaign period.
The bill has a $5,000-a-year limit on what an individual can give to a group, such as a non-party group.
The legislation would also limit the amount of money a candidate can receive from out-of-state donors to no more than 25% of a candidate’s total donations.
All of the limits in the bill would apply to state and municipal elections but not elections for federal office.
Supporters said limits are necessary to reduce the influence of Outside money and resist campaign contributions influencing public policy.
The bill, which also addresses contribution limits for non-political party groups, calls for periodic adjustments to the limits based on inflation. It would make the donation limits retroactive to March 3.
A divided federal appeals court panel last year struck down Alaska’s $500-a-year limit on what an individual can give a candidate. It also struck down a $500-a-year limit on individual contributions to non-party groups and a cap on total nonresident donations that a candidate can raise.
The Alaska Public Offices Commission, in a decision March 3, did not approve a staff proposal that suggested limits of $1,500 per calendar year for individuals to candidates and non-party groups.
The commission said there were legal questions about whether it had the power to set limits.
The commission said, “Until the Alaska State Legislature takes action on this issue, there are no longer any individual-to-candidate and individual-to-non-political party contributions limits for Alaska’s state and local elections.”
Supporters of the bill passed by the House said Alaskans want contribution limits, but some critics expressed concern with placing limits on what candidates can receive or the size of the limits. Some referenced a 2010 U.S. Supreme Court decision that paved the way for corporations, unions and interest groups to make unlimited independent expenditures.
Alaskans in 2006 approved a ballot measure that imposed the $500 campaign contribution limit — with 73% voting yes.
The chances of the bill even getting a hearing in the Senate are uncertain. Similar campaign finance bills have been introduced in the Senate but have not received a hearing.
Earlier this month, the Anchorage Daily News reported that Gov. Mike Dunleavy had said he thinks political donors should be able to contribute as much as they want, provided that candidates have to disclose where their money comes from.
“You know me: I’m the guy that wants people to be able to drive four-wheelers on the road. I’m a freedom guy,” he told the newspaper. “My tendency is to just let people do what they want in campaign finance law, as long as it’s disclosed and it’s accurate.”
Dunleavy faces reelection this year, and most legislative seats are up for election.
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