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BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND ETHICS
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
RECEIPT AND INTENT TO REVIEW INITIATIVE MEASURE
The Board of Elections and Ethics shall consider in a public hearing whether the proposed measure “Fair Elections to Restore the Public Trust” is a proper subject matter for initiative, and, if so, to formulate the Short Title, Summary Statement and Legislative Text of the measure at the Board’s Special Meeting on Monday, February 13, 2012 at 10:30am., One Judiciary Square, 441 4th Street, N.W., Suite 280, Washington DC.
The Board requests that written memoranda be submitted for the record no later than 4:00 p.m., Thursday, February 9, 2012 to the Board of Elections and Ethics, General Counsel’s Office, One Judiciary Square, 441 4th Street, N.W., Suite 270, Washington, D.C. 20001.
Each individual or representative of an organization who wishes to present testimony at the public hearing is requested to furnish his or her name, address, telephone number and name of the organization represented (if any) by calling the General Counsel’s office at 727-2194 no later than Friday, February 10, 2012 at 4:00p.m.
The Short Title, Summary Statement and Legislative Text of the proposed initiative read as follows:
SHORT TITLE
FAIR ELECTIONS TO RESTORE PUBLIC TRUST
SUMMARY STATEMENT
This ballot initiative is to restore the public trust by eliminating the outsized influence corporate money has in District of Columbia government and elections by prohibiting direct contributions from corporations to elected officials and candidates for public office. This measure would align D.C. with federal law, which bans direct corporate contributions to public officials and candidates. Although D.C. law has individual contribution limits, corporations can exceed these amounts by creating multiple entities that shield the individual owner. Current law also allows corporations with city contracts to contribute directly to elected officials who approve these contracts, creating conflicts of interest.
LEGISLATIVE TEXT
To amend the Board of Ethics and Government Accountability Establishment and Comprehensive Ethics Reform Amendment Act of 2011 to prohibit a corporation, limited liability company, and partnership from making contributions to a principal campaign committee, exploratory committee, transition committee, inaugural committee, and constituent-service program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
act may be cited as the "Fair Elections to Restore the Public Trust Initiative of 2012".
Sec. 2. The Board of Ethics and Government Accountability Establishment and
Comprehensive Ethics Reform Amendment Act of 2011, passed on second reading on
December 20, 2011 (Enrolled version of Bill 19-511) is amended as follows:
(a) Section 232 is amended by adding new subsections (a-1) to read as follows:
"(a-1)Notwithstanding subsection (a), it shall be unlawful for a corporation,
limited liability company, or partnership to make any contribution to a principal
campaign committee or an exploratory committee.”
(b) Section 228(e) is amended by adding a new paragraph (4) to read as follows:
“(4) It shall be unlawful for a corporation, limited liability company, or
partnership to make any contribution to a legal defense committee."
(c) Section 225 is amended by adding a new subsection (c) to read as follows:
“(c) It shall be unlawful for a corporation, limited liability company, or
partnership to make any contribution to a transition committee."
(d) Section 221 is amended by adding a new subsection (a) to read as follows:
“(a) It shall be unlawful for a corporation, limited liability company, or
partnership to make any contribution to an inaugural committee."
(e) Section 237(a) is amended by adding a new paragraph (1) to read as follows:
“(1) It shall be unlawful for a corporation, limited liability company, or
partnership to make any contribution to a constituent-service program."
Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement.
Sec. 4. Effective date.
This act shall take effect after a 30-day period of Congressional review as provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)).
