Bill would require reporting of campaign contributions from outside districts

Further openness when it comes to how political campaigns are funded in Minnesota is being sought.

“Often times, I hear people saying that there’s outside groups, outside entities that are getting involved,” said Rep. Duane Quam (R-Byron). “We’d like to have some transparency to see where this money’s coming from.”

He sponsors HF1447 that, as amended, would require legislative and statewide candidates to report contributions of at least $200, including fundraising tickets, from donors living outside the district the candidate is seeking to represent. It would also establish filing requirements if the reporting entity is a principal campaign committee.

Rep. Duane Quam presents HF1447 to the House Elections Finance and Government Operations Committee March 3. The bill would require disclosure of contributors who give less than $200 and live outside the area represented by a candidate. (Photo by Andrew VonBank)

The bill was laid over by the House Elections Finance and Government Operations Committee Monday.

Quam, the committee chair, said shining a brighter light on the election finance process will help avoid misconceptions and misunderstandings. “If there’s not transparency, people wonder. And you often get discussions and things that call to question our process.”

Rep. Emma Greenman (DFL-Mpls) believes reporting donations from outside a representative district would be a huge burden on political candidates and their treasurers. She unsuccessfully offered an amendment that would have required reporting of candidate and ballot contributions only by out-of-state donors and from donors living within the represented district.

“If our concern is that we want to make sure that campaigns are fueled by small donors in our communities and in our state, a state line is a much easier administrable line,” she said.