TAPE/#

Speaker

Comments

TAPE 50, A

003

Chair Kitts

Calls the meeting to order at 1:06 p.m. and opens a public hearing on HB 3458.

HB 3458 – PUBLIC HEARING

023

Cletus Moore

Committee Administrator.  Reads summary of HB 3458 as amended by the Subcommittee on Campaign Finance Reform (EXHIBIT A).

040

Brian Grisham

Salem resident and former candidate for State Representative in HD 19.  Submits and reads a prepared statement (EXHIBIT B) in support of campaign finance reform (EXHIBIT B).

083

Rep. Dalto

Objects to the testimony being presented by Grisham. 

Chair Kitts

Instructs Grisham not to address former Rep. Doyle by name in his testimony.

Grisham

Continues reading his prepared statement (EXHIBIT B).

148

Andi Miller

Executive Director, Common Cause Oregon.  States they are pleased to see the result of the hard work by the Subcommittee on Campaign Finance Reform.  It is a good bill and should pass.

167

Norman Turrill

League of Women Voters of Oregon.  Comments on being impressed by the work of the Subcommittee on Campaign Finance Reform.  Reps. G. Smith, Thatcher, Holvey and Hunt did a fine job in difficult circumstances and did fine negotiations.  Asks that the committee pass the bill.

Sarah Wetherson

Money in Politics Research Action Project.  States she joins Miller and Turrill in saying this is a good bill and should pass, and commends the subcommittee on its fine work.

179

Chair Kitts

Comments that the subcommittee did an immense amount of work.  The committee has before them the HB 3458-12 amendments (EXHIBIT C) (a combination of the -2, -3 and -11 adopted by the subcommittee).  States the bill will be amended on the Senate side with regard to electronic filing in SB 822.  This bill includes all the topics mentioned by Speaker Minnis and Democratic Leader Merkley in the press conference.  States he is proud that the bill as amended came out of the subcommittee with a vote of 4-0.  Closes the public hearing on HB 3458.   

Chair Kitts

Asks the committee to stand at ease momentarily.

Chair Kitts

Reconvenes the meeting and opens a work session on HB 3458.

HB 3458 – WORK SESSION

203

Cletus Moore

Committee Administrator.  Again reads summary of HB 3458 as amended with the -2, -3 and -11 amendments by the Subcommittee on Campaign Finance Reform.

231

Chair Kitts

Commends the office of the Secretary of State in assisting in the development of HB 3458 as it has been amended.

Rep. March

Asks if there is anything in the new policy that will not be easy for SOS to carry out.

John Lindback

Director of Elections, Office of Secretary of State.  States that the provisions of the bill relating to spot checks, etc. are doable and would not impose a serious impact on the division.  Continuous fling is a major undertaking and is under discussion in the Senate as well.  Their office has determined there is a source of funds for help with that.  The General Funds required for this project could at the same time serve as a match for federal funds under the Help America Vote Act (HAVA).    

276

Rep. March

Comments that the -3 amendments adopted by the subcommittee dealt with mileage expense for commuting, etc.  Asks if car leases are covered in this for the governor or legislators.  

Fred Neal

Campaign Finance Manger, Elections Division, Office of Secretary of State.   States that the new Section 17 in the -12 amendments (EXHIBIT C), which include the -2, -3, and -11 adopted by the subcommittee, applies only to member s of the Legislative Assembly.  Section 17a, which amends ORS 260.407 and deals with prohibited personal use of surplus campaign funds for candidate committees only, has a limitation on page 5, lines 16-19.  It primarily deals with candidate campaigns but also applies to public office holders.  If the State Treasurer or Secretary of State had an office in their home, they could not use campaign funds to underwrite their personal residence or utility payments.  Section 17a applies to all candidate committees and Section 17 applies only to members of the Legislative Assembly.

Chair Kitts

Asks if it is correct that the spot checks apply to all candidates for state offices.

Neal

Responds affirmatively.

316

Rep. March

States that the mileage expenses under Section 17 only apply to legislative members and asks if he could lease a car with his campaign funds and be reimbursed for the mileage.

Chair Kitts

Responds that by IRS laws, he does not believe a member can do that.

329

Rep. Dalto

Ask if he can receive reimbursement for mileage to a meeting outside the building when he conducts legislative business in different cities along the way.

Neal

Responds that he is not sure they can answer the question generically.  His understanding in reading ORS 171.072 which says "… and rules adopted by the Legislative Administration Committee…” that members get reimbursed for the number of miles between the member’s residence and the city and meeting place and to return.   If a member were to do additional travel, he would assume that could be reimbursed by campaign funds.  States he would defer to Legislative Counsel, the Legislative Administration Committee and its administrator to interpret how that works during the session.   States if SOS were to receive a complaint, they would have to look at the facts and the alleged violations.

375

Rep. Dalto

Clarifies that he was speaking of what is apart from what the Assembly provides for.   Members can access vehicles from the motor pool or the committee provides transportation.  States he is speaking of the scenario apart from the official legislative event for which an accommodation is already being made.

Neal

Responds that Section 17 (2) is bifurcated between the per diem members get during  session and other times when members get specific mileage.  During session the prohibition is on using campaign funds for mileage expenses commuting between home and the Capitol.  It does not address other mileage.

398

Chair Kitts

Gives example of a committee meeting in Pendleton.  Members did not get mileage if they chose to take their own car.  States he understands if a member went from here to Pendleton and from Pendleton to Baker City, the mileage from Pendleton to Baker City would be not reimbursable.  Any subsequent business outside the official business that the member is conducting and receiving a per diem for, would not be reimbursed.

414

Neal

States he is assuming (and they are not the Legislative Administration Committee reviewing mileage reimbursement requests during the interim) one could pay extra mileage from campaign funds especially if it were for a campaign.

422

Rep. Dalto

Gives example of a Transportation Committee meeting in Boardman during the interim.  States he later met with some people who had testified about issues he was not familiar.  They went to Hermiston, North Powder and other places to learn more about the issues. 

TAPE 51, A

002

Rep. Greenlick

Asks if the ability for a candidate to be his own treasurer was eliminated by the amendments.

Neal

Responds there is no prohibition.  If a candidate spends or raises more than $300 a year, the candidate is required to file a statement of organization and establish a dedicated bank account.

Greenlick

Ask if a principle petitioner on a statewide initiative can act as the treasurer of that committee.

Neal

Responds affirmatively.

013

Rep. Thatcher

MOTION:  Moves HB 3458 to the floor with a DO PASS AS AMENDED recommendation.

019

Rep. Holvey

Comments that the Subcommittee on Campaign Finance Reform adopted the -2, -3 and -11 amendments and asks if the committee is going to adopt the -12 amendments.

Chair Kitts

Responds that the -12 amendments (EXHIBIT C) are the -2, -3 and -11 amendments adopted by the subcommittee.

027

Rep. Dalto

Expresses concerns of not having a thorough review of the bill.

Chair Kitts

Comments that opponents and proponents of the bill were invited to provide testimony during the subcommittee meetings and today.  States that the members received copies of the hand engrossed bill on April 29.

067

Rep. Dalto

Comments he did not receive the hand-engrossed version of the bill.  States he did not hear a thorough discussion of the issues by those who testified today. 

093

Reutlinger

Advises the committee needs to adopt the HB 3458-12 amendments.

Rep. Thatcher

By implied consent, withdraws her motion to send HB 3458 to the floor with a DO PASS AS AMENDED recommendation.

085

Rep. Thatcher

MOTION:  Moves to ADOPT HB 3458-12 amendments dated 4/29/05.

Rep. Greenlick

Questions the need to adopt the HB 3458-12 amendments.

Chair Kitts

Explains that the -12 amendments supersede the -2, -3 and -11 amendments; the -12 amendments are the same language adopted by the subcommittee.

101

Ted Reutlinger

Legislative Counsel.  Explains that because the subcommittee adopted the -2, -3 and -11 amendments, Legislative Counsel consolidated those into the -12 amendments.  States that he is under the impression for the bill to move out of this committee, the full committee needs to adopt the -12 amendments, which is simply the -2, -3 and -11 combined together.  There is no substantive difference whatsoever.  It seems to him the subcommittee does not have the power over the full committee to amend the bill and then send it to the floor.  It seems the full committee needs to adopt the -12 amendments in order to formally amend the bill so it can be printed A-engrossed and sent to the floor.

113

Rep. March

Comments that adoption of the -12 amendments ratifies the action of the subcommittee.

116

Rep. Greenlick

Asks if a bill amended by the subcommittee and sent to the full committee is still the original bill.

117

Reutlinger

Responds he believes what is before the full committee is the original bill and the amendments recommended by the subcommittee.  The full committee still needs to adopt the amendments to send the bill to the floor. 

113

Rep. Dalto

Comments this is why he does not feel comfortable about accepting a bill immediately from the subcommittee and sending it directly out without some time for the committee to absorb and discuss and deliberate on the bill. 

Chair Kitts

Asks the clerk to call the roll on adoption of the -12 amendments.

129

VOTE:  7-0-0

AYE:            In a roll call vote, all members present vote Aye.

Chair Kitts

The motion CARRIES.

135

Rep. Thatcher

MOTION:  Moves HB 3458 to the floor with a DO PASS AS AMENDED recommendation.

140

VOTE:  7-0-0

AYE:            In a roll call vote, all members present vote Aye.

Chair Kitts

The motion CARRIES.

REP. KITTS will lead discussion on the floor.

134

Chair Kitts

Adjourns meeting at 1:46 p.m.