Ethics measure clears Oklahoma Senate committee

OKLAHOMA CITY - A Senate committee has passed a bill to place new restrictions on campaign fundraising, but the measure is headed for a joint conference panel, where a final version will be worked out.

The bill will prevent incumbent lawmakers from collecting donations during a legislative session and 15 days before and after a session.

The measure, which passed the House on a 92-8 vote, originally placed the same restriction on challengers, but that provision was removed on an amendment by Sen. Jim Wilson, D-Tahlequah.

Rep. David Dank, R-Oklahoma City, introduced the bill, saying prohibiting acceptance of campaign donations during the legislative session will end speculation that a "pay-for-play" atmosphere has developed at the Capitol, where contributions are tied to legislation under consideration.

Called the Oklahoma Clean Campaign Act of 2008, the bill is sponsored in the Senate by Co-President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City.

"I think it is important to get this bill to conference so if we are going to do ethics reform this year, we have a vehicle," Coffee said.

The measure also forbids the transfer of donations between political action committees, requires that campaign funds be used only for legitimate campaign expenditures and equalizes the status of all campaign donors, more clearly defining groups and individuals eligible to contribute.

The bill passed the Senate Appropriations Committee without dissent, although Sen. James Williamson said trying to enact legislative ethics is a difficult task. "Ethics starts in the heart," he said.

The Oklahoma Ethics Commission also has adopted a rule to stop PAC-to-PAC transfers, which critics say allow the identity of big campaign contributors to be hidden.

Another ethics rule lowers the amount of money lobbyists can spend on legislators during a 12-month period.

Unless the ethics rules are rejected by both the House and Senate this session, they will go into effect.