LWVAL supports a ban on PAC-to-PAC transfers


LWVAL supports a ban on PAC-to-PAC transfers and has voiced that opinion in this letter-to-the-editor submitted on March 8, 2010, to newspapers in Alabama.

Political action committees or PACs enjoy considerable liberties in Alabama, when it comes to transferring the funds collected by one PAC to another PAC. The League of Women Voters of Alabama has long opposed PAC-to-PAC transfers on the grounds that such fund transfers allow the contributions by various interests to legislators and others in government to be hidden from the public.

Year after year, we see the introduction of Rep. Jeff McLaughlin’s bill and others seeking to end transfers.

Year after year, they pass the House, but die in the Senate.

As we have watched the Senate’s devices to prevent action — assigning the bills a “special” committee this year, not assigning the bills at all until questioned in 2009, creating a substitute that guts the bill and stonewalling in a conference with the House — we can only conclude that many members prefer constituents not know where their support comes from.

This year the Senate leadership sent the bill, not to the committee on Ethics, Elections and Campaign Finance, but to Economic Expansion and Trade. History has shown that most legislation diverted to the committee from normal jurisdictional channels is being buried.

We invite citizens to write or call their senators in support of the McLaughlin bill, HB85. Passage of legislation banning PAC-to-PAC transfers would be a giant step in restoring faith in government.

Kathryn C. Byrd and Charlotte Ward

Co-Presidents

League of Women Voters of Alabama

Tuscaloosa


Publications

The letter has appeared in the following publications: