I’m Nancy Morgan, Coordinator of BigMoneyOutVA. We support these bills (HB2165 and HB1686) which probably should be called the George Santos bills. As you know, many of the infractions Santos was charged with are legal in Virginia, but certainly not under federal law nor in most other states. Just to remind you, this is the 11th year this bill has been introduced (2014) We hope that it gets passed because it is a common sense bill which builds citizens' confidence in their legislators and their democratic institutions. Obviously, Virginians are amazed that this bill can’t get out of Chambers. This bill addressed concerns expressed by legislators about frivolous complaints by protecting legislatorss through the establishment of a robust and confidential review process. It is supported by 73 percent of Voters, who in 2021 polling by the Wason Center, support restricting the personal use of campaign funds. It is time to pass this bill which is the law of the land, both federally and in all but two states.

Comments Document

I strongly urge the entire subcommittee to support these bills, authored by two of your committee members. They restrict the use of campaign contributions for personal use. The bills include language to accomodate a transition period. These are supported by all my friends and neighbors, several of whom were very surprised and upset that this was not already law. It's bad enough that "big money" has come to have so much influence in our elections; it's even worse if donations can continue to go to personal expenses. Thanks for your consideration

HB1576 (Cherry) The League of Women Voters supports HB1576.  This bill clarifies procedures for enforcing the prohibition on campaign fundraising during legislative sessions by specifying the State Board of Elections’ responsibility to report alleged violations. We agree that such violations should be reported to the Attorney General, or to the State Supreme Court in the case of an alleged violation by the Attorney General. The League supports actions that limit undue influence from vested interests.  HB1761 (Simon)  The League of Women Voters supports HB1761. The League believes that a public financing option for funding electoral campaigns reduces candidates’ reliance on large private donations and donations from vested special interests. A public funding option for campaign finance gives qualified individuals who don’t have deep pockets, or friends with deep pockets, more incentive to run for elected office, and increases the electorate’s opportunities to evaluate candidates on their merits and not just from paid advertisements. HB1761 is a “may, not must” bill that will give localities that wish to provide a public funding option for certain local elections the opportunity to do so via local ordinance.  HB2140 (Krizek)  The League of Women Voters supports HB2140. Requiring electronic filing of all campaign expenditure reports is a significant step toward promoting transparency and making campaign funding information more easily accessible to the electorate, in the ability both to access the reports and to analyze the information they contain.    HB2165 (Cole)  The League of Women Voters supports legislation restricting personal use of campaign funds. Virginia currently has no legal restrictions on how campaign funds may be used. The League believes that funds raised for a campaign should be used only for expenses directly related to running for office. We support the expanded provisions for what constitutes personal use, and the provision disallowing converting any funds to personal use, not just surpluses at the end of a campaign or term in office    HB2607 (Ware)  The League of Women Voters of Virginia supports legislation that limits campaign contributions. Corporations, particularly public service corporations, and their political action committees should not be allowed to make contributions to any candidate’s campaign committee or political action committee. The issue is the conflict of interest inherent in a corporation’s donating to legislators who have control over their activities, and goes hand in hand with the public perception of corruption and “pay for play.”

Comments Document

I have attached Vote Mama Foundation's written testimony below.

I would very much like to see this bill amended so that the acceptable uses of active campaign funds are restricted to payments for campaign-related expenses. When everyday people donate to a candidate's campaign fund, they expect the money to be used for ads, campaign staff, road signs, bumper stickers, mailings, etc. If they wanted the money to be given away to other candidates or to a political party, they would have donated the money to the other candidates or to the party.

I am in support of HB1686. We should not allow campaigns funds use for personal matters. The campaign fund ONLY to support candidates running for office. The ability to use funds for any other reason is unacceptable. Let's be honest on how we use funds to support those running for office and not use for paying your mortgage, buying a car and/or for personal trips around the world. This is a moral decision. Thank you!

Please support HB 1686. It is absolutely good government for its transparency and insistence on principled and moral leadership that elected leaders not use campaign monies for personal expenses inconsistent with their ordinary and expected jobs as legislators. Any use for personal credit cards, paying mortgages, or other, related expenses should be illegal.