Enrolled Bill Summary

Senate Bill 346	Senate Author:  Seliger et al.
Effective:  Vetoed	House Sponsor:  Geren

            Senate Bill 346 amends the Election Code to establish that a person or a group of persons accepts political contributions if its members or donors make a payment, including dues, to the person or group of persons and, at the time of making the payments, the members or donors have reason to know that their payments may be used to make political contributions or political expenditures or may be commingled with other funds used to make political contributions or political expenditures.  The bill sets out related reporting requirements for such contributions.  The bill applies only to a person or a group of persons that does not meet the definition of a political committee; accepts political contributions as established by the bill; and makes one or more political expenditures, excluding certain authorized expenditures, that in the aggregate exceed $25,000 during a calendar year. The bill does not apply to a labor organization or any subordinate entity or associated account of a labor organization.  The bill specifies that statutory provisions relating to a direct campaign expenditure exceeding $100 do not apply to a person to whom the bill's provisions apply. 

 

            Reason Given for Veto:  "Freedom of association and freedom of speech are two of our most important rights enshrined in the Constitution.  My fear is that Senate Bill 346 would have a chilling effect on both of those rights in our democratic political process.  While regulation is necessary in the administration of Texas political finance laws, no regulation is tolerable that puts anyone's participation at risk or that can be used by any government, organization or individual to intimidate those who choose to participate in our process through financial means.

 

            "At a time when our federal government is assaulting the rights of Americans by using the tools of government to squelch dissent it is unconscionable to expose more Texans to the risk of such harassment, regardless of political, organizational or party affiliation."