Campaign money bill still in the cards

With the Minnis administration nearing the end of its term and campaign season expected to start in earnest within months, Attorney General Carl Bethel said yesterday legislation regulating the source of money in campaigns is still expected to be introduced in Parliament, but the names of donors would still be kept private and forwarded to a special commission.

Political parties would be required to provide proper accounting of their campaign donations, Bethel said.

“I do believe that we as a small country, even in larger countries, if you look very close to us [in America] you would see that campaign sources can often exercise disproportionate influence and that takes away from the purity of thought that people’s principles may get compromised because they have to satisfy campaign sources,” Bethel said.

“We see this certainly in North America and undoubtedly it occurs here. There [can be] a disproportionate influence that is played by those who finance campaigns, so it is in the best interest that this be brought under some kind of management and oversight.”

The attorney general added, “It would be in the interest of The Bahamas if we were to bring in some limitations and some disclosure, if you will, not public disclosure, but to a commission, which will then be charged with of course keeping an eye on things.”

He explained, “We want a system where there is appropriate disclosure to an entity, not for public disclosure; That should never happen because it would be a breach of privacy, but you want to have some controls over how much they give to individuals or parties and you want to have some record of who they are in a source that can be accessed if any question of impropriety [arises].” 

If Cabinet agrees, the bill would incorporate a mandate for political parties and candidates to forward the sources of their donations to the commission. 

Bethel said political parties would be required to have an accountant, but each candidate would not be required to, something he said was proposed in a version of the bill drafted under the Christie administration. 

“We are tweaking it and trying to make it something that’s not prohibitively expensive for individuals,” the attorney general said.

“It is very important not to discourage people who want to offer for public service by making the process so expensive that you put yourself in the position where only the rich can run; and the draft that had been worked on by the previous government, I thought that this was a rich man’s charter.”

The need for legislation to govern money in politics has been discussed on and off for decades.

In the 1980s, a campaign finance bill was drafted under the Pindling regime.

The comprehensive proposed act “to make provision for political parties; for the regulation and control of political contributions; for the public funding of elections and for other purposes incidental thereto and connected therewith” never made it to Parliament.

That law would have mandated that all money contributed to political parties, party branches and candidates in excess of $100 could only be made by a check having the name of the contributor legibly printed, signed by the contributor and drawn on an account in the contributor’s name or by a money order signed by the contributor. 

Former Prime Minister Perry Christie had promised such legislation more than once.

In July 2012, shortly after he was re-elected, he said the practice of politicians using money to sway voters had deteriorated to “repugnant” and sometimes “criminal” levels.

“The country has to decide, opposition and governing people here, we have to decide whether or not we are prepared to put in place regulations that will govern the conduct of elections and persons who are contesting those elections with respect to the monies spent,” he said.

For his part, former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham had expressed no desire for such legislation, saying that honesty cannot be legislated and pointing to the many challenges faced by the US campaign finance system. 

Yesterday, the attorney general said he does not think it is too late in the term for such legislation.

 He also suggested that the Integrity Commission Bill, which would repeal the Public Disclosure Act and establish a stronger anti-corruption regime, might still be passed this term.

The bill was tabled more than three years ago and has been shelved.

Asked whether it will be debated, Bethel said, “I would hope so. That’s the best that I can say.”

He also said that while the Free National Movement had promised electoral reform measures, like a term limit for prime minister, a set election date and a recall system for members of Parliament, those things will not happen this term.

“It is senseless to bring forth a bill just because you promised it, when you know you’re bound to have a politicized referendum and it’s finished,” he said.

“Then what happens to the bill? It’s tainted. No one else wants to touch it. It is far better to leave that alone. We had this discussion in Cabinet…When you get in, anything that requires a constitutional referendum must be done in the first year.”

The post Campaign money bill still in the cards appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.

source https://thenassauguardian.com/campaign-money-bill-still-in-the-cards/