Ken Clark

AZ I See It

If a new bill in the Arizona Legislature passes we are one step closer to politics like those on the TV show House of Cards.

Senate Bill 1516, now under consideration at the state Capitol, threatens to allow influence peddling at a level unimagined 30 years ago – when voters first passed a law intended to “prevent improper influence over state and local officials and to foster public confidence in the integrity of government.”

The law made it illegal for politicians to give each other money from their campaign accounts – a practice which at the time resulted in influence peddling between lawmakers through the largess of political campaign war chests.

It also limited the amount of power the party establishments had over lawmakers and required transparency in campaign contributions – so the public knew who was trying to influence them and their elected officials.

After 30 years, we find ourselves in a time when we are even more concerned than ever about the corrupting influence of “dark money” in elections.

Three major provisions stand out among many problematic elements of the bill.

Problem 1: The 'kingmaker provision'

First, in what I call the “kingmaker provision,” politicians at the Capitol would be able to give each other money from their campaign war chests. This sets up a system where those with larger war chests could influence the votes and behaviors of other members with less cash in their accounts.

To put it another way: influence peddling.

Imagine a situation where the majority leader of the House, let’s call him Frank Underwood, could force members to vote in lockstep with the power of his campaign contributions.

This is a world in which policies are not decided on their merit, but on who has more money to give to whom – even more so than today.

Proponents of this bill like to say that this could happen now because politicians control political action committees, or PACs. What they don’t tell you is that SB 1516 also weakens the current laws that allow us to punish politicians who trade favors for campaign money.

Problem 2: Political parties get more power

A second disconcerting provision allows political parties to pay for most of the costs of the campaigns of its nominees. Proponents like to say that this is just what parties should be doing.

What they are not telling you is that this gives incredible power to the parties to dictate action to the candidates who run under their flag. This will make it more difficult for an elected official to vote his or her conscience.

If you think that partisan politicians vote in lockstep today, just see what happens if this law goes in to effect.

Problem 3: Dark money gets free rein

Last, but certainly not least, this bill relies on the Internal Revenue Service to oversee and report the use of dark money in Arizona – something that we are very capable of doing here, and which the IRS has already shown it does not want to do.

In other words, this bill gives free rein to dark money in Arizona – no transparency, no accountability. There will be even more money flowing behind the scenes, used to influence elected officials and making your voice weaker.

The proponents of this bill say they are streamlining a confusing part of our law, but this bill is really about opening up dark money and influence peddling in ways that we can’t even imagine.

The only way for this bill to stop now is for you to speak up and let your representative know that you will remember their vote in November, if they vote for this bill today.

Rep. Ken Clark, D-Phoenix (District 24), is the ranking member on the House Elections Committee. Email him at kclark@azleg.gov; follow him on Twitter, @kenclarkforaz.​

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