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ASG Election expenditures reduction act re-introduced
ASG
Rachel Williams
Issue date: 10/5/07 Section: News
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A bill titled The Election Expenditures Reduction Act of 2007 - 2.0, was re-introduced at Tuesday's Associated Student Government meeting.
The bill seeks to reduce the amount of donations and personal funds allowed for use in ASG Executive campaigns to $1,250 for general elections and an additional $500 in case of a run-off.
Senator Jacob Holloway, representing Bumpers College, introduced the legislation and said that while a nearly identical bill was defeated by two votes in last year's Senate, he believed it was important to reintroduce the issue.
"I believe this is an issue of economic equality," Holloway said.
"I do believe that as a student government there should be equal access for students to get involved. Lowering how much a candidate can spend on an election takes the money equation out of that."
The bill would also reduce the allowed expenses for ASG Senate campaigns to $500 for the general campaign while allowing an additional $250 in the event of a run-off election.
The current ASG Code, accessible on the ASG Web site, allows $2,500 in expenses for Executive campaigns with an additional $1000 for run-offs and $2,500 for Senate campaigns with an additional $500 for run-offs.
The ASG Code requires all candidates to submit itemized reports of donations and expenses by 5 p.m. on the day following an election.
"The current initial spending limit of $2,500 is proportional to 10 percent of Arkansas current per-capita income," according to the bill.
Holloway said that the bill's spending limit of $1,250 is $500 below the average expenditure by an ASG executive candidate. The average expenditure for a Senate race is $15.61, though one candidate spent $220.50, Holloway said.
Senators raised the question of whether election spending provides increased visibility for ASG and contributes to student participation.
In last year's election student participation was just under 25 percent, which is a nearly a seven percent increase over the previous year, said ASG Secretary Mattie Bookhout.
The bill seeks to reduce the amount of donations and personal funds allowed for use in ASG Executive campaigns to $1,250 for general elections and an additional $500 in case of a run-off.
Senator Jacob Holloway, representing Bumpers College, introduced the legislation and said that while a nearly identical bill was defeated by two votes in last year's Senate, he believed it was important to reintroduce the issue.
"I believe this is an issue of economic equality," Holloway said.
"I do believe that as a student government there should be equal access for students to get involved. Lowering how much a candidate can spend on an election takes the money equation out of that."
The bill would also reduce the allowed expenses for ASG Senate campaigns to $500 for the general campaign while allowing an additional $250 in the event of a run-off election.
The current ASG Code, accessible on the ASG Web site, allows $2,500 in expenses for Executive campaigns with an additional $1000 for run-offs and $2,500 for Senate campaigns with an additional $500 for run-offs.
The ASG Code requires all candidates to submit itemized reports of donations and expenses by 5 p.m. on the day following an election.
"The current initial spending limit of $2,500 is proportional to 10 percent of Arkansas current per-capita income," according to the bill.
Holloway said that the bill's spending limit of $1,250 is $500 below the average expenditure by an ASG executive candidate. The average expenditure for a Senate race is $15.61, though one candidate spent $220.50, Holloway said.
Senators raised the question of whether election spending provides increased visibility for ASG and contributes to student participation.
In last year's election student participation was just under 25 percent, which is a nearly a seven percent increase over the previous year, said ASG Secretary Mattie Bookhout.
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