By Bob Katzen

The Senate 38-0, approved and sent to the House a bill requiring more frequent public reporting of fundraising and spending by groups supporting or opposing ballot questions. Under the bill, ballot question committees would be required to provide monthly reports on their finances. After September of that year,, campaigns would have to file biweekly reports until Election Day. The bill would hold ballot question campaigns to the same standard of disclosure already followed by candidates for office. Currently, ballot committees don’t have to report on their finances between Jan. 20 and September.

“This is a bipartisan bill, a commonsense bill that we must pass now to ensure our campaign finance laws are strengthened, they’re consistent and they’re fair for everyone,” said sponsor Sen. Sal DiDomenico (D-Everett). “The ballot questions are happening this fall. We have to get this done right now.”

“Statewide ballot questions are a great tool for empowering the public to vote directly on statewide policies, but it is vitally important that our voters know which people and organizations are funding these policy proposals,” continued DiDomenico. “I am proud to pass my legislation through the Senate that will close a loophole in our campaign finance law and ensure our residents have all the information they need to make an educated decision when voting on ballot measures.”

“With the increasing number of ballot questions in each election, the need for transparency has never been greater,” said Sen. John Keenan (D-Quincy), Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Election Laws. “Many of the questions are backed with significant funding and other resources. This important bill will allow voters to see who is supporting or opposing the ballot questions, sponsoring the ads and paying for mailings. It will help voters make informed decisions at the polls.”

(A “Yes” vote is for the bill.)