527 Bill Heads to the Governor's Desk!
  
As the Special Session drew to a close last night, the Senate unanimously passed a landmark bill requiring disclosure by the  sponsors of "sham issue ads" and limiting contributions to 527 groups that get involved in state elections to $1,000 per election from any source.  The bill passed quickly through the House Judiciary Committee and then the entire House on a 99-1 vote, and once signed by Governor Manchin, it will be the first of its kind in the nation.  Although other states have adapted language from McCain-Feingold to state elections in order to regulate electioneering communications that masquerade as issue advocacy, the West Virginia law covers the broadest range of media that might be used to disseminate such communications and we are the first state to place a limit on contributions to 527s. 
  
This legislation will require 527s to register with the with the Secretary of State's office and, once they spend $5,000 or more, require them to disclose where their money comes from.  TV and radio ads will have to state who is paying for them.  This legislation will affect ads like those funded by Don Blankenship and other wealthy individuals and special interest groups during last year's Supreme Court race.

 

CAG would like to thank all of our members for their support on this issue and for contacting their legislators!  We'd also like to send out a special thanks to Perry Bryant, WV Education Association lobbyist and CAG member, for his tireless work lobbying on this issue.