Senator Micheal R. "Mike" Williams
310 War Memorial Building
Nashville, TN37243-0204
800-449-8366 ext. 12061 (toll-free in-state) or 615-741-2061
Williams Urges Fellow Legislators
Not to Raise Campaign Funds in Session
For Immediate Release June 1, 2007
NASHVILLE (May 31, 2007)—Senator Micheal R. "Mike" Williams (I-Maynardville) today urged fellow legislators not to raise campaign funds during the current long, drawn-out legislative session.
"This is not an election year. Even if it is technically legal to begin raising campaign contribution funds on June 1 or the end of session whichever comes first during an odd year, it would be unseemly and improper to do so under the present situation," stated Sen. Williams, prime Senate sponsor of the Comprehensive Governmental Ethics Reform Act of 2006.
"We should not be raising funds during session. That could give the perception that votes are being influenced by contributions. Our legislative business should already be wrapped up for this year, but it is not. During an election year, the public might understand the rush to raise dollars if session were being dragged out deliberately to give an advantage to someone's political allies. But this is an off-year and no one should be raising any funds for legislative races now. I believe this matter should be thoroughly discussed and perhaps new legislation proposed for next year's session," concluded the veteran lawmaker.
Campaign Finance Reform laws first passed in 1995 prohibit fundraising activities by legislators, caucuses, and parties during specified black-out periods. The prohibitions include solicitation of such funds if they are used for General Assembly or gubernatorial elections.
Tennessee Code Annotated 2-10-310(a) contains the prohibition against in-session fundraising by legislative candidates. TCA 2-10-310(b) was intended to apply to apply equally to caucuses and parties.
TCA 2-10-310(a) (1) states: Except as provided in subdivisions (a)(2) and (a)(3) [local office in-session fundraising exception], from the convening of the general assembly in organizational session through the earlier of the last day of regular session or June 1 in odd years, and from the convening of the general assembly in regular session to the earlier of May 15 or the conclusion of the annual session in even years, and from the convening of the general assembly in any extraordinary session through the conclusion of such extraordinary session, no member of the general assembly or a member's campaign committee or the governor or the governor's campaign committee shall conduct a fundraiser or solicit or accept contributions for the benefit of the caucus, any caucus member or member or candidate of the general assembly or governor.
"This is not an election year. Even if it is technically legal to begin raising campaign contribution funds on June 1 or the end of session whichever comes first during an odd year, it would be unseemly and improper to do so under the present situation," stated Sen. Williams, prime Senate sponsor of the Comprehensive Governmental Ethics Reform Act of 2006.
"We should not be raising funds during session. That could give the perception that votes are being influenced by contributions. Our legislative business should already be wrapped up for this year, but it is not. During an election year, the public might understand the rush to raise dollars if session were being dragged out deliberately to give an advantage to someone's political allies. But this is an off-year and no one should be raising any funds for legislative races now. I believe this matter should be thoroughly discussed and perhaps new legislation proposed for next year's session," concluded the veteran lawmaker.
Campaign Finance Reform laws first passed in 1995 prohibit fundraising activities by legislators, caucuses, and parties during specified black-out periods. The prohibitions include solicitation of such funds if they are used for General Assembly or gubernatorial elections.
Tennessee Code Annotated 2-10-310(a) contains the prohibition against in-session fundraising by legislative candidates. TCA 2-10-310(b) was intended to apply to apply equally to caucuses and parties.
TCA 2-10-310(a) (1) states: Except as provided in subdivisions (a)(2) and (a)(3) [local office in-session fundraising exception], from the convening of the general assembly in organizational session through the earlier of the last day of regular session or June 1 in odd years, and from the convening of the general assembly in regular session to the earlier of May 15 or the conclusion of the annual session in even years, and from the convening of the general assembly in any extraordinary session through the conclusion of such extraordinary session, no member of the general assembly or a member's campaign committee or the governor or the governor's campaign committee shall conduct a fundraiser or solicit or accept contributions for the benefit of the caucus, any caucus member or member or candidate of the general assembly or governor.
TCA 2-10-310(b) reads as follows: From the convening of the general assembly in organizational session through the earlier of the last day of regular session or June 1 in odd years, and from the convening of the general assembly in regular session to the earlier of May 15 or the conclusion of the annual session in even years, and from the convening of the general assembly in any extraordinary session through the conclusion of such extraordinary session, a political campaign committee controlled by a political party on the national, state, or local level, or by a caucus of such political party established by members of either house of the general assembly, that makes contributions to a candidate for the general assembly or governor for election or to defray the expenses of such person's office shall not conduct a fundraiser, solicit or accept contributions for the benefit of the caucus, any caucus member or candidate for the general assembly or governor.
Sen. Williams represents Senate District 4 which includes Claiborne, Grainger, Hancock, Hawkins, Jefferson, and Union counties in East Tennessee.
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