FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Jason Gant 605-321-1596
March 3, 2010-Pierre, SD-Senator Jason Gant has announced plans to bring South Dakota in line with national campaign finance regulations regarding corporate campaign contributions.
Senator Gant, an announced candidate for South Dakota Secretary of State, stated at Wednesday's Senate Local Government committee meeting that, "Due to the recent United States Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, I feel it is important that South Dakota bring its campaign finance regulations in line with federal precedent." Senator Gant continued, "With that said, I want to ensure there is real transparency in those regulations so that South Dakotans know where corporate campaign contributions are coming from. South Dakotans deserve that level of openness in political campaigns."
In today's hearing, Senator Gant agreed with current Secretary of State Chris Nelson, that corporations should be allowed to voice political views, but worried that the current Secretary of State and his staff are leaving loopholes. Senator Gant helped close those loopholes when he proposed an amendment that would require in-state corporations to report those campaign contributions they were responsible for. The amendment further required that organizations-such as a trust, club or foreign corporation, that are not currently filing reports with our Secretary of State-have the requirement to disclose every political communication they fund, regardless of the amount. Finally, the amendment also requires that corporations that are formed by other corporations or organizations have the requirement to reveal who is truly funding their communication.
"I believe all South Dakotans should know who is funding corporate campaign contributions," Senator Gant concluded. "If corporations are going to be allowed some form of political speech, the Secretary of State has the responsibility to ensure all South Dakotans know who is funding that speech." Following the favorable vote on the Gant amendment, House Bill 1053 was passed unanimously.
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