House passes new campaign contribution cap, but will Senate go along?

By
Suzanne Downing
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6
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House Bill 234 passed the House on Wednesday evening during a late session, with 22 voting for it, 18 against it, largely on caucus lines.

Republicans were concerned that the bill setting new campaign donation limits at $2,000 per campaign cycle, out of state contribution limits at no more than 25 percent of all donations, while donations to political parties would be capped at $5,000.

Rep. Cal Schrage, the bill sponsor, argued that although the bill is not perfect, it is better than allowing campaign contributions to be unlimited, as they are ever since the courts struck down Alaska’s $500 campaign contribution limit. The bill could be improved in the Senate, he said.

Schrage is in a strong position to fight for contribution limits on other candidates, as he had $66,000 in his campaign account last month, most from his Democrat donors and union organizations, which can be found in his APOC report at this link. His Republican challenger, Jay MacDonald has a fraction of that in his campaign account.

Schrage spent considerable energy on the floor arguing about corruption and how pervasive it is in politics in Alaska, while Rep. Zack Fields rocked back and forth in his chair and stared at him. Fields is employed by a union, Laborers Local 341, for which he makes up to $100,000 a year, in addition to drawing a more than $50,400 annual salary as a lawmaker. He was caught in 2020 for failing to disclose his finances to the Alaska Public Offices Commission.

The bill has been sent to the Senate for consideration. It will likely be referred to at least one committee there, State Affairs, chaired by Sen. Mike Shower of Wasilla.

Listen to a breathless Rep. Schrage argue for his bill at this link:

6 COMMENTS

  1. I bet Little Zack never picked up a shovel in his life, let alone for the Laborers. He looks like a sissyboy.

    • The Senate RINO’s will most likely be for this bill. Democrats are in support of limits on campaign cash from and for conservatives while making their campaign cash sources exempt from the same limits.

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