“We don’t have campaign finance laws in South Dakota. We just have them for people that are everyday citizens that are trying to follow the spirit of the law, but the bad actors don’t have to follow them.”
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – A South Dakota lawmaker has filed multiple pieces of legislation he says could help address government accountability.
Senate Bill 12 would limit the amount of money that may be loaned to a candidate or a political action committee (PAC).
Sen. Michael Rohl (R) of Aberdeen hopes that the bill will close a loophole in the South Dakota campaign finance world.
“PACs shouldn’t be personal checking accounts for the ultra-wealthy to be able to buy politicians,” Rohl said.
Currently, South Dakota law limits contributions to a candidate and a PAC at $1,000 and $10,000 respectively.
However, the state allows unlimited loans, which can be forgiven as bad debt.
“We don’t have campaign finance laws in South Dakota. We just have them for people that are everyday citizens that are trying to follow the spirit of the law, but the bad actors don’t have to follow them,” Rohl said.
Rohl wants to limit the loans to the $1,000 and $10,000 figures that are used for contributions.
In the midst of several fraud investigations amongst state employees, Senator Rohl says accountability in all parts of government is desperately needed.
“I think politicians for a long time have been saying we want to have more transparency in government, but nothing seems to happen so I’m drafting legislation and trying to be true to what I told people I represent I would do.”
But Rohl is prepared for a lot of pushback.
“There’s going to be some opposition to it and there’s going to be opposition for the very reason that it needs to go away, and that’s because people are going to be afraid to make their donors mad,” said Rohl.
The Aberdeen senator also filed Senate Bill 11, which limits the amount of money that a political committee may accept from an inactive candidate campaign committee.
The 100th legislative session starts on January 14th.
