NEWS

Michele Reagan to elections panel: 'Tread lightly' on dark money rules

Mary Jo Pitzl
The Republic | azcentral.com
Arizona Secretary of State Michele Reagan
  • The Clean Elections Commission wants to require disclosure from political committees.
  • But Secretary of State Michele Reagan objects, tells panel to tread lightly. The Clean Elections Commission wants to require disclosure from political committees
  • The commission put off a vote for at least 60 days

The turf war between the Arizona Secretary of State and the Clean Elections Commission is continuing, but on a slower timetable and with softer, yet stern, rhetoric.

On Thursday, Secretary of State Michele Reagan told the five commissioners to “tread lightly” as they consider a rule that could force disclosure of so-called “dark-money” contributors.

“I believe you have noble intentions,” Reagan said. “You want to be able to rein in groups if they corrupt our election system.”

But, she continued, the way the commission is trying to do that would set a precedent that she called “extremely troubling.”

Reagan argues the commission has no authority to force political committees to file campaign reports, something that would require naming donors.

But commission chairman Thomas Koester said part of the duties voters gave the commission when they approved its creation in 1998 was to do voter education — and that includes shedding light on campaigns and who is funding them.

“Everyone across the state is worried about the corruption of Big Money,” Koester said.

The commission put off for at least two months a vote on its proposed rule that would define a political committee as any group that spends at least $500 on a campaign. Koester said the commission has received alternative proposals that will require a 60-day review period.

Additionally, Reagan’s office has filed a petition asking the commission to consider an amendment that it believes would effectively take away the commission’s argument for overseeing political committees not associated with publicly funded candidates.

Last month, state Elections Director Eric Spencer told the commissioners if they pass the rule, “you just bought yourself a lawsuit.”

But on Thursday, Reagan demurred when asked if her office would sue if the commission proceeded with its rule. She said a lawsuit would not be her priority, but her office would keep all options open.

Reach the reporter at maryjo.pitzl@arizonarepublic.com or at 602-444-8963.