The non-partisan good government group Common Cause isn’t satisfied with a reform measure backed by House leaders in the aftermath of Gordon Fox’s guilty plea earlier this year.
House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello says it makes sense for officeholders to file their bank statements for their campaign accounts with the state agency that monitors campaign spending.
“Right now, we’re required to file campaign finance reports, but the Board of Elections has nothing to reconcile them against. We’re trying to give them the means to reconcile the reports we file with an actual balance in the bank,” said Marion.
Fox pleaded guilty to charges including the misuse of more than 100-thousand dollars in campaign funds.
But Common Cause head John Marion says the House leadership bill falls short, in part since it doesn’t require the Board of Elections to examine officeholders’ bank statements. Marion says the Board of Elections needs a stronger mandate and more resources to make an impact in discouraging corruption.
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