Campaign Disclosure Bill Watered Down, Then Shot Down

Even the less intrusive version of SB 31 was too much for Louisiana legislators to handle. Today, the state senate refused to accept a new “watered-down” version of the measure, which would ask campaign supporters to name their employers and might therefore prevent companies from laundering money through employees to donate larger sums to a candidate. That’s quite clearly a fundamental and necessary element of real campaign finance disclosure.

Here’s what’s worse:

Lawmakers rejected the measure even though it was softened in a Senate committee last week to remove any repercussions against politicians and contributors who fail to comply.

Jindal’s ethics reform has been getting some positive press in the last few days (with a few, notable, um, exceptions). But without passing measures like SB 31 the perception of this state and its legislators will remain unchanged - and it is that perception that Jindal and business leaders want changed the most.