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CAMPAIGN REFORMS PROPOSED

Heller Bill Aims to Overhaul System for Disclosing Finances

By Jane Ann Morrison, Las Vegas Review-Journal, 12-05-02, P. B1

Tired of being criticized for creating campaign finance reports that are confusing and hard to fill out, Secretary of State Dean Heller made some changes he predicted would "cause some ire in the Legislature."

The changes will require lawmakers to disclose their case on hand as well as debts. He's also asked for a bill draft to submit to the 2003 Legislature calling for major adjustments in the way candidates report their campaign finances.

Heller has redesigned the campaign contributions and expense reports candidates turn in Jan. 15, at the end of the political season. Also, the disclosure of cash on hand will capture more accurately the amounts longtime incumbents have raised over the years and eliminate the chance that reports will erroneously suggest campaign deficits.

Candidates will also be asked at the end of the campaign to disclose any unpaid expenses, offering a clearer understanding of their debt.

The major changes sought in his bill draft include:

Mandating all candidates use an online reporting program he initiated this year.
Requiring all candidates file their reports with his office. Currently, candidates file at various locations.
Requiring any donation of $1,000 or above be reported online with his office within 24 hours.
Requiring annual reporting, as opposed to staggered reporting. Information now filed in multiple reports would be included in this annual filing, including the financial disclosure reports required by the Nevada Ethics Commission, unspent contributions from previous campaigns and annual contributions in excess of $10,000.
Requiring authority be given to his office to audit the contribution and expense reports.

Heller invited lawmakers to challenge his proposals.

Heller has previously said that the Legislature has handcuffed him in improving the forms. But, he said after he read a news account in which Assemblywoman Chris Giunchigliani, D-Las Vegas, said he wasn't prohibited from making changes, "I took that as a green light. Great. Let's fix it."

News accounts of the usefulness of the reports "absolutely had influence" he said.

Initial reaction to his suggestions had been mixed, even among advocates of open government.

"The forms have been bad for years; it's a good thing they're finally being changed to be clearer," said Assembly Majority Leader Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas.

Assemblyman Bob Beers, R-Las Vegas, tried to improve the forms during the 2001 session, but saw his campaign finance bill cut to 12 pages from 22 pages, in the Assembly and then down to six pages in the Senate.

"I was forced to watch its dismemberment one limb at a time and it exited in a coffin," Beers said.

Still, Beers had concerns about Heller's proposal.

The computer and audit costs Heller's bill would require might not "in a tight budget environment be the wisest use of our limited resources," Beers said.

Heller said he didn't have the estimated cost of his proposals available.

Beers called it "a bold move" by Heller to request information that campaigns are not legally required to provide. But since including cash-on-hand totals was one of the aspects of Beers' own bill, "I can't criticize his move. It's probably a good one."

Senate Government Affairs Chairwoman Ann O'Connell, R-Las Vegas, said she had no trouble supporting cash-on-hand reports, or combining numerous reports into one annual report. But mandating computer reporting as well as the quick reporting of donations of $1,000 and above "could cause a problem for those of us who are still illiterate as far as computers are concerned."

Buckley said although most of the bill draft proposals sound fine, the 24-hour deadline could cause difficulties for candidates. "In practice, most candidates work eight or nine hours a day, spend three or four hours a night on the campaign and then a couple of hours with their families. We'd want to do the reporting in an efficient manner, but don't know if that's the most efficient way."

Heller said that immediate online reporting creates the most complete disclosure of campaign information.

Paul Brown, Southern Nevada Director of the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada, works with the reports to analyze the source of legislators' financial support. He agreed with O'Connell that the 24-hour time limit for $1,000 and above would be impractical and unreasonable because it assumes every candidate would have easy access to a computer.

"There could be improvements, let's see how they are implemented," Brown said.

He supported the reporting of unpaid bills as closing a potential loophole.

Heller said he expects his bill will be debated. "Let's have this argument in the Legislature. There is no better place."

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