Clock is Ticking for Arkansas Activists Seeking Campaign Finance Reform
By: Jonathan Athens, KARK 4 News
Updated: September 17, 2012
The clock is ticking for activists hoping to get a campaign finance reform measure before Arkansas in November.
Regnat Populus has 13 days to collect 62,000 valid signatures and turn those signatures over to the Secretary of State's Office.
The proposal would not ban money from politics but it would ban corporations and unions from contributing directly to candidates. They could still donate to political action committees.
Some people think it's about time.
"I think everything is corrupt right now," said North Little Rock voter Bing Priest. "There's too much involved in kickbacks."
Others question if such a reform would make a difference.
"How do you enforce it?" asked Joel Love, a Little Rock.
But it was the question about the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on a Montana law that prompted political consultant Clint Reed to wonder.
Reed, who was Executive Director of the Arkansas GOP, said if Regnat Populus becomes law, one or two years down the road, Justices could shoot it down.
Brent Bumpers, who co-chaired the committee for a Better Ethics Ballot Initiative said no way.
"It (SCOTUS decision) has no impact...all we're trying to do in Arkansas is mirror the federal law," Bumpers said.
Regnat Populus has 13 days to collect 62,000 valid signatures and turn those signatures over to the Secretary of State's Office.
The proposal would not ban money from politics but it would ban corporations and unions from contributing directly to candidates. They could still donate to political action committees.
Some people think it's about time.
"I think everything is corrupt right now," said North Little Rock voter Bing Priest. "There's too much involved in kickbacks."
Others question if such a reform would make a difference.
"How do you enforce it?" asked Joel Love, a Little Rock.
But it was the question about the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on a Montana law that prompted political consultant Clint Reed to wonder.
Reed, who was Executive Director of the Arkansas GOP, said if Regnat Populus becomes law, one or two years down the road, Justices could shoot it down.
Brent Bumpers, who co-chaired the committee for a Better Ethics Ballot Initiative said no way.
"It (SCOTUS decision) has no impact...all we're trying to do in Arkansas is mirror the federal law," Bumpers said.
