Campaign disclosure bills make headway

The House Finance Committee sent to the House floor a bill that would strip the anonymity from organizations trying to get initiatives on the Alaska ballot.

The measure, sponsored by Rep. Kyle Johansen, R-Ketchikan, would have its greatest effect on so-called "astroturfing" campaigns run by groups that appear to be grass-roots organizations but represent powerful big-money interests seeking to change state law through the ballot box.

While current law requires disclosure of initiative campaign spending once the measure is on the ballot, the process to get it there can take a year, with hired signature gatherers soliciting people to sign petitions at malls, concerts and other events.

Johansen's bill would also require the lieutenant governor, Alaska's chief election official, to conduct neutral hearings on initiatives before the election.

A matching pair of corporate and union money disclosure bills were also heard in committee Wednesday. The bills, by Sen. Hollis French, D-Anchorage, and Rep. Bob Lynn, R-Anchorage, were filed in response to the U.S. Supreme Court decision in January that corporations and unions could not be barred from spending money to support or oppose candidates. Alaska, in an effort to reduce the effects on elections of big spending from corporate treasuries, was one of about two dozen states along with the federal government that had such a ban.

French's bill was passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee after it was amended to ban foreign nationals from spending money on Alaska elections. The bill now goes to the Senate Finance Committee. French said he was optimistic because the bill had the support of Senate leaders.

The companion bill didn't do as well in the House Judiciary Committee. After it received support in testimony and from members of the panel, the committee's chairman, Rep. Jay Ramras, R-Fairbanks, said he was going to "set the bill aside."

In an interview after the hearing, Ramras said he didn't oppose requiring corporate and union disclosure but wanted to achieve it through French's bill after it passed the Senate. He said he held the hearing Wednesday as a "courtesy" to Lynn, a member of his majority caucus.

A disappointed Lynn retreated to his office, where he said the most important thing was "that we address the issue" and approve a disclosure bill this session.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.