The reporting law requires politicians to file campaign finance records online instead of by paper. Because of problems with the computer system and logistical concerns raised by some legislators, a House bill approving a one-year delay was moving along without much opposition.
But an amendment approved by the Senate Rules Committee stopped HB311 in its tracks.
The amendment would forever exempt current politicians from the rule. That change cleared the Senate by a 17-2 vote, with Sens. Hollis French and Bill Wielechowski, both Anchorage Democrats, dissenting, but it caused enough confusion when it returned to the House that Democrats and Republicans broke into caucuses to figure out the implications of the change.
Both sides returned with the same conclusion: the change was too much, and the proposed exemption was voted down 33-0.
Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, explained the change to the Rules Committee as a "geezer amendment" designed to help him and others who have filed by paper for the last decade. He also told the committee that the Alaska Public Offices Commission had not been especially helpful to legislators transitioning to the new system.
Rep. Mike Doogan, D-Anchorage, said he understands not wanting to change systems but thinks the Senate's proposed rules will inevitably be unfair.
"I've never been through a system change that didn't have some quirks," said Doogan, a longtime Anchorage Daily News columnist. "But we're not using the Pony Express to file anymore either ... going online makes everything simple and immediate.
"What the Senate suggests, basically what it does is creates two classes of people: those happened to be in office before and those who did not," Doogan said.
A Senate floor vote Wednesday could remove the amendment and pass the original proposal. If the Senate insists on keeping the amendment, there will be a conference of three members each from the House and Senate to decide what happens.
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