TESTIMONY TO THE SENATE EDUCATION, HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

HB 827 Municipal Elections - Campaign Finance Reports - Submission of Copies to the State Board of Elections

POSITION: Support

BY:  Susan Cochran, President

DATE: March 27, 2014

The League of Women Voters of Maryland is a nonpartisan organization of citizen activists and volunteers from communities across the state.  Over the more than nine decades of its existence, the League has always worked toward a government that is open and transparent and that works on behalf of all Americans.

This straight-forward piece of legislation would enhance a citizen’s right to know who is funding the campaigns of elected officials without placing an undue burden on municipalities.  It makes sense to have campaign finance information archived in a single place - in this case, the state Board of Elections database - which the public may access through the BOE website.

We support the amended version of this bill and urge a favorable report on HB 827.