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Hughes: Common Sense Requirements for Transparency and Campaign Finance
Wouldn’t it be nice if these common sense requirements applied to all representatives, senators and statewide elected officials?
1. Campaign finance reform should go into effect the day it passes – not a year later so that people can drain their accounts for personal use.
2. Everyone MUST complete an online, monthly record of campaign donations and expenditures (so no more secret donations held until after an election, vote or session);
3. The Secretary of State must keep all campaign spending records active, online, and easily searchable by who gave to $$ whom, and who got $$ from whom (Ex: Type in “Empower MS” and see a list of every candidate it gave to);
4. There will be no personal use of campaign funds = not for office, for accommodation rent, lease, mortgage or for vehicle or transportation fees.
5. All elected officials must disclose all “education,” “scholarships” or “tours” they receive from any person, entity or agency, and the location, and means of travel.
6. All travel trips made in any official capacity must be identified, as well as all who accompanied
7. All campaign donors must be listed in alphabetical order on all campaign forms;
8. All donations over $200 or cumulative in any 12 month period must be reported;
9. All calendars of representatives, senators and statewide elected officials made available within seven days of a written FOIA request;
10. All emails regarding public business shall be on state email servers and shall be made available within seven days of a written FOIA request. This applies to Governor, Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, Speaker of the House and heads of all state agencies and departments;
11. All phone calls regarding state business shall be made or received on state telephone lines, whether land or cellular, which billing records shall be made available within 7 days of an FOIA request unless falling under the privileges defined under executive session.
12. Remove PERS prohibitions on dual income so that retired teachers and other educators can run for elected office, without surrendering retirement benefits.
Oxford lawyer Jay Hughes serves the 12th District in the Mississippi House of Representatives. He can be contacted at jayfordistrict12@gmail.com.
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