Lawmakers Revise Campaign Finance Laws

An extensive revamping of Maryland's campaign finance laws is raising donation limits for individuals, while emphasizing disclosure and enabling the state elections board to fine violators.

Those are just some of the main parts of the 63-page measure that passed in the last couple of hours of the Maryland General Assembly's legislative session, which ended Monday. The bill is the product of a commission that studied potential changes to campaign finance law, and it also includes new rules for super political action committees - outside organizations that can collect unlimited contributions from corporations, unions and individuals.

"This completely overhauled the structure and enforcement and disclosure mechanisms in the state of Maryland," said Jared DeMarinis, director of the candidacy and campaign finance division for the Maryland State Board of Elections.
More