To Be Announced...

The whole Iowa blogosphere is abuzz today with news of a new ethics bill introduced in Iowa.

It mirrors closely one introduced in the US Senate as part of an ethics reform measure introduced by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada).

A bill to provide greater transparency in the legislative process. From the many articles about it, most of the concern centered around...

"...section 220 of the bill introduces disclosure requirements for "paid efforts to stimulate grassroots lobbying...[and] would require grassroots causes, even bloggers, who communicate to 500 or more members of the public on policy matters, to register and report quarterly to Congress"

Eventually, that section was removed. Sen. Robert Bennett (R-UT) introduced amendment 20, and it passed 55-43. His amendment removed the controversial section 220 from the bill, which means that federally-focused grassroots political campaigns will not be counted as lobbyists and can continue to raise and spend money without disclosing its source.

But Iowa is trying something different.

House File 36

An Act relating to political campaigns by limiting campaign contributions for statewide and legislative elections and making penalties applicable.

As used in this section, "cash" includes but is not limited to a check, money order, or other negotiable instrument.

Throughout the bill, it talks about so-called, "in-kind" contributions. Curiously, they don't really define what that means...Gongol.com today is one of many asking the same question:

What's the value of an "in-kind" mention on someone's website, for instance?

Gongol says, "...The bill could be interpreted to suggest that any Iowan with a website and an opinion would have to watch what they say and how often just to stay within the rules."

That might be a stretch, but since they don't actually define what "in kind" contributions are, it would be up to judges to eventually determine what it means. Again, here's the text:

This bill relates to political campaigns and campaign finance and disclosure, containing limitations on certain contributions to candidates for statewide office or the general assembly.

The bill limits contributions by a committee or any person other than the candidate. The term "person" includes any individual, corporation, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership or association, labor union, or any other legal entity.

Could an in-kind contribution also mean a yard sign on someone's high-end property? Maybe...who knows?

Me? I'm not all that worried. I know how to determine how many people read this blog (and it's approaching 5,000 unique visitors weekly)...but I couldn't tell you how many actually "read" everything on the site - much less act on it.

Even if passed, and eventually determined to apply to this blog, I'm going to continue doing what I do. They can come and arrest me if they want...I'll just start a defense fund or something.