Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE With his own election efforts under investigation, D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray proposed changes to the District’s campaign finance rules to help increase “accountability and transparency” in city politics.
Gray laid out the proposals Tuesday at the Wilson Building with D.C. Attorney General Irvin Nathan. Gray said his embattled administration has worked with the Attorney General’s Office for months on the bill, which comes after three former Gray aides pleaded guilty to running a shadow campaign to help get Gray elected in 2010.
Among the changes Gray and Nathan laid out are a ban on campaign contributions from anyone with a contract worth $250,000 or more. The bill also seeks to tighten up financial disclosure loopholes for organizations that get involved in any campaign.
Candidates would also be held more accountable for the actions of their political committees. Mayor Gray said he hopes the bill passes, regardless of his own campaign scandal.
“I don’t think the most useful thing is to evaluate me or anyone else in the course of this,” Gray told reporters. “I think you look at the proposal and you determine whether it has merit. If people think it has merit, I would hope they would support it. If they don’t, I hope they have a different idea.”
DC residents who might have different ideas on the city’s campaign finance reform effort can indeed give their input: The Attorney General’s Office will accept public comments on the bill until Sept. 17, when it goes to the D.C. Council for consideration.
