Bill: HB 3305, 85(R) - 2017
Committee
House General Investigating & Ethics
Vote Recommendation
Vote Recommendation |
Economic Freedom |
Property Rights |
Personal Responsibility |
Limited Government |
Individual Liberty |
No |
Neutral |
Neutral |
Neutral |
Negative |
Negative |
Author(s)
Lyle Larson
Bill Caption
Relating to the eligibility for
appointment to public office by the governor of persons who make certain
contributions.
Fiscal Notes
From the LBB: No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
Bill Analysis
This bill would make a person ineligible to be appointed to public office by the governor if the individual made contributions that in aggregate exceed $2,500 to the governor or a specific purpose committee supporting the governor as a candidate or officeholder. The bill would also prohibit a person serving as an officer appointed by the governor from making political contributions that in aggregate exceed $2,500 to the governor or a specific purpose committee supporting the governor as a candidate or officeholder. A violation of this would make an individual liable in damages to the state for triple the amount of contributions in a year that exceed the limited prescribed by the section. A contribution by the officeholder's spouse or dependent child or contribution from an organization made in the officeholder's name and with their consent would be considered a contribution by the officeholder. Before taking office, an individual would also be required to sign an attestation that they have not made political contributions in aggregate of $2,500 as stated above.
Vote Recommendation Notes
This bill would violate our principles of individual liberty and limited government by making a person ineligible for governmental appointment due to their political contributions. This would cause a person to have a job prospect taken away from them due entirely to the exercise of their freedom of speech. For this reason, we oppose this bill.