HOUSE FILE 187

BY  ISENHART

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to independent expenditures in campaigns and providing for a penalty.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

   Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  68A.404A  Independent expenditures —— tax benefits —— penalty.
   1.  A person or entity making an independent expenditure or providing funds to another entity for the purpose of making an independent expenditure shall not be eligible to receive a tax benefit or program incentive that is offered by the state or any of its political subdivisions and that is not made generally available if the person or entity has made an independent campaign expenditure of seven hundred fifty dollars or more in the aggregate in any calendar year within the previous five years. 
   2.  A person or entity receiving a tax benefit or program incentive that is offered by the state or any of its political subdivisions and that is not made generally available shall be disqualified from receiving any tax benefit or program incentive for five years if the person or entity makes an independent campaign expenditure described in subsection 1. If the person or entity is currently receiving such a benefit or incentive, the benefit or incentive shall be terminated effective on the date of the independent campaign expenditures.
   3.  The board shall post to an internet site, on a quarterly basis, a list of all persons or entities making independent expenditures and shall provide the list to the secretary of state. The secretary of state shall provide the list to all state and local government bodies for which candidate elections are held. 
   4.  A person or entity violating the provisions of section 68A.404 or this section shall be penalized by the board in an amount not to exceed the amount of the independent expenditure. 
   5.  This section does not apply to ballot issue elections. 
EXPLANATION
   This bill prohibits a person from receiving a state or local tax benefit or program incentive that is not generally available if the person has made an independent campaign expenditure of $750 or more in the aggregate in any calendar year within the previous five years.
   The bill requires that the campaign finance and disclosure board publish a list on the internet of all persons or entities making independent expenditures.
   The bill provides that a person violating Code section 68A.404 or the provisions of this bill shall be penalized in an amount not to exceed the amount of the independent expenditure.