Katie Castellani
State House News Service
Unsettled by the amount of money candidates have been funneling into their own campaign accounts, Sen. Rebecca Rausch plans next session to file legislation limiting how much money candidates can donate to themselves.
Under state law, candidates can make unlimited donations to political committees that are organized on their behalf. Rausch, a Needham Democrat, told the News Service that candidates should be subject to the same annual cap of $1,000 per candidate that other donors face.
"I want to remove the loophole that has allowed the truly anti-democratic problem to persist, and I don't care what a candidate's political persuasion may be. The ultra-rich should not be able to buy their way into office. That is not a democracy," Rausch said.
She first announced the legislation in a social media post commenting on the fact that GOP gubernatorial nominee Mike Minogue had put $17.3 million into his own campaign. Minogue has told NBC 10 that spending his own money on his campaign is good for residents and shows he's not beholden to a party.
Rausch said she's seen self-funding from "a variety of candidates of a variety of political persuasions" in past cycles as well.
She said the legislation would be very similar to a fiscal 2027 budget amendment that she filed and then withdrew.
Asked if she has any co-sponsors for the legislation, Rausch said the "co-sponsorship period follows in January after the bills are filed" and that she plans to discuss the proposal more with colleagues.
Sens. Patricia Jehlen of Somerville - who is leaving office - and Liz Miranda of Boston co-sponsored the budget amendment.
