The Alaska Public Office Commission Thursday removed limits on campaign donations to state-level candidates, allowing unlimited donations to campaigns.<\/p>\n
A court ruling struck down a 2006 voter initiative that put a $500 limit on campaign donations. That case had been in the courts for six years before a Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in August 2021 found the $500 limit to be too low and in violation of First Amendment free speech protections.<\/p>\n
The Dunleavy administration chose not to appeal the case. Attorney General Treg Taylor wrote in a September 2021 legal brief<\/a> the state had already spent years on the case, and further litigation might produce a worse outcome for the state.<\/p>\n According to APOC, shortly after the decision in October 2021, Paula DeLaiarro sent APOC a letter regarding the decision and asking if she was able to donate an unlimited amount.<\/p>\n APOC staff recommended reverting back to contribution limits set in 2003 but indexed for inflation, amounting to $1,500 per individual. But that advisory note required a vote of four out of five members of the commission. In a Feb. 28, meeting only three members voted in favor.<\/p>\n “Application of the revival doctrine here would reestablish contribution limits passed by the Alaska Legislature almost nineteen years ago,” APOC stated in the decision. “Moreover, the doctrine of revival in this context has not been specifically adopted by Alaska Courts or the Legislature.”<\/p>\n [Hearing held for restrictive transgender sports bill<\/a>]<\/ins><\/p>\n The advisory note asks the Legislature to revisit contribution limits to provide clarity for Alaskans.<\/p>\n But until then, the door is open for people to make unlimited contributions to candidates amid an election year.<\/p>\n In an interview Friday, Senate President Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, said he felt the $1,500 limit was somewhat arbitrary, but a preferable alternative to unlimited campaign donations. Micciche said he was concerned about the influence that could give to very wealthy individual donors.<\/p>\n “It certainly leaves me with the impression those with the greatest amount of resources will have the advantage,” Micciche said. “At some point, the wealthiest should not be advantaged that significantly.”<\/p>\n On social media, gubernatorial candidate Les Gara, a Democrat, blamed the Dunleavy administration for not appealing the decision.<\/p>\n “(Dunleavy) got his way. Unlimited $ in Alaska politics as of an hour ago. He orchestrated this. He purposely didn’t appeal the court ruling reversing our donation limits,” Gara said on Twitter. “When called out by the court for not appealing, he still refused to appeal. This is what he wanted all along.”<\/p>\n #Akgov<\/a> got his way. Unlimited $ in Alaska politics as of an hour ago. He orchestrated this. He purposely didn\u2019t appeal the court ruling reversing our donation limits. When called out by the court for not appealing, he still refused to appeal. This is what he wanted all along. https:\/\/t.co\/VkKFCzrCL7<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/W5223c7917<\/a><\/p>\n — Les Gara (@LesGara_InAK) March 4, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n \n