Arizona’s Citizens Clean Elections Commission has clarifies what is considered a political committee. They unanimously voted for the change Friday.
The new rule states an organization will be designated a political committee if more than half of its spending and contributions equal more than $500 during a two-year election cycle. This rule targets so-called “dark money,” a term used to describe groups that spend money on elections and aren’t required to disclose their donors.
Clean Elections Executive Director Tom Collins said this rule provides clarity.
“We ought to be able to tell folks who are spending money in elections exactly how we will evaluate complaints if they are filed,” Collins said.
The Secretary of State’s Office oversees Arizona elections. In the past it has argued the legislature has the authority to determine the definition.
Spokesman Matt Roberts said this could create a problem for people filing complaints,
“It could introduce some level of confusion among political committees as to who is a political committee and who gets to decide that," Roberts said.
Critics say the commission doesn’t have the jurisdiction to define a political committee. Some have threatened to take legal action.
EDITOR'S NOTE: This headline and story have been updated to reflect the commission clarified but did not redefine the rule amendment on political committees.
Updated 11/2/2015 at 3:18 p.m.
