Democrats in the Virginia General Assembly are reportedly backing the campaign finance bill to ban politicians from using money donated to a political campaign for personal expenses after it introduced by State Delegate Marcus Simon (D-Fairfax) on December 20.
As introduced, HB 40 would amend existing law to limit those running for state offices in Virginia to using campaign funds strictly for campaign expenses, costs incurred as a state official, contributions to sanctioned groups or campaigns, or childcare expenses caused by the campaign.
The lawmakers seek prohibit any contributions to a campaign from being “converted by any person to personal use,” which the legislation dictates means money used to “fulfill any commitment, obligation, or expense of a person that would exist irrespective of the person’s seeking, holding, or maintaining public office.”
Examples of banned uses for campaign funds include mortgage, rent, and utility payments, clothing purchases, “non-campaign-related automobile” costs, country club memberships, vacations “or other non-campaign related” trips, household food items, tuition payments, admissions to entertainment events, or “Dues, fees, and other payments to a health club or recreational facility.”
The bill would also require the Virginia Attorney General to “develop and publish guidance” and provide candidates with “examples of conduct that complies with and that violates” the new legislation.
HB 40 would also allow individual campaign contributors who suspect wrongdoing to provide their evidence to the Virginia Department of Elections. The bill requires such a report to receive an extensive investigation, and if the allegations are proven true, would empower the government agency to require candidates to repay the misspent funds and levy a civil penalty of between $1,000 and $10,000 for each violation discovered.
At press time, eight members of the Virginia House of Delegates and three members of the Virginia Senate are patrons of the bill. The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported HB 40 also has the support of the League of Women Voters of Virginia.
Simon introduces a version of HB 40 every year, the outlet explained, but has received additional attention due to the high profile removal of former Representative George Santos (R-NY-03) from the U.S. House, which was partially sparked by allegations he illegally used campaign funds for personal expenses.
After Clean Virginia director and former Communications Director for Representative Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07) claimed Santos’ alleged “‘misuse’ of campaign funds would have been completely legal if he was a Virginia state legislator” in a post to X, formerly Twitter, Simon replied, “Working on that.”
Both Youngkin and top Democrats in the Virginia House of Delegates have committed to finding areas of bipartisan cooperation, but have not indicated this is an area where the parties could agree. The Virginia legislative session begins January 10.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Georgia Star News, The Virginia Star, and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Del. Marcus Simon” by Del. Marcus Simon.
