(Sioux Falls, SD) — One South Dakota lawmaker is working to close a campaign finance loophole during the upcoming legislative session. Republican Senator Michael Rohl of Aberdeen wants to pass Senate Bill 12, which would limit the amount of money that may be loaned to a candidate or a political action committee, commonly known as PACs. Rohl says, “PACs shouldn’t be personal checking accounts for the ultra-wealthy to be able to buy politicians.” South Dakota law currently limits contributions to a candidate and a PAC at one-thousand dollars and ten-thousand respectively. But the state also allows unlimited loans, which can be forgiven as bad debt. Senate Bill 12 would limit the loans to those same figures that are used for contributions. This is one step of many that Senator Rohl says he wants to take in order to help address government accountability, especially after several recent fraud investigations involving state employees. South Dakota’s 100th legislative session gets underway on January 14th.
