A bill to ban legislators from using campaign funds for personal use made it out of a Senate committee Tuesday afternoon. The proposal received bipartisan support.
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Jennifer Boysko (D-Fairfax), would provide the reform advocates have been asking for and bring Virginia in line with policies many other states are already doing.
“Trust is at an all-time low,” Boysko said while presenting her bill to the Senate’s Privileges and Elections Committee. “The body needs to assure our constituents that our elected officials are running for office to serve them, not to enrich themselves.”
Virginia has a reputation for being the “wild west” of campaign finance laws. There are few restrictions on how money donated to campaigns can be used by a candidate or campaign.
Boysko mentioned former United States Rep. George Santos (R-NY), who was recently expelled from Congress after using campaign funds for many different personal reasons. An investigation found that Santos used money donated to his campaign to pay for his rent, Botox treatments, an Onlyfans subscription and more.
“Here’s the horrifying thing. Pretty much everything he did at the federal level would have been [permitted] in our body here,” Boysko said. “It would have been fine.”
If this bill becomes law, campaign money will not be able to be used to fulfill any commitment, obligation or expense, irrespective of the person running for office.
Big Money Out, League of Women Voters-VA, Clean Virginia and Elizabeth Nelson, a former Independent state Senate candidate, spoke in favor of the bill.
Sen. Glen Sturtevant (R-Chesterfield) praised the bill but wanted to amend it to include federal candidates who raise money for their races and then transfer it to state campaign accounts.
Sen. Jennifer Carroll Foy (D-Prince William) responded to Sturtevant’s proposal, saying she would be interested in supporting legislation doing that — but she wants to focus on the matter at hand with Boysko’s bill.
Boysko was also adamant throughout the presentation that she has done years of work on this bill and does not want to change any aspect of it.
“We’ve worked on this for many years,” Boysko said to concerns from Sen. Tara Durant (R-Fredericksburg) about specific language. “It has passed unanimously through the House and through the Senate repeatedly. I would like to keep it in the posture that it is.”
No amendments were made to the bill.
Boysko also clarified that the provision of the bill banning the purchase of clothing does not include campaign t-shirts and attire after Sen. Danny Diggs (R-York) raised concerns about that language. She cited the part of the bill that says purchases are banned if they are “irrespective of the candidate running for office.”
“I would have no reason to buy campaign t-shirts, hats or banners, if I were not running for office,” Boysko said.
The legislation received nearly unanimous approval from the committee. However, one Republican senator had qualms.
“I think what we’re trying to do here is legislate morality,” said Sen. Bill DeSteph (R-Va Beach), the lone “nay” vote. He cited VPAP and the mandatory reporting of campaign finances as reason enough not to need this legislation.
The next stop for the bill is the Senate Appropriations Committee. If it survives there, it will go to the full Senate floor and then the House of Delegates.
The Republican-held House in 2022 killed this same legislation, but Democrats now have the majority in both chambers, giving it a chance for full passage. Then, it will be up to Gov. Glenn Youngkin to either sign or veto the bill.
“I think it’s time to change the laws here in Virginia, and my bill is reasonable in setting limits on how a candidate or an elected official can use the funds entrusted to us by our donors,” Boysko said.