For Immediate Release: January 22, 2013
Washington, DC – Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie (D – Ward 5), Chair of the Committee on Government Operations, along with Councilmember Muriel Bowser (D – Ward 4), Councilmember Tommy Wells (D – Ward 6) and Councilmember David Grosso (I – At-Large), introduced the “Campaign Finance Training Amendment Act of 2013” at today’s Committee of the Whole meeting.
This legislation would establish a mandatory training program within the Office of Campaign Finance (OCF) to educate candidates for public office and the treasurers of political, exploratory, inaugural, transition and legal defense committees regarding campaign finance requirements. Currently OCF conducts voluntary training.
“As we have seen from recent events, it is important that individuals that are responsible for handling campaign funds have a full understanding of their legal obligations,” said McDuffie. “My hope is that this training will have a prophylactic effect on campaign finance violations while promoting accountability and transparency.”
Participants in the training program would be issued a verified “Certificate of Completion” to be posted publicly on the OCF website. The bill would also prohibit contributions and expenditures from being accepted or made by or on behalf of a candidate or committee prior to completion of the training.
The bill was co-sponsored by Councilmember David Catania (I – At-Large) and was referred to the Committee on Government Operations.
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