Long Thompson touts campaign finance, ethics proposals

By MIKE SMITH, AP Political Writer

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By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Mar 19, 2008 at 5:46 PM EST

Story Updated: Mar 19, 2008 at 5:46 PM EST

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Democratic candidate for governor Jill Long Thompson announced a series of proposals Wednesday that she said would make the state's campaign finance and ethics laws and regulations more transparent.

They include banning companies and their executives who do business with state or local government from donating to state political campaigns while they are under contract and for two years after their work is completed. Owners of riverboat casinos in Indiana are currently banned from making such donations.

Limited liability companies could donate no more than $5,000 to a state campaign per year, the same limit placed on corporations. They also would have to disclose the sources of their funding.

She also said if elected she would voluntarily submit all agency appointees to the Indiana Senate for confirmation, and seek to have such a requirement put in state law. They also would have to disclose publicly their financial investments and holdings.

The former Indiana congresswoman faces Jim Schellinger, president of an Indianapolis architecture firm, in the May 6 Democratic primary. Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels is unopposed for his party's nomination for re-election.

Long Thompson said while she did not believe state government was corrupt, "I think it's important to have full disclosure and uphold the highest ethics in government."

Candace Martin, Schellinger's campaign press secretary, said Schellinger was very committed to ethics and government reform.

"He believes we seriously need to look at positive ways to reform state and local government," Martin said.

Another of Long Thompson's proposals would prohibit private entities from paying the salaries of state employees. That would not apply to state lawmakers, she said, because it was important that Indiana maintain a "citizen legislature." Lawmakers get paid by the state for being legislators but most also earn additional money working in the private sector.

Long Thompson said she would keep a requirement that expenditures and gifts to legislators and their staffs that equal $100 or more in one day, or $500 or more during the calendar year, be disclosed with the Indiana Lobby Registration Commission. But they would have to be disclosed each three months, instead of twice a year under current law.

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