PIRG: Mortgaged House: Recommendations: Campaign Finance Reforms for Texas

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Mortgaged House

IV. Recommendations: Campaign Finance Reforms for Texas

Texas’ system of disclosing and regulating political contributions is better suited to the “Wild West” days than to a modern state. Texas is the largest of the six remaining U.S. states that allow unlimited contributions to candidates, political parties or political action committees (PACs).¹² While state law requires candidates, parties and PACs to disclose the sources and amounts of their contributions, these requirements fail to fully inform the public.

To serve this public interest, many aspects of the state’s current campaign finance laws should be reformed. Any serious reform must include two essential elements. Reforms should:

1. Limit the size and sources of campaign contributions; and
2. Assure that this contribution data is complete, timely and easily accessible by the public.

¹² The other five states are Iowa, New Mexico, North Dakota, Utah and Virginia.