A Senate bill that Senate floor leader Justo Quitugua (R-Saipan) has introduced seeks to prevent politicians from pocketing unspent donated campaign funds for personal use.<\/p>\n
Senate Bill 21-59 not only prohibits the personal use of political campaign funds but also provides that any unused campaign funds be returned to the donor, or donated to charity, among others.<\/p>\n
\u201cCurrently there\u2019s no statute. Any politician who did fundraising and did not use up all the funds raised for the campaign activities, they can take the remaining and walk away with it and use it for whatever they want to use it for, especially if you quit, or you lost the election,\u201d he said in an interview.<\/p>\n
The senator said that he crafted the bill to make sure that all funds raised will be used solely for a candidate\u2019s political campaign, and not for personal donation or personal activities. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt should be strictly for your campaign activities,\u201d Quitugua said. \u201cAfter you\u2019re done and there\u2019s leftover, you should either return the money to the donors, donate it to legitimate nonprofit organizations, or you can donate it to a political party.\u201d<\/p>\n
Under S.B. 21-59, campaign funds are prohibited from being used to pay for any residential or household items, supplies, or expenditures, including mortgage, rent, or utility payments for any part of the candidate\u2019s or his\/her family\u2019s residence and non-residential property; clothing other than campaign-related; and tuition payments.<\/p>\n
Campaign funds cannot also be used to pay dues, fees, and gratuities at a country club, health club, gym, recreational facility, or other nonpolitical organizations, unless they are part of a specific fundraising event that takes place on the organization\u2019s premises. <\/p>\n
It will also be illegal to use campaign funds to pay the salaries of family members, unless the person is providing bona fide services to the campaign, and only within the fair-market value of the services provided. <\/p>\n
It will also be prohibited to use the money to pay for admission to sports events, concerts, and any other forms of entertainment, unless part of the campaign; and the funds cannot be used for monetary donations or chenchule given to individuals for any personal use while campaigning for an elected office.<\/p>\n
The senator said that using campaign funds for personal purposes is tantamount to corruption. \u201cThe people who are donating to your campaign, they trust they\u2019re [going to] help you with your election or reelection, but they didn\u2019t know that there\u2019s leftover, and you\u2019re using it for personal, which the donors did not intend for you to use it for,\u201d Quitugua said.<\/p>\n
Based on the bill, any unused campaign fund may be maintained in a campaign account; transferred to a newly-established political action committee or ballot question advocate; donated to a tax-exempt charitable organization, to a candidate for public office, political organizations, or action committee, or to the CNMI government; or be returned to the donor.<\/p>\n
Violators will be fined not greater than $2,000 or a prison-term of not more than 60 days.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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