Campaign finance loophole bill gets House committee support after close call in Senate [Video]

PIERRE, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – Monday’s House State Affairs Committee heard testimony on a bill that aims to remove a campaign finance loophole.

Senator Rohl, a Republican from Aberdeen, advocated for Senate Bill 12, which limits the amount of money that may be loaned or transferred to a candidate or committee.

Currently, South Dakota law limits contributions to a candidate and a PAC to $1,000 and $10,000 respectively.

However, under current South Dakota law, a loan much larger than what is allowed for a donation can be offered and later forgiven as bad debt.

“If the committee didn’t want to pass the bill, then we should get rid of campaign finance limits because that’s essentially what is the current system,” Rohl said.

Critics of the bill, such as Dakota First Action, said it was taking a stab at constitutional rights.

“What I would say, ultimately, is that money is speech, as decided in Citizens United v. FEC. There is …