Lawmaker submits campaign finance bill after Fox scandal

March 10, 2015 5:51 pm

By The Associated Press

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) _ A lawmaker has introduced a bill to require candidates to create a separate bank account for campaign funds.

The House of Representatives is reviewing the campaign finance system after ex-House Speaker Gordon Fox pleaded guilty to exploiting weaknesses in it.

Fox acknowledges making dozens of interbank transfers totaling $108,000, taking the money from his campaign account and using it for personal expenses.

The state elections board advises candidates to have dedicated campaign accounts and not commingle them with personal funds, but there’s nothing to enforce compliance.

Democratic Rep. Robert Craven introduced the bill Tuesday. If enacted, candidates for public office, officeholders and political action committees would have to maintain separate accounts beginning Jan. 1, 2016.

Craven says the state needs to ensure campaign donations are not used for personal purposes.