Electronic Filing of Campaign Finance Reports
February 8, 2021 09:09 AM to All House Members
Circulated By
Representative Perry A. Stambaugh
R House District 86
Memo
In the near future, I will be reintroducing legislation which would require that all candidates for office and political action committees (PACs) in Pennsylvania utilize the Department of State’s online filing system to electronically file campaign finance reports (Former HB633 from last session).
Paper filing of campaign finance reports is outdated, costly, and inefficient. Requiring all filings to be electronically filed would greatly improve government transparency and accountability while at the same time reducing expenses for the state. According to the Department of State, a third of all campaign finance reports are already filed electronically. If the other two-thirds of candidates and PAC’s were to begin filing electronically, the existing online system would be able to handle it with no additional cost.
Most importantly, this system will greatly hasten the process of disclosure to keep up with political and legislative developments in the state. There have been times during which there has been a lag in the posting of information from paper reports. Because of this, Commonwealth citizens and public watchdog groups are unable to efficiently gain access to these public documents. Instead, if a member of the public wants to see a recent campaign finance report, they must travel to Harrisburg, or they would have to pay for copies of the report to be sent by mail or e-mail.
Pennsylvania must not be left behind in the era of increased public transparency online. We have the technology to give our citizens the transparent government they deserve while saving the tax payers money.
Paper filing of campaign finance reports is outdated, costly, and inefficient. Requiring all filings to be electronically filed would greatly improve government transparency and accountability while at the same time reducing expenses for the state. According to the Department of State, a third of all campaign finance reports are already filed electronically. If the other two-thirds of candidates and PAC’s were to begin filing electronically, the existing online system would be able to handle it with no additional cost.
Most importantly, this system will greatly hasten the process of disclosure to keep up with political and legislative developments in the state. There have been times during which there has been a lag in the posting of information from paper reports. Because of this, Commonwealth citizens and public watchdog groups are unable to efficiently gain access to these public documents. Instead, if a member of the public wants to see a recent campaign finance report, they must travel to Harrisburg, or they would have to pay for copies of the report to be sent by mail or e-mail.
Pennsylvania must not be left behind in the era of increased public transparency online. We have the technology to give our citizens the transparent government they deserve while saving the tax payers money.
Legislation
Document - Introduced as HB 711
Last updated on February 26, 2021 11:34 AM
Electronic Filing of Campaign Finance Reports
February 8, 2021 09:09 AM to All House Members
Circulated By
STAMBAUGH
Memo
In the near future, I will be reintroducing legislation which would require that all candidates for office and political action committees (PACs) in Pennsylvania utilize the Department of State’s online filing system to electronically file campaign finance reports (Former HB633 from last session).
Paper filing of campaign finance reports is outdated, costly, and inefficient. Requiring all filings to be electronically filed would greatly improve government transparency and accountability while at the same time reducing expenses for the state. According to the Department of State, a third of all campaign finance reports are already filed electronically. If the other two-thirds of candidates and PAC’s were to begin filing electronically, the existing online system would be able to handle it with no additional cost.
Most importantly, this system will greatly hasten the process of disclosure to keep up with political and legislative developments in the state. There have been times during which there has been a lag in the posting of information from paper reports. Because of this, Commonwealth citizens and public watchdog groups are unable to efficiently gain access to these public documents. Instead, if a member of the public wants to see a recent campaign finance report, they must travel to Harrisburg, or they would have to pay for copies of the report to be sent by mail or e-mail.
Pennsylvania must not be left behind in the era of increased public transparency online. We have the technology to give our citizens the transparent government they deserve while saving the tax payers money.
Paper filing of campaign finance reports is outdated, costly, and inefficient. Requiring all filings to be electronically filed would greatly improve government transparency and accountability while at the same time reducing expenses for the state. According to the Department of State, a third of all campaign finance reports are already filed electronically. If the other two-thirds of candidates and PAC’s were to begin filing electronically, the existing online system would be able to handle it with no additional cost.
Most importantly, this system will greatly hasten the process of disclosure to keep up with political and legislative developments in the state. There have been times during which there has been a lag in the posting of information from paper reports. Because of this, Commonwealth citizens and public watchdog groups are unable to efficiently gain access to these public documents. Instead, if a member of the public wants to see a recent campaign finance report, they must travel to Harrisburg, or they would have to pay for copies of the report to be sent by mail or e-mail.
Pennsylvania must not be left behind in the era of increased public transparency online. We have the technology to give our citizens the transparent government they deserve while saving the tax payers money.
Document
Introduced as HB 711
Last Updated
February 26, 2021 11:34 AM
Generated 03/22/2025 11:51 PM