LINCOLN- Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue expressed frustration Thursday about why a legislative committee did not advance a bill concerning transparency expenditures on political campaigns. The senator is sponsoring a proposal that would require independent groups that send campaign-related mailers or buy advertisements within 30 days of an election to report who they are, how much they’ve spent and in what campaigns they’ve spent money. It would also require reporting of anyone who has contributed more than $250 to such electioneering.

She said some independent groups are 'hit-and-run groups' that suddenly show up in Nebraska and distribute ads that are negative or half-truths without knowing who they are or who financially backs them.

Sen. John Lowe of Kearney and Sen. Steve Halloran of Hastings questioned if this bill would put a dent in dirty campaigning or if anyone would even search for the information if it were made available. The ACLU also opposed the bill saying it would infringe on free speech. 21 other states have similar requirements for independent expenditures. Blood went on to say this would bring Nebraska in line with federal reporting laws. She is not pushing a debate this year, but plans to next year.

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