Amid local and federal probes into lawmakers and shady campaign vendors, state Rep. Sam Whitson is planning to introduce legislation that could tighten disclosure requirements and do much more, an effort to cut out criminal activity.
Timing is a factor, though, if he wants to bring it to a vote this year.
Whitson, R-Franklin, said he hopes to bring “more transparency” to the legislature and “clean up some of the shenanigans” through new reporting and transparency rules.
Among several new measures in the bill, Whitson is putting together two amendments, one to alter the makeup of the Registry of Election Finance and one to change reporting requirements on campaign receipts.
House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, said recently he is backing the measure Whitson wants to unveil this week. But language in the bill is still being negotiated with the Senate, where the measure is to be carried by Sen. Ferrell Haile, a Gallatin Republican and speaker pro tem.