NASHVILLE – Tennessee corporations will be able to able to contribute directly to political campaigns under a bill going to Gov. Bill Haslam.
The House voted 65-20 for the measure, brought by Republican leaders and already passed in the Senate, that will allow companies to contribute the same amounts as political action committees.
Rep. Glen Casada, R-Franklin, called it a free speech issue and said 28 other states have similar laws.
But House Minority Leader Craig Fitzhugh, D-Ripley, said, “We don’t need more money in our political races.”
He said corporations are different from PACs and unions, which collect donations from individuals.