It must be a nice feeling, when you’re a public-interest lobbyist, to know that you’ve helped shape an important piece of legislation.

That happy place is where Paul Burns, head of VPIRG, found himself this afternoon. The previous day, according to Dave Gram of the Associated Press, Burns had raised a fuss over S.82, a campaign finance reform bill that would have significantly raised contribution limits for statewide candidates. His opposition, as Gram tells it, led the Senate Government Operations Committee to take a 24-hour timeout.

And today, after a last-minute powwow with Senate President Pro Tem John Campbeil, the committee lowered the contribution limits and passed the legislation. Afterward, Burns called the new version “quite a substantial improvement.”  

Most of S.82 was completely uncontroversial. It would require more frequent campaign finance reports (details below), and move the state by 2015 to electronic reporting that feeds into a searchable database — a key reform for transparency.  And it appropriates $100,000 as a “down payment” on the needed technology, which will be something of a relief to Secretary of State Jim Condos.

The bill would also establish a new law for Super PACs that could be dubbed “The Broughton Rule”: If a Super PAC gets more than 25% of its money from a single source (individual or corporate), that source must be identified in all of its materials. It’s clearly aimed at Lenore Broughton’s million-dollar bankrolling of Vermonters First.

(Burns had pressed for requiring a photo of such donors, which would have particularly infuriated the camera-shy Broughon, but the committee demurred.)

A bit of behind-the-scenes drama preceded the committee’s final vote.

As the panel continued to tussle over contribution limits,  two of its Democratic members (Eldred French and committee chair Jeannette White) were called into Campbell’s office for a last-minute confab. They emerged with leadership’s agreement on lower contribution limits; low enough to gain Burns’ support. The panel’s vote was unanimous, although Independent Anthony Pollina expressed reservations and may vote “No” on the Senate floor.

The final version actually lowers contribution limits for legislative candidates. Currently, any candidate cannot receive more than $2,000 from a single source, whether individual, corporate, or PAC. Under S.82, the limit would rise to $3,000 for statewide candidates; drop to $1,500 for State Senate hopefuls; and drop to $750 for candidates for the state House or local offices.

Political parties could contribute more to a candidate’s campaign: $85,000 for a statewide candidate, $6,000 for State Senate, and $3,000 for a House or local candidate.

The new limit on single-source (individual, corporate, or PAC) donations to parties or PACs* is $3,000. Also, a single source cannot give more than $25,000 in aggregate contributions in an election cycle.

*Donations to Super PACs continue to be unlimited.

All these limits would be adjusted for inflation in future years.

As for the reporting requirements… Current law mandates only one report during an off-year, on July 15. The first report during an election year is due on July 15. After that, monthly reports are required through the end of the year.

Under S.82, quarterly reports would be required in off-years. During the first half of an election year, monthly reports would be required. And from July 15 through November, reports would be due every two weeks. As with current law, if a candidate raises or spends less than $500, no reporting is required.

All in all, I agree with Burns’ assessment. This is a good bill; about as good as it can be in a post-Citizens United landscape. I’m most interested in the increased reporting requirements and the searchable databases. And since all three parties have expressed support for the bill, I’m hopeful it will continue to move through the Legislature.