Pols will get smaller subsidies in ‘10-’11

The state’s campaign subsidy program will be a little leaner in 2010-2011 due to the state’s budget woes.

The budget for the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure (CFPD) Board includes a $50,000-a-yeartransfer from the state’s campaign subsidy programs, said Gary Goldsmith, the CFPD’s executive director. The money will support the CFPD’s operating budget that includes eight staff members.

Goldsmith said after a CFPD meeting in St. Paulthis morning that there will be roughly $200 less per state legislative candidate from the program. The state spends between $16 million to $18 million for the two-year budget period in public subsidies to state candidates.

The state’s general fund faces a $4.6 billion deficit for the 2010-2011 budget period.

During the 2009 legislative session, CFPD was unable to get administrative changes passed that are part of the state’s Chapter 10A campaign finance statute.

CFPD Chairwoman Hilda Bettermann said the bill’s provisions such as campaign finance reporting requirements weren’t very controversial. Lawmakers in the House, however, shied away from a floor debate because it might attract controversial amendments,said Bettermann, who is a former Republicanmemberof the Housefrom Brandon.