House passes bill to bar state-funded organizations from making political contributions

Is it a conflict of interest when an organization receives state funding and can make political contributions to a friendly candidate?

Rep. Elliott Engen (R-White Bear Township) believes so.

“Under current law, there’s an inherent and systemic conflict of interest between politicians and nonprofit organizations who can receive direct state aid that’s authored and passed by those same politicians,” said Engen.

A majority of the House agree.

Passed 130-3 Thursday, HF72, as amended, would prohibit any organization that receives state funding from making political contributions or expending money for a political purpose. It now goes to the Senate.

Engen said the bill would return political influence in the state to voters rather than organizations.

“I appreciate what I believe is a sincere desire to get dark money out of politics,” said Rep. Nathan Coulter (DFL-Bloomington). “Frankly, I think there’s too much money of any shade in politics right now.”

[MORE: State-funded organizations could be barred from making political contributions]

Engen successfully offered an amendment to allow donations by a state-funded organization only if that entity uses separate accounts for political activities and for activities funded by the state. The organization could not supplant its existing funding with state funding to expend money for political purposes.

“Minnesotans should not be forced to unknowingly fund people who are actively working against their own values,” Engen said. “We should continue looking for ways to make more transparent our elections-related spending.”