Bill would ban vendors with state contracts from making political donations
Two Tennessee legislators are asking their colleagues to support an effort to prevent vendors with state contracts from making political donations.
Sen. London Lamar of Memphis and Rep. Justin Jones of Nashville say that "pay-to-play" politics must be stopped. They claim their legislation would allow for state contracts that benefit taxpayers instead of vendors.
The bill (SB2489/HB2499) would prohibit any entity with an active state contract or grant award from making campaign donations to PACs and candidates in state elections. The prohibition would only be effective for the duration of the contractual obligation to taxpayers.
“This anti-corruption legislation is a bold step towards ensuring that our government decisions are not swayed by financial contributions, but rather guided by the needs and concerns of the people we serve,” Rep. Jones said. “It is about avoiding even the appearance of impropriety in awarding state contracts. This bill is a critical step towards ensuring that our democracy is not sold off to the highest bidder.”
