PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Senator Rosalind Kurita
Pamela George
Office: (615) 741-2374*Home: (931) 358-2005

January 29, 2002

Senator Kurita's campaign disclosure bill
passes hurdle

Senator Rosalind Kurita's legislation to give the public easy access to
campaign finance information was approved by a key Senate committee. The
legislation requiring a state agency to post financial campaign disclosures
to a state web site passed the Senate State and Local Government Committee
today.
"The public is best served by complete and open disclosure of all campaign
contributions to candidates and political organizations," Senator Kurita
said. "Passage of campaign disclosure laws over the past several years was
a good first step. But, the current practice of locking those disclosure
forms in a poorly accessible state office building in Nashville has done
little to build public confidence in our electoral process."
Under the legislation, the state's Registry of Election Finance would
maintain the web site and the cost to the state is estimated to be minimal.
"Posting campaign contribution disclosures on the internet truly gives
citizens the opportunity to inspect campaign finances," added Senator
Kurita.

Tennessee politicians and media outlets negotiated an agreement that lets two
pool reporters cover state fiscal crisis meetings, but prohibits the
journalists from attributing quotes and proposals to specific legislators. The
Associated Press, Memphis Commercial Appeal and Nashville City Paper rejected Full Story AtGoMemphis: Local