House committee holds captive campaign finance reform bill.

TLDR:

• A campaign finance reform bill introduced by Del. Marcus Simon, D-Fairfax, has stalled in the House Appropriations Committee.
• The bill would prohibit politicians from using campaign donations on personal expenses.
• The bill passed two legislative panels with unanimous support but has not received a hearing or vote in the appropriations committee.
• The House bill must progress by Tuesday’s crossover day to have a chance of becoming law.

A campaign finance reform bill in Virginia has hit a roadblock in the House Appropriations Committee. The bill, introduced by Del. Marcus Simon, aims to prevent politicians from using campaign donations on personal expenses such as mortgage or rent payments, clothing, or tuition. The bill passed the House Privileges and Elections subcommittee and full committee with unanimous support but has not received a hearing or vote in the appropriations committee since January 30. Failure to progress past the appropriations committee means the bill will not reach the House floor. The bill has 26 co-sponsors and is the latest attempt to tighten campaign finance rules in Virginia, which currently has some of the most lax regulations in the country.