Arizona's Push to Protect Small Donors' Privacy

Raising the Anonymous Donation Limit

Arizona is considering a new bill that would increase the anonymous donation limit for political campaigns from $100 to $200. This change aims to protect smaller donors from potential backlash and harassment.

Why the Change?

• Big vs. Small Donors: The argument is that large donors should remain public, but small contributors might not need the same level of scrutiny.
• Fear of Harassment: Revealing names, addresses, and employers of small donors could lead to serious threats, as seen in past incidents.

Past Incidents

• California Example: Supporters of Proposition 8 faced severe harassment, including threatening packages and business boycotts, after their information was leaked online.

Recent Changes to Campaign Finance Laws

• Voter-Approved Measure: Last year, Arizona voters approved a rule requiring big donations to be public if used for political ads.
• Legal Challenges: This rule is currently facing legal challenges, with some lawmakers arguing it's unconstitutional.

The Debate

• Transparency vs. Privacy: The core question is whether everyone who donates to a campaign should be public knowledge or if there should be limits to protect ordinary people from harassment.

Arizona is actively seeking the right balance between transparency and privacy in political donations.