BOSTON (AP) - Massachusetts Democratic lawmakers have failed to take action on a bill that could reign in some avenues Republican Gov. Charlie Baker has used to bolster his fundraising muscle.
The bill, sponsored by Acton Democratic state Sen. James Eldridge, would clarify that state political parties can only use state funds to support candidates.
Eldridge told The Boston Globe that the goal is to close loopholes cited by state campaign finance regulators in 2016 when they determined Baker wasn’t violating a 1998 statute banning the use of federal donations in state campaigns.
The House Democratic chairman of the committee on election laws said he was focused on other bills.
Baker had $8 million in his campaign account by mid-May. His Democratic challengers, Jay Gonzalez and Bob Massie, had, combined, less than $132,000.
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