Politics & Government

Mensch: Improve Campaign Finance, Lobbyist Reporting

State Sen. Bob Mensch (R-24) is supporting bills designed to increase government transparency in campaign finance and lobbyist reporting.

The Pennsylvania Senate recently unanimously approved bills which state Sen. Bob Mensch says will improve and expedite access to lobbying disclosure and campaign finance data, and create an online voter registration system.

The bills now go to the House of Representatives for consideration.

Two bills are co-sponsored by Mensch (R-24), whose district includes Macungie Borough:

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  • Senate Bill 120 will require electronic submission of all campaign finance reports with the Department of State. Only about 35 percent of those reports are currently filed electronically. Any candidate committee or political action committee raising or spending $10,000 or more in a calendar year will be required to submit additional filings.
  • Senate Bill 308 will require lobbyists and principals to register and report expenditures electronically, making this information available quicker and more accurately. The bill also requires the Department of State to post the information on its public website within a week.

Mesnch also noted Senate Bill 37 in his electronic newsletter. This bill will allow online voter registration up to 30 days prior to an election. About 16 other states now allow online voter registration and most have reported significant cost savings as a result.

For more information, contact Mensch's district office:

Find out what's happening in Lower Macungiewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Lehigh County Office
1245 Chestnut Street, Unit 5, Emmaus, PA 18049
Phone (610) 965-1466
Open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.


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