The Senate Ethics Committee unanimously passed a bill Monday that would allow public utilities to make direct contributions to political campaigns.
"Every state in the United States except New Jersey and Georgia allows this," said Sen. Don Balfour, R-Snellville, sponsor of Senate Bill 160. "This just puts us on an even playing field."
The bill is supported by a coalition of utility concerns, including telecommunication and power companies. Supporters say the bill brings the state into compliance with the U.S. Supreme Court's Citizen's United decision last year, which removed a ban blocking corporations from spending money on political speech.
But Danny Orrock, deputy director of Georgia Watch, a nonprofit consumer advocacy group, said SB 160 goes too far by allowing utilities to contribute directly to campaigns.
"Utilities wield a great deal of influence in our state as it is," he said.
The bill now proceeds to the Senate Rules Committee, which could schedule it for a floor vote by the full Senate. Balfour is chairman of the Rules Committee.
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