More evidence of the interest in improving the Arkansas law on campaign finance and public ethics.
Here’s results of polling by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research on receptivity to proposals to tighten the law in Arkansas.
In a March survey of 500 likely voters, the survey found that heavy support for the proposition that money is a problem in political campaigns. Law changes for more transparency and disclosure, tighter rules for lobbyists and stronger enforcement also enjoyed support. 74 percent of voters support a combined package of reforms — which happens to be the idea of a proposed constitutional amendment submitted by Little Rock lawyer David Couch that has been rejected multiple times by Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, herself elected with the help of secret special interest money. Couch has sued Rutledge to get the proposal approved for petitioning.
Said the Greenberg summary:
Voters believe reform will level the playing field and make elections more transparent. Open-ended reactions show that voters are supportive because they believe the rich and powerful buy elections but reforms like these would make the system fairer, cleaner, and more transparent. And in the survey, public support for the proposed measures only grows through a balanced, simulated campaign.
Couch said the survey was conducted for Every Voice, a nonprofit political group that advocates for campaign finance reform.
Paperwork for a committee to support an amendment, Accountable Arkansas, is expected to be filed this week.