Louisiana: Legislators could use their campaign cash for clothing if bill passes
Louisiana lawmakers might lift a prohibition on using their campaign and political action committee funding to purchase clothing for themselves.
State Rep. Jason DeWitt, R-Tioga, has sponsored House Bill 996 to allow state legislators to spend up to $2,500 per year from their political accounts to buy, clean and maintain their clothing. The privilege would not extend to any other elected officials.
“Before I was elected, I had one suit, my wedding and funeral suit. Now, I’m expected to be in a suit at the Capitol, or at least in a coat and tie, every week,” DeWitt said at a legislative committee meeting last week. “That means buying multiple suits, shirts, ties and paying for regular dry cleaning. That adds up fast.”
The Louisiana House and Governmental Affairs Committee agreed. It voted 11-2 Wednesday to open up campaign and PAC spending for clothes, including shoes and belts.
Several legislators brought up the fact that they only receive a salary of $16,800 per year for their part-time, public service jobs, and the amount of business attire they need to buy is burdensome.
State lawmakers impose a strict dress code on themselves. A House of Representatives rule requires male lawmakers to wear a coat, tie and slacks or a suit while on the House floor or presiding as part of a committee. Female legislators need to wear a “business dress” or suit under the same circumstances.
The legislature meets three to six times per week during their annual legislative session, which starts in either March or April each year and runs until June. Many lawmakers say this has required them to buy more dress clothes.
“If we want this body to be made up of people from all walks of life, not just those who can afford it, then we need to recognize the basic required cost of service,” DeWitt said.
The legislation, if approved, would put Louisiana’s campaign finance laws out of step with those of the federal government.
Members of Congress and congressional candidates are generally prohibited from buying clothing with their campaign funds or PAC money because it is considered a “personal” expense. Louisiana’s current law is written similarly to restrict political spending for personal benefit.
Campaign clothing purchases have also been a source of scandal and controversy for elected officials over the years.
Federal prosecutors allege former New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell hid illegal clothing purchases she made with her campaign funds, according to court documents the U.S. government filed this week in their corruption case against her.
In 2008, the Republican National Committee’s decision to spend $150,000 on clothing, makeup, hair styling and accessories for former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin and her family also raised eyebrows.
At the time, the RNC was taking advantage of a loophole in the federal campaign finance laws that allowed the political parties to buy clothing for candidates, even if campaigns and PACs could not.
In Louisiana, DeWitt said some legislators already use their campaign accounts to purchase clothing, even if it isn’t allowed.
“You can’t imagine how many members are doing it already, and how many members are actually writing checks out of their campaign funds for [dry] cleaning expenses,” DeWitt said last week.
“A lot of members are really technically breaking the law,” he added.
The Louisiana Board of Ethics has not taken a position on his proposal, but state Ethics Administrator David Bordelon said the board is concerned using campaign funds for clothing could “bleed over” into spending political funds on personal wardrobes.
“That’s not the purpose of campaign funds,” Bordelon told the legislative committee last week.
Rep. Rodney Schamerhorn, R-Hornbeck, was one of two legislators on the House Governmental Affairs Committee who voted against DeWitt’s bill. He said he was uncomfortable with the idea that people could purchase business attire with their campaign funds but also wear that clothing for personal events.
“The suits that you’re fixing to buy, the dress clothes, you’ll be wearing them at home and out in public, everywhere else,” Schamerhorn said Wednesday during a hearing on DeWitt’s bill.
However, Schamerhorn agreed that lawmakers are forced to spend a lot of money on business attire. His accountant has started to deduct the cost of his suits on his taxes by classifying them as a “uniform” he is required to wear for his job as a legislator, he said.
DeWitt’s bill now goes to the House floor for a vote and would have to pass the Senate in order to become law.
Correction: This report was updated to indicate federal prosecutors said they intend to submit evidence that former Mayor LaToya Cantrell used campaign funds for clothing purchases.
