Saving Taxpayer Dollars

During his term in office, Secretary Grayson has worked to ensure that taxpayer dollars are used wisely, particularly in relation to the election process.  In 2005, Secretary Grayson teamed with State Senator Damon Thayer to push legislation that would remove taxpayer-funded political campaigns from Kentucky's law, thus protecting citizens' tax-dollars from being wasted on attack ads and bumper stickers while more pressing financial needs go by the wayside.

Secretary Grayson believes that the solution to campaign finance issues does not come from carelessly spending taxpayer money to subsidize campaigns.  Instead, it comes from making the process transparent.  Election clarity allows citizens, the news media, and even the candidates’ opponents to freely determine whether candidates have accepted inappropriate donations.

In order to create this transparency, more frequent and accessible reporting of donations should be required of candidates.  Recently, the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance created a task force to study campaign finance issues in Kentucky.  This task force, which had bi-partisan representation including Secretary Grayson, explored a variety of campaign finance concerns—from taxpayer funded political campaigns to reporting issues.  Secretary Grayson has advocated for the passage of the task force's recommendation.