Mayor Gray proposes cap on campaign donations

Washington, D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray on Tuesday proposed new restrictions on campaign donations, along with additional reporting requirements, saying more rules are needed to destroy the influence of lobbyists and contractors on D.C. politics. When D.C. Council members return next month from summer recess, Gray wants the proposal set as the centerpiece, aiming to curb political donations from anyone with a city contract of $250,000 or more, prohibit lobbyists from bundling donations, and ban corporations from donating through various linked entities.

The Democratic mayor’s proposal, which has not been drafted into legislation, would also require that all campaign donations within 30 days of an election be disclosed within a 24 hour period. “It’s a very high priority,” Gray said of his proposals. “It’s one of the most important questions we face at this stage.”