It's private members' day in the Senate today and debate on Independent Senator Helen Drayton's motion on election financing is expected to resume.The motion, which was last debated on November 26, calls on the House to appoint a joint select committee to propose a legislative framework to govern the financing of election campaigns.Drayton's motion suggests that the committee, when established, should submit its report with recommendations to Parliament within six months.
The preamble to Drayton's motion said legislation to govern election campaign financing was important because such financing had increased substantially over decades but its sources were not transparent and therefore it was a matter of importance to the population.Drayton's motion also noted that the public needed to be satisfied that there was fairness and full disclosure of transactions involving the use of public resources by elected representatives in the process of governance.There are no questions for oral answer during this afternoon's sitting, which starts at 1.30 at Tower D, Waterfront Complex, Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain.