GOP, Dems, trade shots over Balukoff bookkeeping - East Idaho News
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GOP, Dems, trade shots over Balukoff bookkeeping

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BOISE, Idaho (AP) – The Idaho Republican Party says the Democratic candidate for governor might be violating campaign finance law by having the Idaho Democratic Party pay for his staff.

A spokesman for Boise businessman A.J. Balukoff says they’re only doing the same thing Idaho Republican campaigns have done in the past.

GOP campaign finance attorney Jason Risch calls it an “abnormal shuffling of funds.” But Balukoff spokesman Mike Lanza tells the Idaho Statesman the Balukoff campaign simply is contracting for a bookkeeping service.

State law prohibits a political party from contributing more than $10,000 in an election cycle to a candidate. That includes in-kind contributions such as paying for a candidate’s staff.

State Democratic Party spokesman Dean Ferguson says the party is confident its contract with the campaign is legal.

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