The Ethics Commission has voted to prevent independent committees from using material produced by candidates in committee advertisements.

The amendment to the Election Campaign Control Ordinance (ECCO) will classify a committee’s otherwise independent payment as a “contribution” if the payment is for an advertisement duplicating materials found in a candidate’s advertisement or on the candidate’s website. Such payments would be subject to both contribution limits and source prohibitions.

The amendment now must be considered by City Council. Approval is not expected before September, 2014.

Photo of the San Diego skyline courtesy of Tomcio77 on Wikimedia Commons.