All St. Lawrence County Assembly members voted in favor of closing a loophole in the campaign finance law governing contributions from limited liability companies (LLC).

According to the state Board of Elections, LLCs are currently treated as individual donors and have corresponding campaign contribution limitations.

Because of this, peoples can make multiple contributions to the same candidate or committee through separate LLCs, skirting the campaign finance law.

In a released statement Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell said the legislation, approved in the Assembly on a vote of 120-8, would clarify election law and treat LLCs as corporations, holding them to an aggregate $5,000 contribution limit in a calendar year.

“This legislation will make political campaigns more transparent,” she said. “By closing this loophole, we will be able to limit big spenders who try to circumvent campaign finance laws, take big money out of politics, and ensure everyone plays by the same rules.”

Russell represents the 116th “River District,” which includes all St. Lawrence County towns along the St. Lawrence River plus the towns of Canton, Potsdam, Rossie, Macomb, and DePeyster, and part of Jefferson County.

Blankenbush represents the 117th assembly district, which includes the St. Lawrence County towns of DeKalb, Gouverneur, Hermon, Russell, Edwards, Fowler and Pitcairn.

Butler represents 118th Assembly District, which includes the St. Lawrence County towns of Madrid, Norfolk, Stockholm, Parishville, Pierrepont, Clare, Colton, Clifton and Fine,

Assemblywoman Janet L. Duprey, who represents several eastern St. Lawrence County towns including Brasher, Hopkinton, Lawrence and Piercefield.