The Louisiana Legislative Women’s Caucus has asked the state ethics board to reconsider a previous ruling that said political candidates can not use campaign funds to pay for child care costs.

 

"It's a pretty simple thing, we just would like them to reconsider that vote and look back at the logic they used it in the first place," said Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell.  

A female candidate running for a House seat in the Baton Rouge-area has been told she could be penalized if she used campaign funds to pay for babysitter while she attended campaign events.

 

But in 2000, the Ethics Board issued an opinion that said campaign funds could be used to cover child care expenses if it was related to their campaign. 

 

But the board recently voted 5-2 against campaign funds for child care expenses. 

 

"They actually went against their prior vote, which allowed it when a male candidate asked to vote against it when a female candidate, so that was a problem," said Mizell. 

 

Mizell says candidates may not have the financial means to cover the cost of child care for the time it takes to run a campaign. 

 

"It's really opportunity for people who may not be able to afford running for office, it gives them the ability to use that as needed as they run their campaign," said Mizell.