The State Board of Elections wants campaign finance reform following the $100,000 penalty it handed the Mike Easley campaign committee for unreported flights.

Right now, the board can only penalize campaign committees for violations, not the candidate him or herself.

So in former Governor Mike Easley's case, he is not personally responsible for the recent forefeiture and fine against his campaign committee.

The State Board of Elections unanimously approved an order asking the General Assembly to consider holding a candidate responsible for any penalties the candidate's campaign committee can not cover.

Representative Deborah Ross, Vice Chair of the North Carolina House Election Law and Campaign Finance Committee, said "I can not imagine this would not be something that committee would look at closely." 

Fellow committee member Rep. Skip Stam (R - House Minority Leader) said he thinks changes in the law could happen during the short session.

"The candidate should be, if not aware of everything happening in the campaign, should be willing to take responsibility for everything that happens in the campaign," said Stam.

To hear more from members of the Senate as well as Governor Bev Perdue, click on the video monitor above.