A new rule adopted by the Arizona Clean Elections Commission is sparking some controversy at the state Capitol this week.

The Commission instituted new regulations clarifying and modernizing the process for candidates who take clean-elections money and then use it to hire political parties or consultants.

The move came after some Republican lawmakers said the commission was allowing candidates to essentially funnel money to political parties for vague services.

But the Clean Elections Commission says that’s never been against the rules, and the regulations they passed make sure that money spent on consultants and parties’ services are documented and appropriate.

We’ll hear some debate on this.

I spoke with J.D. Mesnard more about this. He’s the speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives, and he’s been outspoken in his opposition to this move by the Clean Elections Commission.

But Tom Collins, executive director of the Clean Elections Commission, disagrees. He says the Commission has had a rule on the books for many years, making clear that candidates can purchase services from political parties so long as those expenditures are reasonable.