Sojourner faces loss of Senate pay over late report

State Sen. Melanie Sojourner has been assessed a $500 fine for failing to file a campaign finance report that was due Jan. 31, and has been warned her state lawmaker's salary will be cut off until she files it.

The state Department of Finance and Administration in a letter has notified Sojourner that by law, "we will withhold any payments to you for salary or other remunerations until which time you have filed all required delinquent reports…."

The Secretary of State's Office on May 23 sent Sojourner a letter saying that after contacting her by mail and phone about the late report, it had assessed a $500 civil penalty. The letter included a form Sojourner could use to request a waiver if "an unforeseeable mitigating circumstance" prevented her from filing her 2013 annual campaign finance report. But the Secretary of State's Office said Monday it has not received a request for a waiver.

All other lawmakers have filed their 2013 annual campaign finance reports, according to the SOS. It's common for some lawmakers or candidates to be late in filing, but most usually file after the secretary of state issues a public list of those who are late and before fines kick in after 10 days.

Sojourner could not be reached for comment on Monday.

Sojourner, R-Natchez, is in her first term serving District 37, which includes parts of Adams, Amite, Franklin and Pike counties, and is chairman of the Senate Forestry Committee. She has also served as campaign manager for state Sen. Chris McDaniel in his bid for U.S. Senate.