[Lnc-business] From ballot-access.org re: larger legal political party contributions

[William Redpath]

Congress Likely to Allow Much Larger Contributions to Political Parties
<http://www.ballot-access.org/2014/12/congress-likely-to-allow-much-larger-contributions-to-political-parties/>
Published on December 10, 2014
<http://www.ballot-access.org/2014/12/congress-likely-to-allow-much-larger-contributions-to-political-parties/>
,

On December 9, the text of the congressional bill that would fund the
federal government was released. It contains a surprise provision
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=68995> that would make it possible for
individuals to give substantially more money to national committees of
political parties than the current law allows. Currently individuals cannot
give more than $32,400 per year to the national committee of a political
party.

The budget rider would allow much larger contributions, but only if the
money were donated for one of three purposes: (1) to defray expenses of
national conventions; (2) to defray expenses incurred with respect to the
construction, purchase, renovation, operation, and furnishing of one or
more headquarters buildings of the party or to repay loans the proceeds of
which were used to defray such expenses, or otherwise to restore funds used
to defray such expenses (including expenses for obligations incurred during
the 2-year period which ends on the date of the enactment of this
paragraph); (3) to defray expenses incurred with respect to the preparation
for and the conduct of election recounts and contests and other legal
proceedings.

Although many news stories about this bill imply that the bill only applies
to the Democratic and Republican National Committees, the bill actually
applies to all political parties recognized by the Federal Election
Commission as “national committees.” They include the Libertarian, Green,
Constitution, Socialist, Natural Law, and Reform Parties.

The bill is expected to pass Congress this week. Thanks to Dan Tokaji for
the link.
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