Campaign Finance

Federal Election Campaign Act Buckley v. Valeo Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act McConnell v. FEC

Money is the mother’s milk of politics.— Jesse Unruh, Speaker, California

House of Representatives

Illinois 8th District

Year Candidate ReceiptsPAC

Contributions %

2008R: GreenbergD: Bean

$940,000$3.0 mil

$110,000$1.65 mil

12%55%

2006R: McSweeneyD: Bean

$5.1 mil$4.3 mil

$460,000$1.5 mil

9%35%

2004R: CraneD: Bean

$1.6 mil$1.6 mil

$1.2 mil$491,000

73%31%

2002R: CraneD: Bean

$695,000$329,000

$550,000$107,000

79%32%

2000R: CraneD: Pressl

$1.1 mil$285,000

$680,000$46,000

64%16%

House Campaign Expenses

27%

24%13%

8%

15%

3%7%

3%

Electronic Media AdvertisingOverheadFundraisingActual CampaigningPersuasion MailPollingOther ExpensesOther Media

Senate Campaign Expenses

42%

24%

20%

5%3%3% 2%1%

Electronic Media AdvertisingOverheadFundraisingActual CampaigningPersuasion MailPollingOther ExpensesOther Media

Hard Money v Soft Money Hard Money:

Political contributions given to a party, candidate, or interest group that are limited in amount and fully disclosed.

Soft Money: Funds obtained by political parties that are spent on party activities, such as get out the vote drives, not on behalf of a specific candidate.

Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971

Contribution Limits: By PACs, individuals, parties From candidates to own

campaigns

FECA: Contribution Limits

Recipients

Donors Candidate PAC Party TOTAL

Individual $1,000 $5,000 $20,000 $25,000

MC PAC $5,000 $5,000 $15,000 NL

Party $5,000 NA NA NL

Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971

Contribution Limits: By PACs, individuals, parties From candidates to own

campaignsExpenditure Limits: Candidates Groups independent of

candidates

Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971

Contribution Limits: By PACs, individuals, parties From candidates to own

campaignsExpenditure Limits: Candidates Groups independent of

candidatesPublic Funding: Presidential primary candidates Presidential election candidates

FECA: Public Funding

1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004

Public Funds

23.7 29.6 35.4 65.4 38.8 56.3 55.8 26.5

Camp. Costs

66.8 127.8 135.7 208.6 117.0 233.1 328.6 599.6

% 35.5 23.2 26.1 31.4 33.2 24.2 17.0 4.4

Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971

Contribution Limits: By PACs, individuals, parties From candidates to own

campaignsExpenditure Limits: Candidates Groups independent of

candidatesPublic Funding: Presidential primary candidates Presidential election candidatesDisclosure and Enforcement: FEC

Buckley v. Valeo (1976)

Before After

Contribution Limits: By PACs, individuals, parties From candidates to own

campaignsExpenditure Limits: Candidates Groups independent of

candidatesPublic Funding: Presidential primary candidates Presidential election candidatesDisclosure and Enforcement: FEC

Contribution Limits: By PACs, individuals, parties

Public Funding: Presidential primary candidates Presidential election candidatesDisclosure and Enforcement: FEC

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002

Increased contribution limits

BCRA: Per Candidate Contribution Limits

Recipients

Donors Candidate PAC Party TOTAL

Individual $2,000 $5,000 $25,000 $95,000

MC PAC $5,000 $5,000 $15,000 NL

Party $5,000 NA NA NL

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002

Increased contribution limits Prohibited national parties from raising

or spending soft money

Soft Money Contributions (in millions), 1992-2002

$0

$50

$100

$150

$200

$250

$300

1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002

Democrat Republican

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002

Increased contribution limits Prohibited national parties from raising

or spending soft money Required state and local parties to pay

for federal elections with hard money

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002

Increased contribution limits Prohibited national parties from raising

or spending soft money Required state and local parties to pay

for federal elections with hard money Prohibited federal candidates from

raising or spending soft money

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002

Increased contribution limits Prohibited national parties from raising

or spending soft money Required state and local parties to pay

for federal elections with hard money Prohibited federal candidates from

raising or spending soft money Prohibited corporations and unions from

using soft money for electioneering communications

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002

Increased contribution limits Prohibited national parties from raising

or spending soft money Required state and local parties to pay

for federal elections with hard money Prohibited federal candidates from

raising or spending soft money Prohibited corporations and unions from

using soft money for electioneering communications

Required disclosure of electioneering communications

Electioneering Communications

Broadcast, cable or satellite communication;

That refers to a clearly identified federal candidate;

Is publicly distributed by a television station, radio station, cable television system or satellite system for a fee; and

Is distributed within 60 days prior to a general election or 30 days prior to a primary election to federal office.

Electioneering Communications

Sponsor: Kentucky Democratic Party

Ad Frequency: 663 times between October 22 and November 3, 1998

ANNOUNCER: If Congressman Bunning gets his way, everything from milk to medicine would cost 30% more. Last week Jim Bunning said quote, "We ought to have a national sales tax." That's right, Bunning would create a whole new federal tax. Bunning wants to raise our taxes, but voted for a tax loophole that has let billionaires renounce their citizenship to avoid paying U.S. taxes. Tell Bunning, no loophole for billionaires, no new sales tax for working people.

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002

Increased contribution limits Prohibited national parties from raising

or spending soft money Required state and local parties to pay

for federal elections with hard money Prohibited federal candidates from

raising or spending soft money Prohibited corporations and unions from

using soft money for electioneering communications

Required disclosure of electioneering communications

Required political parties to choose between making coordinated expenditures OR independent expenditures, but not both

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002

Increased contribution limits Prohibited national parties from raising

or spending soft money Required state and local parties to pay

for federal elections with hard money Prohibited federal candidates from

raising or spending soft money Prohibited corporations and unions from

using soft money for electioneering communications

Required disclosure of electioneering communications

Required political parties to choose between making coordinated expenditures OR independent expenditures, but not both

Prohibited minors from contributing

McConnell v. FEC (2003)

Before After Increased contribution limits Prohibited national parties from raising

or spending soft money Required state and local parties to pay

for federal elections with hard money Prohibited federal candidates from

raising or spending soft money Prohibited corporations and unions from

using soft money for electioneering communications

Required disclosure of electioneering communications

Required political parties to choose between making coordinated expenditures OR independent expenditures, but not both

Prohibited minors from contributing

Increased contribution limits Prohibited national parties from raising

or spending soft money Required state and local parties to pay

for federal elections with hard money Prohibited federal candidates from

raising or spending soft money Prohibited corporations and unions from

using soft money for electioneering communications

Required disclosure of electioneering communications

527’S (THE NEW SOFT $$) Named for the IRS tax code that

gives life to these committees A 527 group is created primarily to

influence the nomination, election, appointment or defeat of candidates for public office.

Not subject to campaign finance laws

527 Committees

CycleAll 527s* Receipts

All 527s* Expenses

527s (Excluding StateCandidates & Parties)* Receipts

527s (Excluding StateCandidates & Parties)* Expenses

2004$599,202,432

$611,723,836

$434,023,186

$442,472,913

2006$384,911,172

$429,380,273

$165,518,800

$206,337,527

2008$425,561,881

$374,187,522

$201,276,654

$198,753,309

Top 5 Committees Receiving Money

Committee 2008 Receipts

Service Employees International Union

$23,902,467

America Votes $21,407,440

American Solutions Winning the Future

$18,593,115

The Fund for America $12,142,046

EMILY's List $11,659,922

See the full list

Top 5 Committees Receiving Money