Political MoneyI

 Questions on the assignment?

How to raise money:  access money and belief money

• Fundraising emails and texts
• A Valentine
• Triple-matched!

Direct appeals. See this 60 Minutes report at about 43:00.

John Oliver interviews Democrat Steve Israel (about 14:00).

Federal spending in 2024 cycle: $14.8 billion

Party Committee Totals

Milestones

• FECA

McConnell v. FEC: "We are under no illusion that BCRA will be the last congressional statement on the matter. Money, like water, will always find an outlet."

Loopholes!!!!!

Buckley v. Valeo and the part of the decision that allowed for self-funders (Hershey 289):

• Manifestly, the core problem of avoiding undisclosed and undue influence on candidates from outside interests has lesser application when the monies involved come from the candidate himself or from his immediate family."171 U.S.App.D.C. at 206, 519 F.2d at 855. Indeed, the use of personal funds reduces the candidate's dependence on outside contributions, and thereby counteracts the coercive pressures and attendant risks of abuse to which the Act's contribution limitations are directed. ...the First Amendment simply cannot tolerate § 608(a)'s restriction upon the freedom of a candidate to speak without legislative limit on behalf of his own candidacy. We therefore hold that § 608(a)'s restriction on a candidate's personal expenditures is unconstitutional.

Separate party accounts.  The Kimmel DCCC fundraiser charged up to $310,000 per ticket.  Abacadabra:  three separate DCCC contribution limits. For 2025–26, one person may give the DCCC $44,300 for its regular account, plus $132,900 to an election recount and legal proceedings account, plus $132,900 to a headquarters account. Total: $310,100. The FEC treats those accounts separately and restricts what the two special accounts can pay for.

McCutcheon v. FEC  (p. 301) scrapped aggregate contribution limits on donors. The result:  the growing importance of  "victory committees," joint fundraising committees (or JFCs)

NRSC v. FEC: Coordinated expenditures

Following the Money

• Open Secrets
• FEC Database
• California Data
• State campaign finance
• Candid.org