In one sentence: Its not the money-RAISING, its the money-SPENDING. Why? Because campaigns and PACs are subject to different laws. A candidate can help groups RAISE money -- s/he can be a guest of honor at a groups fundraiser, for instance. But the candidate cannot tell the group how to SPEND the money the group raises. Why? Because the effect would be to provide the candidate with more than one campaign committee. And, by law, a candidate can have only ONE campaign committee. Why? Because thats the law. A campaign committee must report donations and expenditures, because the public has a right to know who is giving to a candidate and what the candidate is doing with that money. An issue group has far fewer reporting requirements because people should be allowed to support or oppose issues without harmful government interference. When a candidate directs the SPENDING of an issue group, that issue group becomes a campaign committee; i.e., it is directed by the candidate and not itself. Which is illegal, because a candidate may not have more than one campaign committee AND because a candidate may not have a campaign committee that operates anywhere other than within the strict disclosure laws that apply to campaign committees. Let me know, FB, if I have this wrong. (Im sure you will!)
Posted on: Sat, 23 Aug 2014 14:07:33 +0000
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