HR 6448 IHCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

112th CONGRESSCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

2d SessionCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

H. R. 6448CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to reform the system of public financing for Presidential elections, to establish a system of public financing for Congressional elections, to promote the disclosure of disbursements made in coordination with campaigns for election for Federal office, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

September 20, 2012CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Mr. PRICE of North Carolina (for himself, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. JONES, Mr. LARSON of Connecticut, Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania, Ms. ESHOO, and Mr. SARBANES) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concernedCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

A BILLCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to reform the system of public financing for Presidential elections, to establish a system of public financing for Congressional elections, to promote the disclosure of disbursements made in coordination with campaigns for election for Federal office, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

(a) Short Title- This Act may be cited as the ‘Empowering Citizens Act’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Table of Contents- The table of contents of this Act is as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE I--REFORM OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION FINANCING

Subtitle A--Primary Elections

Sec. 101. Increase in and modifications to matching payments.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 102. Eligibility requirements for matching payments.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 103. Inflation adjustment for matching contributions.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 104. Repeal of expenditure limitations.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 105. Period of availability of matching payments.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 106. Examination and audits of matchable contributions.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 107. Modification to limitation on contributions for presidential primary candidates.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Subtitle B--General Elections

Sec. 111. Modification of eligibility requirements for public financing.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 112. Repeal of expenditure limitations and use of qualified campaign contributions.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 113. Matching payments and other modifications to payment amounts.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 114. Inflation adjustment for payment amounts.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 115. Increase in limit on coordinated party expenditures.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 116. Establishment of uniform date for release of payments.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 117. Amounts in Presidential Election Campaign Fund.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 118. Use of general election payments for general election legal and accounting compliance.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Subtitle C--Political Conventions

Sec. 121. Repeal of public financing of party conventions.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 122. Contributions for political conventions.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 123. Prohibition on use of soft money.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE II--PUBLIC FINANCING FOR CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION CAMPAIGNS

Sec. 201. Benefits and eligibility requirements for Congressional candidates.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘TITLE V--PUBLIC FINANCING OF CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION CAMPAIGNS

‘Subtitle A--Benefits

‘Sec. 501. Benefits for participating candidates.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘Sec. 502. Administration of payments.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘Sec. 503. Qualified contribution defined.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘Subtitle B--Eligibility and Certification

‘Sec. 511. Eligibility.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘Sec. 512. Qualified contribution requirements.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘Sec. 513. Certification.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘Subtitle C--Requirements for Candidates Certified as Participating Candidates

‘Sec. 521. Restrictions on certain contributions and expenditures.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘Sec. 522. Remitting unspent funds after election.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘Subtitle D--Administrative Provisions

‘Sec. 531. Administration by Commission.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘Sec. 532. Violations and penalties.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘Sec. 533. Election cycle defined.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Sec. 202. Permitting unlimited coordinated expenditures by political party committees on behalf of participating candidates if expenditures are derived from small dollar contributions.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 203. Prohibiting use of contributions by participating candidates for purposes other than campaign for election.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE III--COORDINATED CAMPAIGN ACTIVITY

Sec. 301. Clarification of treatment of coordinated expenditures as contributions to candidates.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 302. Clarification of ban on fundraising for super PACs by Federal candidates and officeholders.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE IV--USE OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN FUND FOR PUBLIC FINANCING OF FEDERAL ELECTIONS

Sec. 401. Use of Presidential Election Campaign Fund for Congressional candidates.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 402. Revisions to designation of income tax payments by individual taxpayers.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 403. Donation to Presidential Election Campaign Fund.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE V--OTHER CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORMS

Sec. 501. Regulations with respect to best efforts for identifying persons making contributions.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 502. Prohibition on joint fundraising committees.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 503. Disclosure of bundled contributions to presidential campaigns.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 504. Judicial review of actions related to campaign finance laws.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE VI--SEVERABILITY; EFFECTIVE DATE

Sec. 601. Severability.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 602. Effective date.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE I--REFORM OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION FINANCINGCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Subtitle A--Primary ElectionsCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 101. INCREASE IN AND MODIFICATIONS TO MATCHING PAYMENTS.

(a) Increase and Modification-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- The first sentence of section 9034(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) by striking ‘an amount equal to the amount of each contribution’ and inserting ‘an amount equal to 500 percent of the amount of each matchable contribution (disregarding any amount of contributions from any person to the extent that the total of the amounts contributed by such person for the election exceeds $250)’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) by striking ‘authorized committees’ and all that follows through ‘$250’ and inserting ‘authorized committees’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) MATCHABLE CONTRIBUTIONS- Section 9034 of such Code is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) by striking the last sentence of subsection (a); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) by inserting after subsection (b) the following new subsection:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(c) Matchable Contribution Defined- For purposes of this section and section 9033(b)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) MATCHABLE CONTRIBUTION- The term ‘matchable contribution’ means, with respect to the nomination for election to the office of President of the United States, a contribution by an individual to a candidate or an authorized committee of a candidate with respect to which the candidate has certified in writing that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) the individual making such contribution has not made aggregate contributions (including such matchable contribution) to such candidate and the authorized committees of such candidate in excess of 50% of the limit applicable under paragraph (1)(A) or paragraph (2)(A) of section 315(a) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to the amount of a contribution which may be made to a candidate who is not eligible to receive payments under section 9037 with respect to such nomination;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) such candidate and the authorized committees of such candidate will not accept contributions from such individual (including such matchable contribution) aggregating more than the amount described in subparagraph (A); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) such contribution was not--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) forwarded from the contributor from any person other than an individual, orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) received by the candidate or committee from a contributor or contributors, but credited by the committee or candidate to another person who is not an individual through records, designations, or other means of recognizing that a certain amount of money has been raised by such person.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) CONTRIBUTION- For purposes of this subsection, the term ‘contribution’ means a gift of money made by a written instrument which identifies the individual making the contribution by full name and mailing address, but does not include a subscription, loan, advance, or deposit of money, or anything of value or anything described in subparagraph (B), (C), or (D) of section 9032(4).’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) Section 9032(4) of such Code is amended by striking ‘section 9034(a)’ and inserting ‘section 9034’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) Section 9033(b)(3) of such Code is amended by striking ‘matching contributions’ and inserting ‘matchable contributions’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Modification of Payment Limitation- Section 9034(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking ‘shall not exceed’ and all that follows and inserting ‘shall not exceed $100,000,000.’CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 102. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR MATCHING PAYMENTS.

(a) Amount of Aggregate Contributions Per State; Disregarding of Amounts Contributed in Excess of $250- Section 9033(b)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by striking ‘$5,000’ and inserting ‘$25,000’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by striking ‘20 States’ and inserting the following: ‘20 States (disregarding any amount of contributions from any such resident to the extent that the total of the amounts contributed by such resident for the election exceeds $250)’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Contribution Limit-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- Paragraph (4) of section 9033(b) of such Code is amended to read as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(4) the candidate and the authorized committees of the candidate will not accept aggregate contributions from any person with respect to the nomination for election to the office of President of the United States in excess of 50% of the limit applicable under paragraph (1)(A) or paragraph (2)(A) of section 315(a) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to the amount of a contribution which may be made to a candidate who is not eligible to receive payments under section 9037 with respect to such nomination.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) Section 9033(b) of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new flush sentence:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘For purposes of paragraph (4), the term ‘contribution’ has the meaning given such term in section 301(8) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) Section 9032(4) of such Code, as amended by section 101(a)(3)(A) is amended by inserting ‘or 9033(b)’ after ‘9034’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Ban on Contributions by Lobbyists and PACs- Section 9033(b) of such Code, as amended by subsection (b), is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by striking ‘and’ at the end of paragraph (3);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (4) and inserting ‘, and’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(5) the candidate and the authorized committee of the candidate will not accept--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) any contribution from--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) an individual who is a current registrant under section 4(a)(1) of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) an individual who is listed on a current registration filed under section 4(b)(6) of such Act or a current report under section 5(b)(2)(C) of such Act,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) any bundled contribution (as defined in section 304(i)(8)) forwarded by or credited to a person described in section 304(i)(7), andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) any contribution from a political committee other than a political committee of a political party.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Participation in System for Payments for General Election- Section 9033(b) of such Code, as amended by subsection (c), is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by striking ‘and’ at the end of paragraph (4);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (5) and inserting ‘, and’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(6) if the candidate is nominated by a political party for election to the office of President, the candidate will apply for and accept payments with respect to the general election for such office in accordance with chapter 95.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 103. INFLATION ADJUSTMENT FOR MATCHING CONTRIBUTIONS.

Section 9033 of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(d) Inflation Adjustments-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL- In the case of any applicable period beginning after 2012, each of the dollar amounts in section 9034(b) shall be increased by an amount equal to--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) such dollar amount, multiplied byCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) the cost-of-living adjustment determined under section 1(f)(3) for the calendar year following the year which such applicable period begins, determined by substituting ‘calendar year 2012’ for ‘calendar year 1992’ in subparagraph (B) thereof.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) APPLICABLE PERIOD- For purposes of this subsection, the term ‘applicable period’ means the 4-year period beginning with the first day following the date of the last general election for the office of President and ending on the date of the next such general election.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) ROUNDING- If any amount as adjusted under paragraph (1) is not a multiple of $100, such amount shall be rounded to the nearest multiple of $100.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 104. REPEAL OF EXPENDITURE LIMITATIONS.

(a) In General- Subsection (a) of section 9035 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended to read as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(a) Personal Expenditure Limitation- No candidate shall knowingly make expenditures from his personal funds, or the personal funds of his immediate family, in connection with his campaign for nomination for election to the office of President in excess of, in the aggregate, $50,000.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Conforming Amendment- Paragraph (1) of section 9033(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended to read as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) the candidate will comply with the personal expenditure limitation under section 9035,’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 105. PERIOD OF AVAILABILITY OF MATCHING PAYMENTS.

Section 9032(6) of such Code is amended by striking ‘the beginning of the calendar year in which a general election for the office of President of the United States will be held’ and inserting ‘the date that is 6 months prior to the date of the earliest State primary election’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 106. EXAMINATION AND AUDITS OF MATCHABLE CONTRIBUTIONS.

Section 9038(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting ‘and matchable contributions accepted by’ after ‘qualified campaign expenses of’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 107. MODIFICATION TO LIMITATION ON CONTRIBUTIONS FOR PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY CANDIDATES.

Section 315(a)(6) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 441a(a)(6)) is amended by striking ‘calendar year’ and inserting ‘four-year election cycle’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Subtitle B--General ElectionsCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 111. MODIFICATION OF ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR PUBLIC FINANCING.

Section 9003(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended to read as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(a) In General- In order to be eligible to receive any payments under section 9006, the candidates of a political party in a presidential election shall meet the following requirements:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) PARTICIPATION IN PRIMARY PAYMENT SYSTEM- The candidate for President received payments under chapter 96 for the campaign for nomination for election to be President.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) AGREEMENTS WITH COMMISSION- The candidates, in writing--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) agree to obtain and furnish to the Commission such evidence as it may request of the qualified campaign expenses of such candidates,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) agree to keep and furnish to the Commission such records, books, and other information as it may request, andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) agree to an audit and examination by the Commission under section 9007 and to pay any amounts required to be paid under such section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) BAN ON CERTAIN CONTRIBUTIONS AND SOLICITATIONS- The candidates certify to the Commission, under penalty of perjury, the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) LOBBYISTS AND PACS- Such candidates and the authorized committees of such candidates will not accept--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) any contribution from--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(I) an individual who is a current registrant under section 4(a)(1) of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(II) an individual who is listed on a current registration filed under section 4(b)(6) of such Act or a current report under section 5(b)(2)(C) of such Act,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) any bundled contribution (as defined in section 304(i)(8)) forwarded by or credited to a person described in section 304(i)(7), andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(iii) any contribution from a political committee other than a political committee of a political party.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) SOLICITATIONS FOR JOINT FUNDRAISING COMMITTEES- Such candidates and their authorized committees will not, after June 1 of the election year, solicit any funds for any joint fundraising committee that includes any committee of a political party.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) SOLICITATION FOR POLITICAL PARTIES- Such candidates and their authorized committees will not, after the date described in section 9006(b), solicit any funds for any committee of a political party.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Such certification shall be made within such time prior to the day of the presidential election as the Commission shall prescribe by rules or regulations.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 112. REPEAL OF EXPENDITURE LIMITATIONS AND USE OF QUALIFIED CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS.

(a) Major Parties- Subsection (b) of section 9003 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended to read as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(b) Major Parties- In order to be eligible to receive any payments under section 9006, the candidates of a major party in a presidential election shall certify to the Commission, under penalty of perjury, that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) such candidates and their authorized committees have not and will not accept any contributions to defray qualified campaign expenses other than--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) qualified campaign contributions, andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) contributions to the extent necessary to make up any deficiency payments received out of the fund on account of the application of section 9006(c), andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) such candidates and their authorized committees have not and will not accept any contribution to defray expenses which would be qualified campaign expenses but for subparagraph (C) of section 9002(11).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Such certification shall be made at the same time as the certification required under subsection (a)(3).’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Minor and New Parties- Subsection (c) of section 9003 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended to read as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(c) Minor and New Parties- In order to be eligible to receive any payments under section 9006, the candidates of a minor or new party in a presidential election shall certify to the Commission, under penalty of perjury, that such candidates and their authorized committees have not and will not accept any contributions to defray qualified campaign expenses other than--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) qualified campaign contributions, andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) contributions other than qualified campaign contributions to the extent to which--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) the aggregate payments to which such candidates would be entitled under section 9004 if such candidates were candidates of a major party, exceedCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) the aggregate payments to which such candidates are entitled to under section 9004.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Such certification shall be made at the same time as the certification required under subsection (a)(3).’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Definition of Qualified Campaign Contributions- Section 9002 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(13) QUALIFIED CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION- The term ‘qualified campaign contribution’ means, with respect to any election for the office of President of the United States, a contribution from an individual to a candidate or an authorized committee of a candidate which--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) is made after June 1 of the year in which the election is held;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) does not exceed 50% of the limit applicable under paragraph (1)(A) or paragraph (2)(A) of section 315(a) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to the amount of a contribution which may be made to a candidate who is not eligible to receive payments under section 9006 with respect to such election; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) with respect to which the candidate has certified in writing that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) the individual making such contribution has not made aggregate contributions (including such qualified contribution) to such candidate and the authorized committees of such candidate in excess of the amount described in subparagraph (B), andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) such candidate and the authorized committees of such candidate will not accept contributions from such individual (including such qualified contribution) aggregating more than the amount described in subparagraph (B) with respect to such election.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Conforming Amendments-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) REPEAL OF EXPENDITURE LIMITS-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) Section 315 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 441a) is amended by striking subsection (b).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) Section 315(c) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 441a(c)) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) in paragraph (1)(B)(i), by striking ‘, (b)’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) in paragraph (2)(B)(i), by striking ‘subsections (b) and (d)’ and inserting ‘subsection (d)’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) LIMITATION ON PAYMENTS TO CANDIDATES OF MINOR AND NEW PARTIES- Paragraph (1) of section 9004(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting ‘, other than qualified contributions,’ after ‘contributions’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) REPAYMENTS-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) Section 9007(b) of such Code is amended by striking paragraph (2) and redesignating paragraphs (3), (4), and (5) as paragraphs (2), (3), and (4), respectively.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) Paragraph (2) of section 9007(b) of such Code, as redesignated by subparagraph (A), is amended by inserting ‘qualified contributions and’ after ‘contributions (other than’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) CRIMINAL PENALTIES-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) EXCESS EXPENSES- Section 9012(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking the first sentence.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) CONTRIBUTIONS-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) CANDIDATES OF MAJOR PARTIES- Section 9012(b)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting ‘other than qualified contributions,’ after ‘to defray qualified campaign expenses,’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) CANDIDATES OF OTHER PARTIES- Section 9012(b)(2) of such Code is amended by inserting ‘, other than qualified contributions,’ after ‘contributions’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 113. MATCHING PAYMENTS AND OTHER MODIFICATIONS TO PAYMENT AMOUNTS.

(a) In General-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) AMOUNT OF PAYMENTS FOR MAJOR PARTY CANDIDATES- Subsection (a) of section 9004 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended to read as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(a) In General- Subject to the provisions of this chapter--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) MAJOR PARTIES- The eligible candidates of each major party in a presidential election shall be entitled to equal payment under section 9006 in an amount equal to--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) $50,000,000, plusCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) an amount equal to 500 percent of the amount of each matchable contribution received by such candidate on or after June 1 of the year of the presidential election, or by his authorized committees (disregarding any amount of contributions from any person to the extent that the total of the amounts contributed by such person for the election exceeds $250).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





The total amount of payments to which a major party candidate is entitled under subparagraph (B) shall not exceed $150,000,000.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) PRE-ELECTION PAYMENTS FOR MINOR AND NEW PARTIES-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) PAYMENT BASED ON PRIOR VOTES RECEIVED BY PARTY-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) IN GENERAL- The eligible candidates of a minor party in a presidential election shall be entitled to equal payment under section 9006 in an amount equal to the sum of--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(I) the product of the popular vote ratio with respect to such minor party and the amount in effect under paragraph (1)(A), plusCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(II) an amount equal to the applicable percentage of the amount of each matchable contribution received by such candidate on or after June 1 of the year of the presidential election, or by his authorized committees.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





The total amount of payments to which such a candidate is entitled under subclause (II) shall not exceed the product of the amount in effect under the last sentence of paragraph (1)(A) and the popular vote ratio with respect to such minor party.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) POPULAR VOTE RATIO WITH RESPECT TO A MINOR PARTY- For purposes of this subparagraph, the popular vote ratio with respect to a minor party is the ratio of the number of popular votes received by the candidate for President of the minor party, as such candidate, in the preceding presidential election to the average number of popular votes received by the candidates for President of the major parties in the preceding presidential election.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(iii) APPLICABLE PERCENTAGE- For purposes of subparagraph (A), the applicable percentage is the product of 500 percent and the popular vote ratio with respect to such minor party.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) PAYMENT BASED ON PRIOR VOTES RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) IN GENERAL- If the candidate of one or more political parties (not including a major party) for the office of President was a candidate for such office in the preceding presidential election and received 5 percent or more but less than 25 percent of the total number of popular votes received by all candidates for such office, such candidate and his running mate for the office of Vice President, upon compliance with the provisions of section 9003(a) and (c), shall be treated as eligible candidates entitled to payments under section 9006 in an amount computed as provided in subparagraph (A), determined by substituting ‘the popular vote ratio with respect to such candidate’ for ‘the popular vote ratio with respect to such minor party’ each place it appears.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) POPULAR VOTE RATIO WITH RESPECT TO A CANDIDATE- For purposes of this subparagraph, the popular vote ratio with respect to a candidate is the ratio of the number of popular votes received by such candidate for the office of President in the preceding presidential election to the average number of popular votes received by the candidates for President of the major parties in the preceding presidential election.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(iii) COORDINATION RULE- If eligible candidates of a minor party are entitled to payments under this subparagraph, such entitlement shall be reduced by the amount of the entitlement allowed under subparagraph (A).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) POST-ELECTION PAYMENTS FOR MINOR AND NEW PARTIES-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) IN GENERAL- The eligible candidates of a minor party or a new party in a presidential election whose candidate for President in such election receives, as such candidate, 5 percent or more of the total number of popular votes cast for the office of President in such election shall be entitled to payments under section 9006 equal to the sum of--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) the product of the popular vote ratio with respect to such candidate and the amount in effect under paragraph (1)(A), plusCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) an amount equal to the applicable percentage of the amount of each matchable contribution received by such candidate on or after June 1 of the year of the presidential election, or by his authorized committees.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





The total amount of payments to which such a candidate is entitled under clause (ii) shall not exceed the product of the amount in effect under the last sentence of paragraph (1)(A) and the popular vote ratio with respect to such candidate.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) POPULAR VOTE RATIO WITH RESPECT TO A CANDIDATE- For purposes of this paragraph, the popular vote ratio with respect to a candidate in a presidential election is the ratio of the number of popular votes received by such candidate for the office of President in such election to the average number of popular votes received by the candidates for President of the major parties in such election.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) APPLICABLE PERCENTAGE- For purposes of subparagraph (A), the applicable percentage is the product of 500 percent and the popular vote ratio with respect to such candidate.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(D) COORDINATION RULE- In the case of eligible candidates entitled to payments under paragraph (2), the amount allowable under this paragraph shall be limited to the amount, if any, by which the entitlement under the preceding sentence exceeds the amount of the entitlement under paragraph (2).’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT- Section 9005(a) is amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: ‘The Commission shall make such additional certifications as may be necessary to receive payments under section 9004.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Matchable Contribution- Section 9002 of such Code, as amended by section 112, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(14) MATCHABLE CONTRIBUTION- The term ‘matchable contribution’ means, with respect to the election to the office of President of the United States, a contribution by an individual to a candidate or an authorized committee of a candidate with respect to which the candidate has certified in writing that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) the individual making such contribution has not made aggregate contributions (including such matchable contribution) to such candidate and the authorized committees of such candidate in excess of 50% of the limit applicable under paragraph (1)(A) or paragraph (2)(A) of section 315(a) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to the amount of a contribution which may be made to a candidate who is not eligible to receive payments under section 9006 with respect to such election;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) such candidate and the authorized committees of such candidate will not accept contributions from such individual (including such matchable contribution) aggregating more than the amount described in subparagraph (A) with respect to such election; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) such contribution was not--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) forwarded from the contributor from any person other than an individual, orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) received by the candidate or committee from a contributor or contributors, but credited by the committee or candidate to another person who is not an individual through records, designations, or other means of recognizing that a certain amount of money has been raised by such person.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 114. INFLATION ADJUSTMENT FOR PAYMENT AMOUNTS.

Section 9004 of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(f) Inflation Adjustments-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL- In the case of any applicable period beginning after 2016, each of the dollar amounts in subsection (a)(1) shall be increased by an amount equal to--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) such dollar amount, multiplied byCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) the cost-of-living adjustment determined under section 1(f)(3) for the calendar year following the year which such applicable period begins, determined by substituting ‘calendar year 2016’ for ‘calendar year 1992’ in subparagraph (B) thereof.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) APPLICABLE PERIOD- For purposes of this subsection, the term ‘applicable period’ means the 4-year period beginning with the first day following the date of the last general election for the office of President and ending on the date of the next such general election.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) ROUNDING- If any amount as adjusted under paragraph (1) is not a multiple of $100, such amount shall be rounded to the nearest multiple of $100.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 115. INCREASE IN LIMIT ON COORDINATED PARTY EXPENDITURES.

(a) In General- Section 315(d)(2) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 441a(d)(2)) is amended to read as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2)(A) The national committee of a political party may not make any expenditure in connection with the general election campaign of any candidate for President of the United States who is affiliated with such party which exceeds $50,000,000.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) For purposes of this paragraph--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) any expenditure made by or on behalf of a national committee of a political party and in connection with a presidential election shall be considered to be made in connection with the general election campaign of a candidate for President of the United States who is affiliated with such party; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) any communication made by or on behalf of such party shall be considered to be made in connection with the general election campaign of a candidate for President of the United States who is affiliated with such party if any portion of the communication is in connection with such election.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) Any expenditure under this paragraph shall be in addition to any expenditure by a national committee of a political party serving as the principal campaign committee of a candidate for the office of President of the United States.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Conforming Amendments Relating to Timing of Cost-of-Living Adjustment-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- Section 315(c)(1) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 441a(c)(1)), as amended by section 112(d)(1)(B), is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘(d)’ and inserting ‘(d)(3)’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) by inserting at the end the following new subparagraph:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(D) In any calendar year after 2016--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) the dollar amount in subsection (d)(2) shall be increased by the percent difference determined under subparagraph (A);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) the amount so increased shall remain in effect for the calendar year; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(iii) if the amount after adjustment under clause (i) is not a multiple of $100, such amount shall be rounded to the nearest multiple of $100.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) BASE YEAR- Section 315(c)(2)(B) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 441a(c)(2)(B)), as amended by section 112(d)(1)(B), is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) in clause (i)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) by striking ‘(d)’ and inserting ‘(d)(3)’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) by striking ‘and’ at the end;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) in clause (ii), by striking the period at the end and inserting ‘; and’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) by adding at the end the following new clause:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(iii) for purposes of subsection (d)(2), calendar year 2015.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 116. ESTABLISHMENT OF UNIFORM DATE FOR RELEASE OF PAYMENTS.

(a) Date for Payments-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- Section 9006(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended to read as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(b) Payments From the Fund- If the Secretary of the Treasury receives a certification from the Commission under section 9005 for payment to the eligible candidates of a political party, the Secretary shall pay to such candidates out of the fund the amount certified by the Commission on the later of--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) the last Friday occurring before the first Monday in September, orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) 24 hours after receiving the certifications for the eligible candidates of all major political parties.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Amounts paid to any such candidates shall be under the control of such candidates.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT- The first sentence of section 9006(c) of such Code is amended by striking ‘the time of a certification by the Commission under section 9005 for payment’ and inserting ‘the time of making a payment under subsection (b)’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Time for Certification- Section 9005(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking ‘10 days’ and inserting ‘24 hours’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 117. AMOUNTS IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN FUND.

(a) Determination of Amounts in Fund- Section 9006(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: ‘In making a determination of whether there are insufficient moneys in the fund for purposes of the previous sentence, the Secretary shall take into account in determining the balance of the fund for a Presidential election year the Secretary’s best estimate of the amount of moneys which will be deposited into the fund during the year, except that the amount of the estimate may not exceed the average of the annual amounts deposited in the fund during the previous 3 years.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Special Rule for First Campaign Cycle Under This Act-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- Section 9006 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(d) Special Authority To Borrow-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL- Notwithstanding subsection (c), there are authorized to be appropriated to the fund, as repayable advances, such sums as are necessary to carry out the purposes of the fund during the period ending on the first presidential election occurring after the date of the enactment of this subsection.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) REPAYMENT OF ADVANCES-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) IN GENERAL- Advances made to the fund shall be repaid, and interest on such advances shall be paid, to the general fund of the Treasury when the Secretary determines that moneys are available for such purposes in the fund.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) RATE OF INTEREST- Interest on advances made to the fund shall be at a rate determined by the Secretary of the Treasury (as of the close of the calendar month preceding the month in which the advance is made) to be equal to the current average market yield on outstanding marketable obligations of the United States with remaining periods to maturity comparable to the anticipated period during which the advance will be outstanding and shall be compounded annually.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendment made by this subsection shall take effect January 1, 2013.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 118. USE OF GENERAL ELECTION PAYMENTS FOR GENERAL ELECTION LEGAL AND ACCOUNTING COMPLIANCE.

Section 9002(11) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: ‘For purposes of subparagraph (A), an expense incurred by a candidate or authorized committee for general election legal and accounting compliance purposes shall be considered to be an expense to further the election of such candidate.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Subtitle C--Political ConventionsCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 121. REPEAL OF PUBLIC FINANCING OF PARTY CONVENTIONS.

(a) Repeal-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- Chapter 95 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking section 9008.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT- The table of sections of chapter 95 of such Code is amended by striking the item relating to section 9008.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Conforming Amendments-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) AVAILABILITY OF PAYMENTS TO CANDIDATES- Section 9006(c) of such Code is amended by striking ‘section 9008(b)(3)’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) REPORTS BY FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION- Section 9009 of such Code is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) by adding ‘and’ at the end of paragraph (2);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) by striking the semicolon at the end of paragraph (3) and inserting a period; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) by striking paragraphs (4), (5), and (6).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) PENALTIES- Section 9012 of such Code, as amended by section 112(d)(4), is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) by striking subsection (a) and redesignating subsections (b) through (g) as subsections (a) through (f), respectively;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) in subsection (b), as redesignated by subparagraph (A), by striking paragraph (2) and redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (2);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) in subsection (d)(1), as redesignated by subparagraph (A), by striking the second sentence; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) in subsection (d)(3), as redesignated by subparagraph (A), by striking ‘, or in connection with any expense incurred by the national committee of a major party or minor party with respect to a presidential nominating convention’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) AVAILABILITY OF PAYMENTS FROM PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY MATCHING ACCOUNT- The second sentence of section 9037(a) of such Code is amended by striking ‘and for payments under section 9008(b)(3)’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 122. CONTRIBUTIONS FOR POLITICAL CONVENTIONS.

(a) Separate Contribution Limitation-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) INDIVIDUALS-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) IN GENERAL- Subsection (a)(1) of section 315 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 441a) is amended by striking ‘or’ at the end of subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (D) and inserting ‘; or’, and by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(E) to the national nominating convention account of political committees established and maintained by a national political party, in any 4-year period ending on the last day of the calendar year beginning on the day after a general election for the office of President which, in the aggregate, exceed the dollar amount in effect under subparagraph (B);’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) CONFORMING AMENDMENT- Subparagraph (B) of section 315(a)(1) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 441a(a)(1)) is amended by inserting ‘(other than to the national nominating convention accounts of such political committees which are described in subparagraph (E))’ after ‘national political party’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) AGGREGATE CONTRIBUTION LIMITATION- Paragraph (3) of section 315(a) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 441a(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following new flush sentence:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘The dollar amount in subparagraph (B) shall be increased by the amount of contributions (not in excess of the dollar amount in effect under subparagraph (E)) made to the national nominating convention account of a political committee established and maintained by a national political party during the period described in the preceding sentence.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) National Nominating Convention Account- Subsection (a) of section 315 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 441a) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(9) For purposes of this subsection, the national nomination convention account of any political committees established and maintained by a national political party is a separate account the funds of which may only be used to defray the costs of the national nominating convention of such party.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 123. PROHIBITION ON USE OF SOFT MONEY.

Section 323 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 441i) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(g) National Conventions- Any person described in subsection (a) or (e) shall not solicit, receive, direct, transfer, or spend any funds in connection with a presidential nominating convention of any political party, including funds from or for a host committee, civic committee, municipality, or any other person or entity spending funds in connection with such a convention, unless such funds--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) are not in excess of the amounts permitted with respect to contributions to the political committee established and maintained by a national political party committee under section 315; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) are not from sources prohibited by this Act from making contributions in connection with an election for Federal office.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE II--PUBLIC FINANCING FOR CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION CAMPAIGNSCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 201. BENEFITS AND ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES.

The Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 431 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘TITLE V--PUBLIC FINANCING OF CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION CAMPAIGNSCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘Subtitle A--BenefitsCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘SEC. 501. BENEFITS FOR PARTICIPATING CANDIDATES.

‘(a) In General- If a candidate for election to the office of Senator or Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress is a participating candidate under this title with respect to an election for such office, the candidate shall be entitled to payments under this title, to be used only for authorized expenditures in connection with the election.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(b) Amount of Payment-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) MATCH OF QUALIFIED CONTRIBUTIONS- Subject to paragraph (2), the amount of a payment made to a participating candidate under this title shall be equal to 500 percent of the amount of qualified contributions received by the candidate since the most recent payment made to the candidate under this title with respect to the election, as set forth--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) in the case of the first payment made to the candidate with respect to the election, in the report filed under section 511(a)(2); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) in the case of any subsequent payment made to the candidate with respect to the election, in the report of qualified contributions filed under subsection (c).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) LIMITATION- In determining the amount of qualified contributions received by a candidate for purposes of making a payment under this section, there shall be disregarded any amount of contributions from any person to the extent that the total of the amounts contributed by such person for the election exceeds $250.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(c) Reports-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL- Each participating candidate shall file reports of receipts of qualified contributions at such times and in such manner as the Commission may by regulations prescribe.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) CONTENTS OF REPORTS- Each report under this subsection shall disclose each qualified contribution received by the candidate since the most recent report filed under this section, and shall state the aggregate amount of all such qualified contributions received since the most recent report filed under this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) FREQUENCY OF REPORTS- Reports under this subsection shall be made no more frequently than--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) once every month until the date that is 90 days before the date of the election;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) once every week after the period described in subparagraph (A) and until the date that is 21 days before the election; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) once every day after the period described in subparagraph (B).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(4) LIMITATION ON REGULATIONS- The Commission may not prescribe any regulations with respect to reporting under this subsection with respect to any election after the date that is 180 days before the date of such election.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(d) Limit on Aggregate Amount of Payments- The aggregate amount of payments that may be made under this title to a participating candidate during an election cycle may not exceed--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) $2,000,000, in the case of a candidate for the office of Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) $10,000,000, in the case of a candidate for the office of Senator.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘SEC. 502. ADMINISTRATION OF PAYMENTS.

‘(a) Timing- The Commission shall make payments under this title to a participating candidate--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) in the case of the first payment made to the candidate with respect to the election, not later than 48 hours after the date on which such candidate is certified as a participating candidate under section 513; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) in the case of any subsequent payment made to the candidate with respect to the election, not later than 2 business days after the receipt of a report made under section 501(c).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(b) Method of Payment- The Commission shall distribute funds available to participating candidates under this title through the use of an electronic funds exchange or a debit card.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(c) Appeals- The Commission shall provide a written explanation with respect to any denial of any payment under this title and shall provide for the opportunity for review and reconsideration within 5 business days of such denial.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘SEC. 503. QUALIFIED CONTRIBUTION DEFINED.

‘In this title, the term ‘qualified contribution’ means, with respect to a candidate, a contribution that meets each of the following requirements:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) The contribution is in an amount that is not greater than the limit on the amount of a contribution that may be accepted by a participating candidate from an individual under section 521(a).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) The contribution is made by an individual who is not otherwise prohibited from making a contribution under this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) The contribution is not--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) forwarded from the contributor by any person other than an individual; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) received by the candidate or an authorized committee of the candidate from a contributor or contributors, but credited by the committee or candidate to another person who is not an individual through records, designations, or other means of recognizing that a certain amount of money has been raised by such person.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(4) The contribution meets the requirements of section 512(b).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘Subtitle B--Eligibility and CertificationCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘SEC. 511. ELIGIBILITY.

‘(a) In General- A candidate for the office of Senator or Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress is eligible to be certified as a participating candidate under this title with respect to an election if the candidate meets the following requirements:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) During the election cycle for the office involved, the candidate files with the Commission a statement of intent to seek certification as a participating candidate.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) The candidate meets the qualified contribution requirements of section 512 and submits to the Commission a report disclosing each qualified contribution received by the candidate and stating the aggregate amount of all such qualified contributions received.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) Not later than the last day of the qualifying period, the candidate files with the Commission an affidavit signed by the candidate and the treasurer of the candidate’s principal campaign committee declaring that the candidate--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) has complied and, if certified, will comply with the contribution and expenditure requirements of section 521;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) if certified, will run only as a participating candidate for all elections for the office that such candidate is seeking during the election cycle; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) has either qualified or will take steps to qualify under State law to be on the ballot.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(b) General Election- Notwithstanding subsection (a), a candidate shall not be eligible to receive a payment under this title for a general election or a general runoff election unless the candidate’s party nominated the candidate to be placed on the ballot for the general election or the candidate is otherwise qualified to be on the ballot under State law.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(c) Qualifying Period Defined- The term ‘qualifying period’ means, with respect to any candidate for the office of Senator or Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress, the 120-day period (during the election cycle for such office) which begins on the date on which the candidate files a statement of intent under section 511(a)(1), except that such period may not continue after the date that is 60 days before--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) the date of the primary election; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) in the case of a State that does not hold a primary election, the date prescribed by State law as the last day to qualify for a position on the general election ballot.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘SEC. 512. QUALIFIED CONTRIBUTION REQUIREMENTS.

‘(a) Receipt of Qualified Contributions-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL- A candidate meets the requirements of this section if, during the qualifying period described in section 511(c), the candidate obtains--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) a single qualified contribution from a number of individuals equal to or greater than--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) in the case of a candidate for election the office of Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress, 400, orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) in the case of a candidate for the office of Senator, the product of 400 and the number of Congressional districts in the State involved as of the date of the election; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) a total dollar amount of qualified contributions equal to or greater than--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) in the case of a candidate for election the office of Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress, $40,000, disregarding any amount of contributions from any person to the extent that the total of the amounts contributed by such person for the election exceeds $250, orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) in the case of a candidate for the office of Senator, the product of $40,000 and the number of Congressional districts in the State involved as of the date of the election, disregarding any amount of contributions from any person to the extent that the total of the amounts contributed by such person for the election exceeds $250.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) EXCLUSION OF CONTRIBUTIONS FROM OUT-OF-STATE RESIDENTS- In determining the number of qualified contributions obtained by a candidate under paragraph (1)(A) and the dollar amount of qualified contributions obtained by a candidate under paragraph (1)(B), there shall be excluded any contributions made by an individual who does not have a primary residence in the State in which such candidate is seeking election.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(b) Requirements Relating to Receipt of Qualified Contribution- Each qualified contribution--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) may be made by means of a personal check, money order, debit card, credit card, or electronic payment account;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) shall be accompanied by a signed statement containing the contributor’s name and the contributor’s address in the State in which the primary residence of the contributor is located; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) shall be acknowledged by a receipt that is sent to the contributor with a copy kept by the candidate for the Commission and a copy kept by the candidate for the election authorities in the State with respect to which the candidate is seeking election.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(c) Verification of Qualified Contributions- The Commission shall establish procedures for the auditing and verification of qualified contributions to ensure that such contributions meet the requirements of this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(d) Prohibiting Payment on Commission Basis of Individuals Collecting Qualified Contributions- No person may be paid a commission on a per qualified contribution basis for collecting qualified contributions.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘SEC. 513. CERTIFICATION.

‘(a) Deadline and Notification-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL- Not later than 10 days after a candidate files an affidavit under section 511(a)(3), the Commission shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) determine whether or not the candidate meets the requirements for certification as a participating candidate;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) if the Commission determines that the candidate meets such requirements, certify the candidate as a participating candidate; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) notify the candidate of the Commission’s determination.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) DEEMED CERTIFICATION FOR ALL ELECTIONS IN ELECTION CYCLE- If the Commission certifies a candidate as a participating candidate with respect to the first election of the election cycle involved, the Commissioner shall be deemed to have certified the candidate as a participating candidate with respect to all subsequent elections of the election cycle.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(b) Revocation of Certification-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL- The Commission may revoke a certification under subsection (a) if--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) a candidate fails to qualify to appear on the ballot at any time after the date of certification (other than a candidate certified as a participating candidate with respect to a primary election who fails to qualify to appear on the ballot for a subsequent election in that election cycle); orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) a candidate otherwise fails to comply with the requirements of this title, including any regulatory requirements prescribed by the Commission.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) REPAYMENT OF BENEFITS- If certification is revoked under paragraph (1), the candidate shall repay to the Empowering Citizens Payment Account of the Presidential Election Campaign Fund (established under section 9051 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) an amount equal to the value of benefits received under this title with respect to the election cycle involved plus interest (at a rate determined by the Commission) on any such amount received.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(c) Participating Candidate Defined- In this title, a ‘participating candidate’ means a candidate for the office of Senator or Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress who is certified under this section as eligible to receive benefits under this title.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘Subtitle C--Requirements for Candidates Certified as Participating CandidatesCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘SEC. 521. RESTRICTIONS ON CERTAIN CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES.

‘(a) 50 Percent Reduction in Otherwise Applicable Contribution Limits- In the case of a candidate who is certified as a participating candidate under this title with respect to an election, the limit applicable under paragraph (1)(A) or paragraph (2)(A) of section 315(a) to the amount of a contribution which may be made to the candidate and any authorized committee of the candidate with respect to the election shall be equal to 50% of the amount applicable under such paragraph to a contribution made to a candidate with respect to the election who is not certified as a participating candidate under this title.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(b) Prohibiting Acceptance of Contributions From Registered Lobbyists or Contributions Bundled by Registered Lobbyists- A candidate who is certified as a participating candidate under this title with respect to an election, and any authorized committee of such a candidate, may not accept any of the following contributions with respect to the election:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) Any contribution from--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) an individual who is a current registrant under section 4(a)(1) of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) an individual who is listed on a current registration filed under section 4(b)(6) of such Act or a current report under section 5(b)(2)(C) of such Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) Any bundled contribution (as defined in section 304(i)(8)) forwarded by or credited to a person described in section 304(i)(7).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(c) Limit on Expenditures From Personal Funds- A candidate who is certified as a participating candidate under this title may not make expenditures from personal funds (as defined in section 304(a)(6)(B)) in an aggregate amount exceeding $50,000 with respect to any election in the election cycle involved.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(d) Prohibiting Solicitation of Funds for Political Party Committees- A candidate who is certified as a participating candidate under this title may not solicit funds for any political committee of a political party, except that the candidate may solicit funds for a separate account of the committee which is established under section 315(d)(5).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘SEC. 522. REMITTING UNSPENT FUNDS AFTER ELECTION.

‘(a) In General- Not later than the date that is 60 days after the last election for which a candidate certified as a participating candidate qualifies to be on the ballot during the election cycle involved, such participating candidate shall remit to the Commission for deposit in the Empowering Citizens Payment Account of the Presidential Election Campaign Fund (established under section 9051 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) an amount equal to the lesser of--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) the amount of money in the candidate’s campaign account; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) the amount of the payments received by the candidate under this title.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(b) Exception for Expenditures Incurred but Not Paid as of Date of Remittance-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL- Subject to subsection (a), a candidate may withhold from the amount required to be remitted under paragraph (1) of such subsection the amount of any authorized expenditures which were incurred in connection with the candidate’s campaign but which remain unpaid as of the deadline applicable to the candidate under such subsection, except that any amount withheld pursuant to this paragraph shall be remitted to the Commission not later than 120 days after the date of the election to which such subsection applies.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED- A candidate may withhold an amount of an expenditure pursuant to paragraph (1) only if the candidate submits documentation of the expenditure and the amount to the Commission not later than the deadline applicable to the candidate under subsection (a).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘Subtitle D--Administrative ProvisionsCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘SEC. 531. ADMINISTRATION BY COMMISSION.

‘The Commission shall prescribe regulations to carry out the purposes of this title, including regulations to establish procedures for--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) verifying the amount of qualified contributions with respect to a candidate;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) effectively and efficiently monitoring and enforcing the limits on the raising of qualified contributions;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) effectively and efficiently monitoring and enforcing the limits on the use of personal funds by participating candidates; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(4) monitoring the use of payments under this title through audits of not fewer than 1/3 of all participating candidates or other mechanisms.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘SEC. 532. VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES.

‘(a) Civil Penalty for Violation of Contribution and Expenditure Requirements- If a candidate who has been certified as a participating candidate accepts a contribution or makes an expenditure that is prohibited under section 521, the Commission shall assess a civil penalty against the candidate in an amount that is not more than 3 times the amount of the contribution or expenditure. Any amounts collected under this subsection shall be deposited into the Empowering Citizens Payment Account of the Presidential Election Campaign Fund (established under section 9051 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(b) Repayment for Improper Use of Empowering Citizens Payment Account-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL- If the Commission determines that any benefit made available to a participating candidate was not used as provided for in this title or that a participating candidate has violated any of the dates for remission of funds contained in this title, the Commission shall so notify the candidate and the candidate shall pay to the Empowering Citizens Payment Account of the Presidential Election Campaign Fund an amount equal to--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) the amount of benefits so used or not remitted, as appropriate; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) interest on any such amounts (at a rate determined by the Commission).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) OTHER ACTION NOT PRECLUDED- Any action by the Commission in accordance with this subsection shall not preclude enforcement proceedings by the Commission in accordance with section 309(a), including a referral by the Commission to the Attorney General in the case of an apparent knowing and willful violation of this title.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘SEC. 533. ELECTION CYCLE DEFINED.

‘In this title, the term ‘election cycle’ means, with respect to an election for the office of Senator or Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress, the period beginning on the day after the date of the most recent general election for that office (or, if the general election resulted in a runoff election, the date of the runoff election) and ending on the date of the next general election for that office (or, if the general election resulted in a runoff election, the date of the runoff election).’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 202. PERMITTING UNLIMITED COORDINATED EXPENDITURES BY POLITICAL PARTY COMMITTEES ON BEHALF OF PARTICIPATING CANDIDATES IF EXPENDITURES ARE DERIVED FROM SMALL DOLLAR CONTRIBUTIONS.

Section 315(d) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 441a(d)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(5) In determining the amount of expenditures made by a committee under paragraph (3) in connection with the campaign of a candidate who is certified as a participating candidate under title V, there shall be excluded any expenditures which are derived from a separate account established by the committee for which the only sources of funds are contributions made during the election cycle in an amount which does not exceed 50% of the amount applicable under subsection (a)(1)(A) to a contribution made during the cycle to a candidate who is not certified as a participating candidate under title V.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 203. PROHIBITING USE OF CONTRIBUTIONS BY PARTICIPATING CANDIDATES FOR PURPOSES OTHER THAN CAMPAIGN FOR ELECTION.

Section 313 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 439a) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(d) Restrictions on Permitted Uses of Funds by Candidates Receiving Fair Elections Financing- Notwithstanding paragraphs (2), (3), or (4) of subsection (a), if a candidate for election for the office of Senator or Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress is certified as a participating candidate under title V with respect to the election, any contribution which the candidate is permitted to accept under such title may be used only for authorized expenditures in connection with the candidate’s campaign for such office.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE III--COORDINATED CAMPAIGN ACTIVITYCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 301. CLARIFICATION OF TREATMENT OF COORDINATED EXPENDITURES AS CONTRIBUTIONS TO CANDIDATES.

(a) Treatment as Contribution to Candidate- Section 301(8)(A) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 431(8)(A)) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by striking ‘or’ at the end of clause (i);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by striking the period at the end of clause (ii) and inserting ‘; or’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) by adding at the end the following new clause:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(iii) any payment made by any person (other than a candidate, an authorized committee of a candidate, or a political committee of a political party) for a coordinated expenditure (as such term is defined in section 324) which is not otherwise treated as a contribution under clause (i) or clause (ii).’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Definitions- Section 324 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 441k) is amended to read as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘SEC. 324. PAYMENTS FOR COORDINATED EXPENDITURES.

‘(a) Coordinated Expenditures-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL- For purposes of section 301(8)(A)(iii), the term ‘coordinated expenditure’ means--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) any expenditure, including a payment for a covered communication described in subsection (c), which is made in cooperation, consultation, or concert with, or at the request or suggestion of, a candidate, an authorized committee of a candidate, a political committee of a political party, or agents of the candidate or committee, as provided in subsection (b); orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) any payment for any communication which republishes, disseminates, or distributes, in whole or in part, any broadcast or any written, graphic, or other form of campaign material prepared by the candidate or committee or by agents of the candidate or committee.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) EXCEPTION FOR PAYMENTS FOR CERTAIN COMMUNICATIONS- A payment for a communication (including a covered communication described in subsection (c)) shall not be treated as a coordinated expenditure under this subsection if--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) the communication appears in a news story, commentary, or editorial distributed through the facilities of any broadcasting station, newspaper, magazine, or other periodical publication, unless such facilities are owned or controlled by any political party, political committee, or candidate; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) the communication constitutes a candidate debate or forum conducted pursuant to regulations adopted by the Commission pursuant to section 304(f)(3)(B)(iii), or which solely promotes such a debate or forum and is made by or on behalf of the person sponsoring the debate or forum.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(b) Coordination Described-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL- For purposes of this section, a payment is made ‘in cooperation, consultation, or concert with, or at the request or suggestion of,’ a candidate, an authorized committee of a candidate, a political committee of a political party, or agents of the candidate or committee, if the payment is not made entirely independently of the candidate, committee, or agents, including a payment which is made pursuant to any general or particular understanding, or more than incidental communication with, the candidate, committee, or agents about the payment.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) NO FINDING OF COORDINATION BASED SOLELY ON SHARING OF INFORMATION REGARDING LEGISLATIVE OR POLICY POSITION- For purposes of this section, a payment shall not be considered to be made by a person in cooperation, consultation, or concert with, or at the request or suggestion of, a candidate or committee, solely on the grounds that the person or the person’s agent engaged in discussions with the candidate or committee, or with agents of the candidate or committee, regarding that person’s position on a legislative or policy matter (including urging the candidate or committee to adopt that person’s position), so long as there is no discussion between the person and the candidate or committee, or agents of the candidate or committee, regarding the candidate’s or committee’s campaign advertising, message, strategy, policy, polling, allocation of resources, fundraising, or campaign operations.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) NO EFFECT ON PARTY COORDINATION STANDARD- Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect the determination of coordination between a candidate and a political committee of a political party for purposes of section 315(d).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(c) Special Rule for Payments by Coordinated Spenders for Covered Communications-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) PAYMENTS DEEMED TO BE MADE IN COOPERATION, CONSULTATION, OR CONCERT WITH, CANDIDATES- For purposes of this section, if the person who makes a payment for a covered communication is a coordinated spender with respect to the candidate involved, the person shall be deemed to have made the payment in cooperation, consultation, or concert with the candidate.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) COORDINATED SPENDER DEFINED- For purposes of this subsection, the term ‘coordinated spender’ means, with respect to a candidate or an authorized committee of a candidate, a person (other than a political committee of a political party) for which any of the following applies:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) The person is directly or indirectly formed or established by or at the request or suggestion of, or with the encouragement of, the candidate or committee or agents of the candidate or committee, including with the express or tacit approval of the candidate or committee or agents of the candidate or committee.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) The candidate or committee or agents of the candidate or committee solicit funds or engage in other fundraising activity on the person’s behalf during the election cycle involved, including by providing the person with names of potential donors or other lists to be used by the person in engaging in fundraising activity.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) The person is established, directed, or managed by any person who, during the election cycle involved or during the 4-year period ending on the first day of the election cycle involved, has been employed or retained as a political, media, or fundraising adviser or consultant for the candidate or committee or for any other entity directly or indirectly controlled by the candidate or committee, or has held a position with a title for the candidate or committee.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(D) During the election cycle involved, the person has had more than incidental communications with the candidate or committee or agents of the candidate or committee about the candidate’s campaign needs or activities, or about the person’s possible or actual campaign activities with respect to the candidate or committee.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(E) The person has retained the professional services of any person who, during the same election cycle, has provided or is providing professional services relating to the campaign to the candidate or committee. For purposes of this subparagraph, the term ‘professional services’ includes any services in support of the candidate’s or committee’s campaign activities, including advertising, message, strategy, policy, polling, allocation of resources, fundraising, and campaign operations, but does not include accounting or legal services.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(d) Covered Communication Defined-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL- For purposes of this section, the term ‘covered communication’ means, with respect to a candidate or an authorized committee of a candidate, a public communication (as defined in section 301(22)) which--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) promotes or supports the candidate, or attacks or opposes an opponent of the candidate (regardless of whether the communication expressly advocates the election or defeat of a candidate or contains the functional equivalent of express advocacy); orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) refers to the candidate or an opponent of the candidate but is not described in subparagraph (A), but only if the communication is disseminated during the applicable election period.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) APPLICABLE ELECTION PERIOD- In paragraph (1)(B), the ‘applicable election period’ with respect to a communication means--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) in the case of a communication which refers to a candidate for the office of President or Vice President, the period which begins on the date that is 120 days before the date of the first primary election, preference election, or nominating convention for nomination for the office of President which is held in any State and ends with the date of the general election for such office; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) in the case of a communication which refers to a candidate for any other office, which begins on the date that is 90 days before the primary or preference election, or convention or caucus of a political party that has authority to nominate a candidate, for the office sought by the candidate and ends on the date of the general election for such office.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) SPECIAL RULES FOR COMMUNICATIONS INVOLVING CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES- For purposes of this subsection, a public communication shall not be considered to be a covered communication with respect to a candidate for election for an office other than the office of President or Vice President unless it is publicly disseminated or distributed in the jurisdiction of the office the candidate is seeking.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(e) Election Cycle Defined- In this section, the term ‘election cycle’ means, with respect to an election for Federal office, the period beginning on the day after the date of the most recent general election for that office (or, if the general election resulted in a runoff election, the date of the runoff election) and ending on the date of the next general election for that office (or, if the general election resulted in a runoff election, the date of the runoff election).’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Effective Date-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) REPEAL OF EXISTING REGULATIONS ON COORDINATION- Effective upon the expiration of the 90-day period which begins on the date of the enactment of this Act--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) the regulations on coordinated communications adopted by the Federal Election Commission which are in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act (as set forth in 11 CFR Part 109, Subpart C, under the heading ‘Coordination’) are repealed; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) the Federal Election Commission shall promulgate new regulations on coordinated communications which reflect the amendments made by this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to payments made on or after the expiration of the 120-day period which begins on the date of the enactment of this Act, without regard to whether or not the Federal Election Commission has promulgated regulations in accordance with paragraph (1)(B) as of the expiration of such period.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 302. CLARIFICATION OF BAN ON FUNDRAISING FOR SUPER PACS BY FEDERAL CANDIDATES AND OFFICEHOLDERS.

Section 323(e)(1) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 441i(e)(1)) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by striking ‘or’ at the end of subparagraph (A);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (B) and inserting ‘; or’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) solicit, receive, direct, or transfer funds to or on behalf of any political committee which accepts donations or contributions that do not comply with the limitations, prohibitions, and reporting requirements of this Act (or to or on behalf of any account of a political committee which is established for the purpose of accepting such donations or contributions), or to or on behalf of any political organization under section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 which accepts such donations or contributions (other than a committee of a State or local political party or a candidate for election for State or local office).’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE IV--USE OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN FUND FOR PUBLIC FINANCING OF FEDERAL ELECTIONSCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 401. USE OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN FUND FOR CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES.

Subtitle H of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new chapter:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘CHAPTER 97--EMPOWERING CITIZENS PAYMENT ACCOUNT

‘Sec. 9051. Payments to Congressional candidates.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘SEC. 9051. PAYMENTS TO CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES.

‘(a) Establishment of Account- The Secretary shall maintain in the Presidential Election Campaign Fund established by section 9006(a), in addition to any account which he maintains under such section, a separate account to be known as the Empowering Citizens Payment Account. The Secretary shall deposit into such Account the amount available after the Secretary determines that amounts for payments under section 9006(c) and for payments under section 9037(b) are available for such payments.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(b) Use of Fund for Payments to Congressional Candidates Participating in Public Financing Program- The Secretary shall transfer amounts in the Fund to the Federal Election Commission, at such times and in such amounts as the Federal Election Commission may certify, for payments to candidates for election to the office of Senator or Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress who are participating candidates under title V of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 402. REVISIONS TO DESIGNATION OF INCOME TAX PAYMENTS BY INDIVIDUAL TAXPAYERS.

(a) Increase in Amount Designated- Section 6096(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in the first sentence, by striking ‘$3’ each place it appears and inserting ‘$20’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in the second sentence--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) by striking ‘$6’ and inserting ‘$40’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) by striking ‘$3’ and inserting ‘$20’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Indexing- Section 6096 of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(d) Indexing of Amount Designated-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL- With respect to each taxable year after 2012, each amount referred to in subsection (a) shall be increased by the percent difference described in paragraph (2), except that if any such amount after such an increase is not a multiple of $1, such amount shall be rounded to the nearest multiple of $1.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) PERCENT DIFFERENCE DESCRIBED- The percent difference described in this paragraph with respect to a taxable year is the percent difference determined under section 315(c)(1)(A) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 with respect to the calendar year during which the taxable year begins, except that the base year involved shall be 2011.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Ensuring Tax Preparation Software Does Not Provide Automatic Response to Designation Question- Section 6096 of such Code, as amended by subsection (b), is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(e) Ensuring Tax Preparation Software Does Not Provide Automatic Response to Designation Question- The Secretary shall promulgate regulations to ensure that electronic software used in the preparation or filing of individual income tax returns does not automatically accept or decline a designation of a payment under this section.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Public Information Program on Designation- Section 6096 of such Code, as amended by subsections (b) and (c), is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(f) Public Information Program-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL- The Federal Election Commission shall conduct a program to inform and educate the public regarding the purposes of the Presidential Election Campaign Fund, the procedures for the designation of payments under this section, and the effect of such a designation on the income tax liability of taxpayers.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) USE OF FUNDS FOR PROGRAM- Amounts in the Presidential Election Campaign Fund shall be made available to the Federal Election Commission to carry out the program under this subsection.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(e) Effective Date- The amendments made by this section shall take effect January 1, 2013.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 403. DONATION TO PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN FUND.

(a) General Rule- Every taxpayer who makes a return of the tax imposed by subtitle A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for any taxable year ending after December 31, 2011, may donate an amount (not less than $1), in addition to any designation of income tax liability under section 6096 of such Code for such taxable year, which shall be deposited in the general fund of the Treasury.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Manner and Time of Designation- Any donation under subsection (a) for any taxable year--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) shall be made at the time of filing the return of the tax imposed by subtitle A of such Code for such taxable year and in such manner as the Secretary may by regulation prescribe, except that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) the designation for such donation shall be either on the first page of the return or on the page bearing the taxpayer’s signature, andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) the designation shall be by a box added to the return, and the text beside the box shall provide:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘By checking here, I signify that in addition to my tax liability (if any), I would like to donate the included payment to be used exclusively as a contribution to the Presidential Election Campaign Fund.’,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) shall be accompanied by a payment of the amount so designated.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Treatment of Amounts Donated- For purposes of this title, the amount donated by any taxpayer under subsection (a) shall be treated as a contribution made by such taxpayer to the United States on the last date prescribed for filing the return of tax imposed by subtitle A of such Code (determined without regard to extensions) or, if later, the date the return is filed.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Transfers to Presidential Election Campaign Fund- The Secretary shall, from time to time, transfer to the Presidential Election Campaign Fund established under section 9006(a) of such Code amounts equal to the amounts donated under this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE V--OTHER CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORMSCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 501. REGULATIONS WITH RESPECT TO BEST EFFORTS FOR IDENTIFYING PERSONS MAKING CONTRIBUTIONS.

Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Federal Election Commission shall promulgate regulations with respect to what constitutes best efforts under section 302(i) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 432(i)) for determining the identification of persons making contributions to political committees, including the identifications of persons making contributions over the Internet or by credit card. Such regulations shall include a requirement that in the case of contributions made by a credit card, the political committee shall ensure that the name on the credit card used to make the contribution matches the name of the person making the contribution.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 502. PROHIBITION ON JOINT FUNDRAISING COMMITTEES.

(a) In General- Section 302(e) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 432(e)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(6) No authorized committee of a candidate may establish a joint fundraising committee with a political committee other than an authorized committee of a candidate.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Effective Date- The amendments made by this section shall take effect on January 1, 2013.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 503. DISCLOSURE OF BUNDLED CONTRIBUTIONS TO PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS.

(a) In General- Paragraphs (1) through (3) of section 304(i) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 434(i)) are amended to read as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) DISCLOSURE OF BUNDLED CONTRIBUTIONS BY LOBBYISTS- Each committee described in paragraph (6) shall include in the first report required to be filed under this section after each covered period (as defined in paragraph (2)) a separate schedule setting forth the name, address, and employer of each person reasonably known by the committee to be a person described in paragraph (7) who provided 2 or more bundled contributions to the committee in an aggregate amount greater than the applicable threshold (as defined in paragraph (3)) during the covered period, and the aggregate amount of the bundled contributions provided by each such person during the covered period.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) DISCLOSURE OF BUNDLED CONTRIBUTIONS TO PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS- Each committee which is an authorized committee of a candidate for the office of President or for nomination to such office shall include in the first report required to be filed under this section after each covered period (as defined in paragraph (2)) a separate schedule setting forth the name, address, and employer of each person who provided 2 or more bundled contributions to the committee in an aggregate amount greater than the applicable threshold (as defined in paragraph (3)) during the election cycle, and the aggregate amount of the bundled contributions provided by each such person during the covered period and such election cycle. Such schedule shall include a separate listing of the name, address, and employer of each person included on such schedule who is reasonably known by the committee to be a person described in paragraph (7), together with the aggregate amount of bundled contributions provided by such person during such period and such cycle.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) COVERED PERIOD- In this subsection, a ‘covered period’ means--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) with respect to a committee which is an authorized committee of a candidate for the office of President or for nomination to such office--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) the 4-year election cycle ending with the date of the election for the office of the President; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) any reporting period applicable to the committee under this section during which any person provided 2 or more bundled contributions to the committee; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) with respect to any other committee--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) the period beginning January 1 and ending June 30 of each year;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) the period beginning July 1 and ending December 31 of each year; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(iii) any reporting period applicable to the committee under this section during which any person described in paragraph (7) provided 2 or more bundled contributions to the committee in an aggregate amount greater than the applicable threshold.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) APPLICABLE THRESHOLD-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) IN GENERAL- In this subsection, the ‘applicable threshold’ is--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) $50,000 in the case of a committee which is an authorized committee of a candidate for the office of President or for nomination to such office; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) $15,000 in the case of any other committee.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





In determining whether the amount of bundled contributions provided to a committee by a person exceeds the applicable threshold, there shall be excluded any contribution made to the committee by the person or the person’s spouse.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) INDEXING- In any calendar year after 2016, section 315(c)(1)(B) shall apply to each amount applicable under subparagraph (A) in the same manner as such section applies to the limitations established under subsections (a)(1)(A), (a)(1)(B), (a)(3), and (h) of such section, except that for purposes of applying such section to the amount applicable under subparagraph (A), the ‘base period’ shall be 2015.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Conforming Amendments- Subsection (i) of section 304 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 434) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘described in paragraph (7)’ each place it appears in subparagraphs (C) and (D);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in paragraph (6), by inserting ‘(other than a candidate for the office of President or for nomination to such office)’ after ‘candidate’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) in paragraph (8)(A)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) by striking ‘, with respect to a committee described in paragraph (6) and a person described in paragraph (7),’ and inserting ‘, with respect to a committee described in paragraph (6) or an authorized committee of a candidate for the office of President or for nomination to such office,’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) by striking ‘by the person’ in clause (i) thereof and inserting ‘by any person’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) by striking ‘the person’ each place it appears in clause (ii) and inserting ‘such person’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Effective Date- The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to reports filed under section 304 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 after January 1, 2013.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 504. JUDICIAL REVIEW OF ACTIONS RELATED TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS.

(a) In General- Title IV of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 451 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 406 the following new section:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘SEC. 407. JUDICIAL REVIEW.

‘(a) In General- If any action is brought for declaratory or injunctive relief to challenge the constitutionality of any provision of this Act or of chapter 95 or 96 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or is brought to with respect to any action of the Commission under chapter 95 or 96 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, the following rules shall apply:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) The action shall be filed in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia and an appeal from the decision of the district court may be taken to the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) In the case of an action relating to declaratory or injunctive relief to challenge the constitutionality of a provision--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) a copy of the complaint shall be delivered promptly to the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) it shall be the duty of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, and the Supreme Court of the United States to advance on the docket and to expedite to the greatest possible extent the disposition of the action and appeal.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(b) Intervention by Members of Congress- In any action in which the constitutionality of any provision of this Act or chapter 95 or 96 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is raised, any member of the House of Representatives (including a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to the Congress) or Senate shall have the right to intervene either in support of or opposition to the position of a party to the case regarding the constitutionality of the provision. To avoid duplication of efforts and reduce the burdens placed on the parties to the action, the court in any such action may make such orders as it considers necessary, including orders to require interveners taking similar positions to file joint papers or to be represented by a single attorney at oral argument.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(c) Challenge by Members of Congress- Any Member of Congress may bring an action, subject to the special rules described in subsection (a), for declaratory or injunctive relief to challenge the constitutionality of any provision of this Act or chapter 95 or 96 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Conforming Amendments-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) Section 310 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 437h) is repealed.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) Section 9011 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended to read as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘SEC. 9011. JUDICIAL REVIEW.

‘For provisions relating to judicial review of certifications, determinations, and actions by the Commission under this chapter, see section 407 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) Section 9041 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended to read as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘SEC. 9041. JUDICIAL REVIEW.

‘For provisions relating to judicial review of actions by the Commission under this chapter, see section 407 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) Section 403 of the Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act of 2002 (2 U.S.C. 437h note) is repealed.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Effective Date- The amendments made by this section shall apply to actions brought on or after January 1, 2013.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE VI--SEVERABILITY; EFFECTIVE DATECommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 601. SEVERABILITY.

If any provision of this Act or amendment made by this Act, or the application of a provision or amendment to any person or circumstance, is held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act and amendments made by this Act, and the application of the provisions and amendment to any person or circumstance, shall not be affected by the holding.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 602. EFFECTIVE DATE.

Except as otherwise provided in this Act, the amendments made by this Act shall apply with respect to elections occurring after January 1, 2013.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink