CAMPAIGN FINANCE: EXCLUDE OFFICE FACILITY EXPENSES
House Bill 4606
Sponsor: Rep. James Koetje
Committee: Government Operations
Complete to 5-5-03
A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 4606 AS INTRODUCED 5-1-03
The Michigan Campaign Finance Act (Public Act 388 of 1976) regulates "contributions" and "expenditures" related to the nomination or election of particular candidates and the passage or defeat of ballot questions. The act's definition of "expenditure" specifically excludes certain types of payments, donations, and loans (as well as other, non-monetary forms of assistance with an ascertainable monetary value) that might otherwise be thought of as expenditures. For example, under the act "expenditure" does not include expenses for a communication on a subject or issue if the communication does not support or oppose a ballot question or candidate by name or clear inference. Such excluded expenses are not regulated under the act.
House Bill 4606 would amend the Michigan Campaign Finance Act (MCL 169.206) to additionally exclude from the act's definition of "expenditure" any expense by a state central committee of a political party, or a person "controlled by" such a committee, for the construction, purchase, or renovation of one or more office facilities in Ingham County, as long as the facility was not constructed, purchased, or renovated for the purpose of influencing the election of a candidate in a particular election. Further, the bill would specify that any expenses approved in Federal Election Commission Advisory Opinions 1993-9, 2001-1, and 2001-12 would be excluded, regardless of whether those advisory opinions had been superseded. Generally speaking, these advisory opinions address the use of state political parties' office building funds and the acceptance of corporate and labor union donations to those funds. The advisory opinions may be found on-line at: http://herndon3.sdrdc.com/ao/ao.html.
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This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.