I hear all the time about candidates having $10,000-a-plate fundraisers, and I also hear about corporations making contributions. What’s going on?
In general, the contributions made at such events, whether involving corporate or personal money, are not governed by the federal election laws or contribution limits. These events do not benefit an individual candidate directly. Instead, the proceeds from these event go to local, state, or national political committees for party- building activities, voter registration drives, or “get-out-the-vote” activities. Such contributions are called “soft money” because the federal limits do not apply to them. Soft money cannot be earmarked for the benefit of a particular candidate. Under the BiPartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2003, most “soft money” contributions to federal party committees and candidates have been prohibited.
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