[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3574 Introduced in House (IH)]
111th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3574
To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to provide for
limitations on expenditures in elections for the House of
Representatives.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 15, 2009
Mr. Higgins introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on House Administration
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to provide for
limitations on expenditures in elections for the House of
Representatives.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; FINDINGS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Restoring
Confidence Through Smarter Campaigns Act''.
(b) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) The Supreme Court decision in Buckley v. Valeo failed
to recognize that unlimited spending on elections has a
corrosive effect on the electoral process and on public
confidence in the integrity of the electoral process.
(2) Restoring Congress's regulatory power over campaign
expenditures will level the playing field by creating a
realistic opportunity for more Americans to seek Federal office
and by encouraging elections that are more competitive.
(3) Limiting the need for incessant fundraising by Members
of Congress may restore the public's confidence in both the
electoral process and in the accountability of Members to the
constituents who elect them.
SEC. 2. EXPENDITURE LIMITATIONS IN HOUSE ELECTIONS.
(a) Establishment of Limitations.--Section 315 of the Federal
Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 441a) is amended by adding at
the end the following new subsection:
``(k) Expenditure Limitations in House Elections.--
``(1) Limitations.--
``(A) In general.--A candidate for election for the
office of Representative in, or Delegate or Resident
Commissioner to, the Congress and the authorized
committees of the candidate may not make expenditures
which in the aggregate exceed $500,000 during the
election cycle, of which--
``(i) not more than $250,000 may be
attributable to expenditures made with respect
to a primary election; and
``(ii) not more than $250,000 may be
attributable to expenditures made with respect
to a general election.
``(B) Increase in limitations for runoff
elections.--In the case of a candidate in a runoff
election, the candidate and the authorized committees
of the candidate may make an additional amount of
expenditures which in the aggregate do not exceed
$250,000, of which--
``(i) not more than $125,000 may be
attributable to expenditures made with respect
to a primary runoff election; and
``(ii) not more than $125,000 may be
attributable to expenditures made with respect
to a general runoff election.
``(2) Exclusion of expenditures for legal services.--In
determining the amount of expenditures made for purposes of
this subsection, there shall be excluded any expenditures made
for legal services in connection with the campaign.
``(3) Penalties.--Any candidate who makes expenditures in
an election in excess of the limit applicable to the election
under paragraph (1) shall pay to the Commission a civil money
penalty in an amount determined as follows:
``(A) If the amount of expenditures in excess of
the limit is equal to or less than 2.5 percent of the
amount of the limit, the penalty shall be equal to the
amount of the excess expenditures.
``(B) If the amount of expenditures in excess of
the limit is greater than 2.5 percent but equal to or
less than 5 percent of the amount of the limit, the
penalty shall be equal to 300 percent of the amount of
the excess expenditures.
``(C) If the amount of expenditures in excess of
the limit is greater than 5 percent of the amount of
the limit, the penalty shall be equal to the sum of 300
percent of the amount of the excess expenditures plus
an additional penalty determined by the Commission.''.
(b) Indexing of Amounts.--
(1) Application of indexing.--Section 315(c)(1) of such Act
(2 U.S.C. 441a(c)(1)) is amended--
(A) in subparagraph (B)(i), by striking ``or (h)''
and inserting ``(h), or (k)''; and
(B) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``and (h)''
and inserting ``(h), and (k)''.
(2) Determination of base year.--Section 315(c)(2)(B) of
such Act (2 U.S.C. 441a(c)(2)(B)) is amended--
(A) by striking ``and'' at the end of clause (i);
(B) by striking the period at the end of clause
(ii) and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new clause:
``(iii) for purposes of subsection (k),
calendar year 2011.''.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply with respect to elections held on or after January 1, 2011.
<all>