I 112th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6197 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 25, 2012 Mr. Daniel E. Lungren of California 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 eliminate certain contribution limitations, to require political committees to post information on contributions received by the committees on the websites of such committees, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Candidate Accountability Act.

2.

Elimination of limitations on contributions

(a)

Elimination of limitations; exception for contributions to candidates of over $50,000 within 5 days of election

Section 315(a) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 441a(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraphs: (9)No person shall make contributions to any candidate and the candidate’s authorized committees with respect to any election for Federal office which, in the aggregate, exceed $50,000 during the 5-day period ending on the date of the election. (10)The limitations provided under this subsection, other than the limitation provided under paragraph (9), shall not apply with respect to any election held on or after January 1, 2013. . (b)

Conforming amendment relating to national party senatorial campaign committees

Section 315 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 441a) is amended by striking subsection (h).

3.

Requiring control or direction by candidate as condition of treatment of political party expenditures as coordinated expenditures

(a)

Control or direction required

Paragraph (4) of section 315(d) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 441a(d)) is amended to read as follows: (4)

Special rule for direct costs of communications

The direct costs incurred by a political committee of a political party for a communication made in connection with the campaign of a candidate for Federal office shall not be subject to the limitations contained in paragraphs (2) and (3) unless the communication is controlled by, or made at the direction of, the candidate or an authorized committee of the candidate. . (b)

Conforming amendment

Paragraph (1) of section 315(d) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 441a(d)) is amended by striking paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) and inserting paragraphs (2) and (3).

4.

Requiring campaign committees to post contribution information on committee websites

Section 304 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 434) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (j)

Posting of contribution information on committee Websites

(1)

Requirement

Each political committee shall post on the official public website of the committee the information required to be reported under subsection (b)(3). (2)

Deadline for posting

A political committee shall post the information required under paragraph (1) with respect to a contribution not later than 7 business days after receiving the contribution, except that if the aggregate amount or value of the contribution or contributions made by the person during the calendar year or election cycle involved (as the case may be) exceeds $10,000, the committee shall post the information not later than 2 business days after receiving the contribution. (3)

Format

A political committee shall post the information required under paragraph (1) in a searchable, sortable, and downloadable format. .

5.

Effective date

The amendments made by this Act shall apply with respect to elections occurring on or after January 1, 2013.