Commission certifies matching funds for Roemer and Johnson (July 2012)
The Commission has certified payments of $66,490.99 in federal matching funds to presidential candidate Charles E. “Buddy” Roemer III and $130,058.91 to presidential candidate Gary Earl Johnson for the 2012 primary election. The U.S. Treasury Department transferred the amounts certified by the Commission on Tuesday, July 3.
These payments raise the total amount of federal funds certified to Roemer and Johnson to $351,961.10 and $230,058.91, respectively.
Roemer, the first 2012 presidential candidate to be declared eligible by the Commission to receive federal matching funds, ended his presidential campaign on May 31. He will be eligible for additional matching funds to the extent that he has debt and additional contributions eligible for matching. Johnson, the Libertarian Party candidate, became eligible for matching funds in May.
To become eligible, candidates must raise a threshold amount of $100,000 by collecting $5,000 in 20 different states in amounts no greater than $250 from any individual.Other requirements to be declared eligible include agreeing to an overall spending limit, abiding by spending limits in each state, using public funds only for legitimate campaign-related expenses, keeping financial records and permitting an extensive campaign audit.
The presidential public funding program is financed through the $3 check-off that appears on individual income tax returns. The program has three elements: grants to parties to help fund their nominating conventions, grants available to nominees to pay for the general election campaign, and matching payments to participating candidates during the primary campaign.
This cycle, the maximum amount a primary candidate could receive is currently estimated to be about $22.8 million. The Commission has also certified $18,248,300 each to the Republican and Democratic parties for their 2012 conventions.
Resources:
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- Myles Martin
- Public Affairs Specialist
- Myles Martin