FEC Unanimously Approves Advisory Opinions on Presidential Matching Fund Program and Campaign Activity by Foreign Nationals

FEC Unanimously Approves Advisory Opinions on Presidential Matching Fund Program and Campaign Activity by Foreign Nationals

Washington – At its open meeting today, the Federal Election Commission (FEC/ the Commission) unanimously approved an Advisory Opinion (AO) in response to a request from Chris Dodd for President, Inc., the campaign committee for Senator Chris Dodd (CT).  The Commission concluded that credit card contributions made over the Internet that were subject to a specified verification procedure may be matched with public funds under the Presidential public funding program. 

The Commission also unanimously approved an AO in response to a request from Jim Hurysz, a potential Independent candidate in Virginia’s 8th Congressional District.  The Commission concluded Mr. Hurysz:

• may accept certain volunteer services from Canadian citizens;
• may use campaign funds to pay for travel to Canada, to hire Canadian citizens to work as campaign staff, and to obtain information from Canadian citizens;
• may use personal funds to travel to Canada to observe third party candidate operations and to obtain information from Canadian citizens; and
• may not accept campaign materials provided without charge by Canadian third party candidates.

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is an independent regulatory agency that administers and enforces federal campaign finance laws. The FEC has jurisdiction over the financing of campaigns for the U.S. House, the U.S. Senate, the Presidency and the Vice Presidency. Established in 1975, the FEC is composed of six Commissioners who are nominated by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

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