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Summary

This report provides an overview of major legislative and policy developments related to campaign finance during the 110th Congress. The report discusses legislative and oversight hearings and floor action during the period. It also explores major policy issues that are relevant for Congress, but have largely occurred away from Capitol Hill. As of this writing, approximately 50 bills devoted primarily to campaign finance have been introduced in the 110th Congress, but none have become law. A new lobbying and ethics law, the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act (HLOGA) contains campaign finance provisions related to "bundled" campaign contributions and campaign travel. That measure is the only campaign financerelated bill to become law during the 110th Congress. Aside from HLOGA, the House has passed two bills containing campaign finance provisions. H.R. 2630 would restrict campaign and leadership political action committee (PAC) payments to candidate spouses. In addition, a provision in the House-passed version of an appropriations bill (H.R. 3093) would have prohibited spending Justice Department funds on criminal enforcement of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA) "electioneering communication" provision. However, the language was not included in the FY2008 consolidated appropriations law (P.L. 110-161). In addition to House legislative activity, in December 2007, the Committee on House Administration held an oversight hearing on automated telephone calls (also known as "robo calls" or "auto calls") in political campaigns. In the Senate, a bill (S. 223) requiring electronic filing of campaign disclosure reports was reported from the Rules and Administration Committee but has not received floor consideration. During the spring and summer of 2007, the committee also held hearings on coordinated party expenditures (S. 1091) and congressional public financing legislation (S. 1285). Two non-legislative items are also particularly noteworthy. First, following a Senate impasse over four nominees to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) during the first session of the 110th Congress, the Commission now has just two sitting members. Under the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA), that number is insufficient to approve enforcement actions, issue advisory opinions, and make other policy decisions. Additional confirmed or recess-appointed commissioners are necessary to bring the FEC to at least a four-member majority necessary to make policy decisions. Second, in November 2007, the FEC approved new rules regarding electioneering communications. Those rules were promulgated to comport with a June 2007 Supreme Court ruling (in Federal Election Commission v. Wisconsin Right to Life, Inc.). This report will be updated periodically throughout the 110th Congress to reflect major events or legislative action. It supercedes CRS Report RS22732, Campaign Finance: Developments in the 110th Congress

Related Legislation:
• H.R.2630
• H.R.3093
• S.223
• S.1091
• S.1285
• S.2273

Related Reports:
• RL34324

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