Rep. Takano and Rep. Case Reintroduce the Let It Go Act to Stop Personal Use of Campaign Funds After the Campaign Ends
Washington, D.C. – Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) and Rep. Ed Case (D-HI) introduced the Let It Go Act to limit how long former political candidates can hold on to campaign funds while presenting them the option to return the money to donors, donate it to charity, or transfer to another candidate – all permissible uses under current election law.
“Americans are tired of corruption in Washington, they want to see change,” said Rep. Mark Takano. “The Let It Go Act will help ensure that left over campaign funds are not being abused by a candidate long after their campaign is over. The provisions in this bill will help restore trust that these funds are being used responsibly and not for personal gain.”
“When our constituents donate their hard-earned money to support our campaigns, they certainly don’t expect their contributions to be retained in some slush fund available for all manner of uses well after we’ve left office,” said co-introducer Rep. Ed Case (Hawai’i-1). “Our Let It Go Act will help ensure that campaign contributions are used responsibly, for their intended purpose.”
According to OpenSecrets, 42 Members of Congress who resigned or retired before the 2018 midterm elections had a combined outstanding balance of $50 million in campaign funds. Reports have highlighted how political candidates continue to use campaign funds after their campaign is over, with little regulation.
The Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) has no provision for how long contributions can be held by a candidate committee or potential candidate committee. As long as the correct disclosure paperwork is filed, that money can be held indefinitely. FECA has no provisions for a candidate’s retirement or even death. Some congressional and presidential campaign committees still have funds sitting years or even decades after the candidate’s run for office.
The Let It Go Act would require that after six years since the end of a candidate’s campaign or tenure in office, his or her committee would need to make a reasonable attempt to return donations to its donors, donate the money to charity, or send the funds to another national committee. Additionally, anyone registered to become a lobbyist would be required to resolve their campaign accounts within one year of enactment.
This legislation creates a practical and fair way to resolve campaign donations when they are no longer needed.
The Let It Go Act has been endorsed by End Citizens United/Let America Vote Action Fund and Citizens For Ethics.
###
Press Contact
Dayanara Ramirez (202) 225-2305