Lobbying

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School

American Military University *

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Course

410

Subject

Political Science

Date

Apr 3, 2024

Type

docx

Pages

6

Uploaded by CoachAnteaterMaster269 on coursehero.com

1 Lobbing American Public University POLS410: Public Policy Professor Kimberly Cheiken 17 December 2023
2 What is campaign finance reform? It restricts how much money political candidates and interest groups can contribute to political campaigns. An example is when running for President. President Richard Nixon signed The Federal Election Act on February 7, 1972. The Act restricted the amount of money and other contributions lawfully made to candidates' campaigns. It also mandates disclosing any contributions and expenditures to the federal office. What is a lobbyist and a lobbying? A lobbyist is an individual. Lobbying is an activity. States may define lobbying to influence government by writing or oral communication. Each state has its unique definition of lobbyist and lobbying. On December 19, 1995, President Clinton signed the Lobbying Disclosure Act 1995. The Act reported and disclosed lobbying activities to reduce their influence on the federal government and other purposes. The purpose of the Act was to provide information to members of Congress about those that lobby them. President Bush signed the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA) 2002 on March 27, 2002. The Act amended the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) of 1971—the FECA limited campaign spending on media advertisement. The BCRA prohibited local and state candidates and officeholders from raising or spending nonfederal funds to pay for public communications that promoted or attacked federal candidates. During President Barack Obama's campaign, many people donated to his campaign. A donor that made headlines was Prakazrel (Pras) Micheal, a singer from the Fugees, for taking part in a conspiracy to use about $88 million in foreign funds to engage in illegal back-channel lobbying. During President Obama's 2012 re-election campaign, Pras received money from Low Taek Jho, a Malaysian financier. Low Taek Jho is accused of a money laundering and bribery scheme that pilfered billions from the Malaysian state investment fund. On Pras, Michel was convicted of accepting millions of dollars of foreign money, illegal lobbying, and campaign contributions for
3 the Obama campaign. The singer was convicted of 10 criminal counts, including money laundering, illegal lobbying, witness tampering, and campaign finance violations, according to court records. (New York Times). Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act 2002 was more beneficial to the Obama re-election because President Obama said he would not accept money from registered lobbyists but received donations from people. This meant that Obama would not accept donations from officially registered lobbyists. It contradicts tours the Lobbying Disclosure Act 1995. Obama would not accept donations from lobbyists who were registered "officially', but he would accept donations from lobbyists who were not registered "officially.' Jessie R Benton was accused of funneling political contributions during Trump's campaign. Russia wired $ 100,000 to Benton for him to contribute to the campaign. Benton contributed $25,000 to the campaign as a contribution from himself and kept the remaining $75,000. Benton was convicted of conspiring to solicit and cause an illegal campaign contribution by a foreign national. The Federal Election Commission (FEC) prohibits donations, contributions, expenditures(including independent expenditures), and disbursements solicited, directed, received, or made directly or indirectly by or from foreign nationals in connection with any federal, state, or local election. (FEC). Trump self-financed his campaign, giving $66 million of his own money. He impressed many people because he was the first candidate to donate a lot to his campaign. Trump sold his stocks with a worth of approximately $40 million. He will still use the donations made to his campaign. Trump has already started a fundraiser for his upcoming "Save America" election campaign. He registered Save America with the Federal Election Commission. Sixty percent of
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