Is this illegal only in Texas ?

[kentuck]

If I were a bigshot political figure and I accepted donations from several corporations and sent that money to the national HQs in Washington. Then I swapped that money for the same amount that was donated to the Party by Mr and Mrs Smith and Mr and Mrs Jones and average supporters and sent that money back to my state to distribute to several candidates in my Party in their election bids? Anything wrong with that?

What if this happened in Florida and Missouri also? Would it be illegal in those states? Or is Texas the only state that prohibits corporate money in campaign races? If this happened in other states, would it be OK? Is this what happened with Tom Delay?

[XNASA]

1. It's not illegal in Illinois.

That much I know.

[dryan]

2. In Florida....

corporations cannot donate funds to political campaigns.

[kentuck]

3. Hmmm-mmm....

I'd bet the same bait and switch happened in Florida...if I were a betting man.

[tnlefty]

4. TN doesn't allow corp. contributions...

whether people are illegally finding a way around it is another matter.

edit: typo :blush:

[KharmaTrain]

5. States Rights

The Constitution put the onus of elections upon the states. Thus, IMHO, the SCOTUS intervening over the Florida Supreme Court in 2000 was a massive abuse of power. The concept is that the states are the ones who determine who their representatives are and how they are elected.

This question is similar to why there are so many different voting systems. Over years, and now centuries, states have developed their own political cultures and shall we say "quirks" (others will say corruption). The parties in power have always played with their electoral systems to perpetuate their control...thus the labrynth of laws and rules...and how many politicians get caught in their messes at one time or another.

[punpirate]

6. Each state has its own rules about corporate political donations...

... but money-laundering is illegal everywhere, I believe.

[0007]

8. Your absolutely right!

[kentuck]

9. If there were corporate donations....?

is it mandated just exactly what they can be spent on? Why would it be illegal to "swap" them for "individual" contributions and then send them to your friends?

[punpirate]

10. In the case of Texas...

... which prompted the original question, I believe, corporations may not donate to political campaigns--with one exception: they can contribute to political organizations' miscellaneous costs of operation, such as office supplies, equipment rentals, etc. They, however, are barred from giving directly to candidates--that means the money corporations give has to be earmarked for allowable purposes only.

So, moving $190,000 of corporate money out of TRMPAC to the RNC and getting back $190,000 in miscellaneous contributions from individuals is very likely an attempt to launder those funds so they could be given directly to Republicans' campaigns. Under Texas law, using the money for that purpose would be illegal.

Cheers.

[kentuck]

11. Thanks. I think you have clearly defined the case against Delay.

Because I think that is exactly what happened.

[John Q. Citizen]

7. Neither does Montana allow corporate contributions to state

candidates.

What you describe above is classic money laundering. The only reason for swapping out the money is to hide the source of the money.