Who the Hell Wants to do Political Fundraising (FEC)?

[usregimechange]

Any idea what the "without regard to political affiliation" means? Would I have to then allow the GOP to use my living room?

Activities in the Home
An individual may offer the use of his/her home or the recreation room of his/her residential complex for candidate- and party-related activities, provided the room is available without regard to political affiliation. Any nominal fee charged for the room is not considered a contribution. 11 CFR 100.7(b)(4).

Activities in Church or Community Room
An individual volunteer may obtain the use of a church or community room for candidate- and party-related activities, provided the room is used on a regular basis by members of the community, without regard to political affiliation, for noncommercial purposes. Any nominal fee paid for the room is not considered a contribution. 11 CFR 100.7(b)(5).

http://www.fec.gov/pages/brochures/volact.htm

[dammit905]

1. It means you can't block Republicans from entering the meeting just

because they're Republicans.

[usregimechange]

2. but it is my house and its being used to support my candidate! nt

[eyesroll]

3. Your own living room is your own

This specifically refers to community property -- your condo building's party room, or a church social hall. If it's available to everyone (or all residents or all members, even if they're not running for office), you can use it.

Basically, this is how a condo room (that may be owned by a corporation) or a community room (that's owned by a tax-exempt church) can be used for political purposes, even for free, without it being considered an unlawful corporate contribution. If it's available to everyone, regardless of purpose, then it's OK.

There are specific rules concerning your own home, too (owned/rented, doesn't matter) -- you can host whoever you want and spend up to something like $1,000 of your own money (verify that, though) on a big party without declaring it as a political contribution or registering as a PAC.

(I've served as assistant treasurer on a Congressional campaign.)