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Proposal regarding Use of the Presidential Election Campaign Fund 1 (December 11, 2015)

handle is hein.congrec/cbo2699 and id is 1 raw text is: 


CONGRESSIONAL  BUDGET OFFICE                                   Keith Hall, Director
U.S. Congress
Washington, DC 20515



                          December  11, 2015


Honorable Debbie  Wasserman  Schultz
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington  DC, 20515

Re: Proposal Regarding Use of the Presidential Election Campaign Fund

Dear Congresswoman:

As you requested CBO  has reviewed draft legislation that would permit
amounts in the Presidential Election Campaign Fund (PECF) to be used to
make  payments to defray expenses incurred with respect to Presidential
nominating conventions held by political parties in 2016.

The PECF  currently has a balance of about $290 million. That balance was
derived over several years from taxpayers who voluntarily earmarked a
portion of their income taxes for the fund. Such a designation does not
change a taxpayer's tax liability or refund. In recent years, taxpayers have
designated about $40 million for the fund annually. Those amounts were
recorded as revenues and reduced federal budget deficits in the years when
those taxes were paid; spending from the fund increases outlays and deficits
when  the amounts are disbursed.

Under current law, amounts in the PECF may be spent, without further
appropriation, to match certain qualifying political contributions to
Presidential campaigns. About $1 million was spent from the fund to match
qualifying campaign contributions in 2012, and a similar amount is
projected to be spent in 2016 because the Presidential candidates of the
major parties are not expected to seek such funds. Subject to provisions in
appropriation acts, amounts in the fund may also be spent on certain
pediatric health research activities. In 2015, $13 million was appropriated
for that purpose.

Prior to 2014, amounts in the PECF also could be used, without further
appropriation, for qualifying expenses related to Presidential nominating
conventions. However, the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act ended
the authority to spend PECF funds for those purposes. Based on the
amounts  spent from the fund in 2012 for Presidential nominating
conventions, CBO  estimates that each of the major political parties would

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