Restoring Confidence Through Smarter Campaigns Act

To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to provide for limitations on expenditures in elections for the House of Representatives. 1. Short Title; Findings (a) Short Title This Act may be cited as the Restoring Confidence Through Smarter Campaigns Act (b) Findings Congress finds the following: (1) The Supreme Court decision in Buckley v. Valeo failed to recognize that unlimited spending on elections has a corrosive effect on the electoral process and on public confidence in the integrity of the electoral process. (2) Restoring Congress’s regulatory power over campaign expenditures will level the playing field by creating a realistic opportunity for more Americans to seek Federal office and by encouraging elections that are more competitive. (3) Limiting the need for incessant fundraising by Members of Congress may restore the public’s confidence in both the electoral process and in the accountability of Members to the constituents who elect them. 2. Expenditure Limitations in House Elections (a) Establishment of Limitations Section 315 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 ( 52 U.S.C. 30116 (k) Expenditure Limitations in House Elections (1) Limitations (A) In general A candidate for election for the office of Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress and the authorized committees of the candidate may not make expenditures which in the aggregate exceed $500,000 during the election cycle, of which— (i) not more than $250,000 may be attributable to expenditures made with respect to a primary election; and (ii) not more than $250,000 may be attributable to expenditures made with respect to a general election. (B) Increase in limitations for runoff elections In the case of a candidate in a runoff election, the candidate and the authorized committees of the candidate may make an additional amount of expenditures which in the aggregate do not exceed $250,000, of which— (i) not more than $125,000 may be attributable to expenditures made with respect to a primary runoff election; and (ii) not more than $125,000 may be attributable to expenditures made with respect to a general runoff election. (2) Exclusion of expenditures for legal services In determining the amount of expenditures made for purposes of this subsection, there shall be excluded any expenditures made for legal services in connection with the campaign. (3) Penalties Any candidate who makes expenditures in an election in excess of the limit applicable to the election under paragraph (1) shall pay to the Commission a civil money penalty in an amount determined as follows: (A) If the amount of expenditures in excess of the limit is equal to or less than 2.5 percent of the amount of the limit, the penalty shall be equal to the amount of the excess expenditures. (B) If the amount of expenditures in excess of the limit is greater than 2.5 percent but equal to or less than 5 percent of the amount of the limit, the penalty shall be equal to 300 percent of the amount of the excess expenditures. (C) If the amount of expenditures in excess of the limit is greater than 5 percent of the amount of the limit, the penalty shall be equal to the sum of 300 percent of the amount of the excess expenditures plus an additional penalty determined by the Commission. . (b) Indexing of Amounts (1) Application of indexing Section 315(c)(1) of such Act ( 52 U.S.C. 30116(c)(1) (A) in subparagraph (B)(i), by striking or (h) (h), or (k) (B) in subparagraph (C), by striking and (h) (h), and (k) (2) Determination of base year Section 315(c)(2)(B) of such Act ( 52 U.S.C. 30116(c)(2)(B) (A) by striking and (B) by striking the period at the end of clause (ii) and inserting ; and (C) by adding at the end the following new clause: (iii) for purposes of subsection (k), calendar year 2018. . (c) Effective Date The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to elections held on or after January 1, 2017.

Summary: Restoring Confidence Through Smarter Campaigns Act Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to limit expenditures by candidates for the House of Representatives to $500,000 during the election cycle ($250,000 for a primary election and $250,000 for a general election). Sets at $250,000 the maximum amount of expenditures which may be made for a runoff election ($125,000 for a primary runoff election and $125,000 for a general runoff election). Excludes from such limits expenditures for legal services. Provides for indexing such amounts for inflation.