RNC soft money fundraising in April doubled compared to March, and was four times higher than in April 1992, the last presidential election year, the study found. With Dole's cash dwindling, the RNC plans to pick up the slack before the convention and spend millions on ads promoting Republican issues. Under current law, corporations and labor unions are prohibited from making contributions in connection with a federal election, while individuals and PACs are subject to federal limits.
Hard money means contributions that are legal under federal law for federal elections.
Soft money means contributions which are outside the limits and prohibitions of federal law, including large individual or PAC contributions and direct corporate or union contributions. Totals in the Common Cause study do not include interest, dividends, loans, transfers and other business receipts reported in the party committee's non-federal accounts. RNC and other monthly filers' soft money reports covering May 1996 will be available on June 20. The DNC files soft money reports quarterly with the FEC in election years. The DNC and other quarterly filers' soft money reports for the period April through June 1996 are due to be filed with the FEC on July 15.