WASHINGTON — Rep. Jill Tokuda (D-Hawaii) on sex video reluctanceSept. 12 introduced the Stop Illegal Campaign Coordination Act to end efforts by campaigns to circumvent federal election laws and illegally coordinate with outside groups.
Federal law already prohibits campaigns from coordinating their messaging and communications with outside groups like super PACs that can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money from corporate and special interests. However, campaigns have skirted around these laws through a practice known as “redboxing” in which they publish data and content – such as messaging points and pictures – aimed at supportive outside groups.
The Stop Illegal Campaign Coordination Act would amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to treat expenditures by outside groups as “coordinated” with a political candidate, campaign, or party if those expenditures are materially consistent with instructions, direction, guidance, or suggestions from campaigns.
The bill also establishes factors for the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to assess and determine coordination.
“For too long, corporate and special interests have poured dark money in our political system and undermined the trust of millions of Americans in our elections,” said Tokuda. “Redboxing has become just another way for campaigns to violate the intent of the laws meant to prohibit illegal coordination and allows them to take advantage of unlimited spending by special interests.
“My bill fixes this gap in our election laws, restores some integrity to our elections, and helps put American voters and people above special interests.”
“The Stop Coordinated Campaign Spending Act is a much-needed step forward to address the risk of corruption fostered by unlawful coordination strategies like ‘redboxing,’” said Saurav Ghosh, director of federal campaign finance reform at Campaign Legal Center. “By establishing clear rules and guidelines that better define what makes campaign spending ‘coordinated’ with outside groups like super PACs and dark money 501(c) groups, we can stop candidates from directing the activities of these allied groups, which are largely funded by wealthy special interests seeking more power and influence over elected officials.
“This important bill will ensure the integrity of our elections and put a stop to this brazen avenue for political corruption that marginalizes the electoral voices of everyday Americans.”
The Stop Illegal Campaign Coordination Act has been endorsed by the Campaign Legal Center and Public Citizen. Original co-sponsors of the bill are Reps. Ed Case (D-Hawaii), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), and Mark Pocan (D-Wis.).