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ELECTION 2016 527 GROUPS, SUPER PACS

With 527 group, Scott Walker joins long list of candidates pushing limits of federal law

From the Scott Walker's short-lived presidential campaign series

MATTHEW DeFOUR , 608-252-6144
Feb 15, 2015
Feb 15, 2015

Gov. Scott Walker's political committee and others raising legal questions — Gov. Scott Walker spoke to conservative activists late last month at the Iowa Freedom Summit in Des Moines. But according to his nonprofit organization his activities there and across the country don't count as "testing the waters" for a presidential run.
CHARLIE NEIBERGALL — Associated Press

MATTHEW DeFOUR , 608-252-6144

Since winning re-election in November, Gov. Scott Walker has said he’s “seriously considering” running for president.

Know your political committees

Gov. Scott Walker's national political organization, "Our American Revival," is one of several types of nonprofit groups that presidential contenders have formed as they contemplate a campaign. Here are some differences:

Campaign committee: Presidential contenders must set up a committee within 15 days of becoming a candidate and file regular reports with the Federal Elections Commission. In the 2016 cycle, contributions from individuals are limited to $2,700 and from political action committees (PACs) are limited to $5,000. Corporate and union donations are prohibited. Limits apply once in a primary and once in a general election.

Presidential exploratory committee: Also known as "testing the waters," prospective candidates can raise funds under the same rules as campaign committees, but don't have to report them until after becoming a candidate. Candidates who don't set up exploratory committees must also account for money they used to "test the waters" on their first campaign finance report. Such activities include conducting polls, traveling and making phone calls.

Multicandidate PAC: A committee registered with the FEC for at least six months, with contributions from at least 50 people and to at least five federal candidates. Individual contributions are limited to $5,000 per year going back multiple years. Corporate and union donations are prohibited. Must file regular reports with FEC disclosing donors and expenditures.

Leadership PAC: Same as multicandidate PACs, but can be controlled by federal officeholders, such as a U.S. Senator or Representative.

Super PAC: Independent expenditure political group allowed under the 2010 SpeechNow v. FEC court decision, which applied the U.S. Supreme Court's reasoning in Citizens United v. FEC. Can be controlled by non-candidates who aren't federal office-holders. Can raise unlimited funds from individuals, corporations and unions. Must file regular reports with FEC disclosing donors and expenditures.

527 organization: Technically all of the groups listed above are organized under section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code, but others, such as Walker's group, aren't organized as political committees, and therefore don't have to file with the FEC. Their primary purpose is to influence candidate nominations and elections, they can raise unlimited funds from individuals, corporations and unions, and must disclose donors and expenditures in regular reports with the IRS.

501(c)(4) organization: Organized under the Internal Revenue Code section dealing with "social welfare" organizations. Can conduct some political advocacy, but can't be primary purpose. Can raise unlimited funds from individuals, corporations and unions. Must file annual reports with IRS, but donors and expenditures are not public.

Source: Paul S. Ryan, The Campaign Legal Center

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Scott Walker's short-lived presidential campaign

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