|
Coming to Terms: This selection was excerpted from www.opensecrets.org.
Salting -- A practice permitted by the FEC whereby candidates are allowed to "salt" their contributor lists with up to ten pseudonyms accompanied by real addresses, as a way of catching anyone who might use their lists to solicit money, which is prohibited by federal law. Seed Money -- Limited-size contributions given prior to the primary campaign period to prospective candidates who are in the process of raising qualifying contributions or exploring the feasibility of running for office. Separate Segregated Fund -- The FEC's designation for a PAC established by a corporation or labor organization. Sewer Money -- A term coined by The New York Times that refers to soft money. See also "Soft Money" Soft Money -- Political money raised by national and state parties that is not regulated by federal campaign finance law because, in theory, it is for generic "party building" activities such as getting out the vote. In practice, it is often used to benefit specific federal candidates, and thus it has become a major vehicle for skirting the limitations and restrictions of federal law. In 1992, the national parties raised $83 million in soft money and an estimated $205 million more was raised by state parties. Much of this money came in contributions of $50,000 and $100,000. See also Sewer Money and this Congressional Research Service (Library of Congress) report. Solicitation -- A request for a campaign contribution. Stealth Campaign -- The "invisible" campaign that the public doesn't see in which candidates are quietly soliciting campaign contributions from, and often making implicit commitments to, wealthy donors. Also known as the "phantom campaign." See also "Wealth Primary" Surplus Funds -- Campaign money left over after the election and the payment of all of the campaign's outstanding bills and debts. See also "War Chest" |
||
|
|