Barrett Introduces Two More Bills to Reform Campaign Finance, Limit Fundraising and Out-of-State Spending

Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Tom Barrett (MI-07) introduced two new bills in his plan to Reform Campaign Finance, which is part of his broader Blueprint for a Better America.

The Campaign Accountability and Parity (CAP) Act (H.R. 9726) and Outside Influence Prevention Act (H.R. 9727) would cap congressional campaign fundraising and require political action committees (PACs) to raise at least half of their funds from the state in which they are advertising.

"The balance between campaigning and representing the people in Congress is completely out of whack. No member of Congress should be spending more money to get reelected than it costs to do the work people elected them to do in the first place," said Barrett. "These new bills in my plan to Reform Campaign Finance will finally put the people first by leveling the playing field, capping congressional campaign funds to align with the cost of running a congressional office, and limiting out-of-state spending."

In the House of Representatives, the average Members' Representational Allowance (MRA) is approximately $1.9 million. This is the annual allowance a congressional office is given to support the member of Congress in his or her official and representational duties. The MRA, which is determined by a formula and funded through the appropriations process, may be used for official expenses, including staff compensation, mail, office equipment and supplies, district office space, and more.

The Campaign Accountability and Parity (CAP) Act would limit congressional campaigns from spending more than an amount equivalent to the average MRA within a single year.

The Outside Influence Prevention Act would require any PACs that make independent expenditures to promote or attack a candidate to raise at least half of their funds from the state in which those dollars are spent.

Barrett has consistently emphasized that Congress and state legislatures must be able to reclaim their authority over campaign finance rules. Last month, he introduced the Constitutional Campaign Finance Reform Amendment (H.J.Res. 191), which makes clear that the Constitution allows Congress and states to regulate and limit campaign contributions and spending.

The new bills come after Barrett and the House unanimously passed two other campaign finance bills Monday evening:

• The Stop Foreign Funds in Elections Act (H.R. 3535) to extend the ban on foreign spending in American elections to include state and local ballot initiatives, referenda, and recall elections.
• The FEC Administrative Improvements Act (H.R. 8738) to modernize the Federal Election Commission, expand online filing requirements, and allow for political committees to use credit cards instead of checks.

About Barrett's Blueprint for a Better America:

• Restoring Trust in Government: Making Government Serve the People, Not Special Interests
• Reviving the American Dream: Helping Families Afford Homes in Mid-Michigan
• Making Health Care Affordable Again: Lowering Costs for Working Families
• Recalibrating American Foreign Policy: Ending Endless Wars and Promoting Peace Through Strength
• Reforming Campaign Finance: Putting Governing Before Campaigning
• Making America Healthy Again: Prioritizing Public Health Over Corporate Profits

Click here or visit barrett.house.gov/reform to learn more.