Just curious regarding fundraising

[mdmc]

If I held a house party fundraiser for a Democratic / Working Families Party candidate that is running for New York State Assembly, would you be willing to kick in a little cash if I created an online pay service (either paypal or a credit card setup)?

I'm just talkin some change or small bills... just a little itty bitty bit. WOuld you donate?

[jobycom]

1. My thought is that you'd do better in your own community, and check

the laws of your community. Best would be to contact your local county Dem Party chair, and ask about rules. You can become a PAC without meaning to, and then you are required to file certain paperwork. If the donations are for your own use (even to set up the party) they may be taxable, and political contributions aren't tax deductable.

The easiest thing to do is hold a "coffee" or "house party" and ask others to bring pot-luck stuff. THey can make the donations, written out to the candidate, at the party. That way the candidate is responisble for filing all the paperwork. If you have local Dem clubs in your area, that's a good place to advertise your party. Or, you can join one that is already registered as a PAC, and offer to run your own fund raiser. That's a great way to not only get involved, but to get people's attention. Although if you are supporting a candidate from a party running against a Dem, most clubs won't be allowed to help you per their bylaws. You can show up as a non-member, usually, and pitch your fundraiser, though.

There is a limit on how much you can spend before you become a PAC, if you are taking donations. I think in Texas it's $500, lifetime. After that, you are automatically a PAC, and if you don't file and register as one, you can be fined. That's if you are collecting money from other people and having it put in your name or a club name--if people are writing checks to a candidate at your party, the candidate is receiving the money, and, at least in Texas, you have no obligations. If it's your own money, you have a spending limit for each candidate. It's usually a thousand dollars, but that would include non-monetary stuff, like equipment, services, etc.

Don't take any of that as discouragement. Run with it, just be aware that if the numbers start getting a little high, you need to check up on the requirements. Usually a candidate will know them by heart.

And, don't take anything I said as legal advice--I'm going off memory from a couple years ago when I was trying to set up a PAC. It's just to give you an idea of when and what you should think about. It's not really as hard as it all sounds, it's just that if you don't know about it, it can cause you problems. Ask Tom DeLay--although he knew about it, of course.

[mdmc]

2. the campaign already has an account

and all of the money that is collected at the house party would be paid directly to the campaign fund.

thanks for the post:kick::dem: