	Introduction

This report provides an overview of selected campaign finance policy issues that have received recent legislative attention, or have otherwise been prominent, and which could receive attention during the 111 th Congress. Specifically, the report emphasizes nine issues: (1) bundling; (2) campaign travel aboard private aircraft; (3) electronic filing of Senate campaign finance reports; (4) the Federal Election Commission (FEC); (5) hybrid political advertising; (6) joint fundraising committees; (7) public financing of presidential campaigns; (8) 527 organizations; and (9) the related topic of restricting campaign activity among certain state election officials. However Congress decides to proceed, the debate will likely be shaped by questions of (1) amounts and sources of money; (2) transparency; and (3) scope of regulation. As the final section of this report discusses, these factors unify the seemingly disparate policy issues discussed in the report and are common themes in the debate over campaign finance policy. 3093 , the relevant provision was an amendment sponsored by Representative Pence); A Committee on House Administration, Subcommittee on Elections, hearing on automated political telephone calls; Senate Rules and Administration Committee hearings on public financing of congressional campaigns ( S. 1285 , Durbin); coordinated party expenditures ( S. 1091 , Corker); electronic filing of Senate campaign finance reports ( S. 223 , Feingold); FEC nominations; and automated political telephone calls ( S. 2624 , Feinstein). Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission: Shaping Debate for the Second Session

Perhaps the most prominent policy concern for the second session of the 111 th Congress has been developments surrounding a recent Supreme Court ruling. On January 21, 2010, the Court issued a 5-4 decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission . Thus far, most congressional attention responding to the ruling has focused on the DISCLOSE Act ( H.R. 5175 ; S. 3295 ; S. 3628 ). On a related note, on July 29, 2010, the Committee on Financial Services ordered reported H.R. 4790 . The bill would require additional disclosure of political expenditures to corporate shareholders and is designed as a partial response to Citizens United . Other Emerging Campaign Finance Policy Issues

Some of the issues considered during the 110 th Congress might be—or have been—addressed again during the 111 th Congress. The following discussion provides additional detail about selected issues that may continue to be on the legislative or oversight agenda. On March 25, 2009, the House Committee on Administration reported H.R. The bill would permit candidates to designate to the FEC an individual to direct campaign spending following the candidate's death. On April 22, 2009, H.R. Questions about the commission's structure and effectiveness have long been a topic of debate. President Obama withdrew the nomination in August 2010. The issue has received renewed attention in recent Congresses. The first bill introduced, H.R. Three other bills, H.R. The Committee on House Administration held a July 28, 2009, hearing on H.R. 1826 . 6116 , introduced in September 2010, is apparently intended to supersede H.R. 1826 . The committee ordered H.R. 6116 reported on September 23, 2010. 6116 , H.R. Public Financing of Presidential Campaigns 76

Perhaps the most prominent campaign finance issue during the 2008 election cycle was the status of the presidential public financing system. Two bills to revamp the presidential public financing system were introduced in late July 2010. Neither H.R. 6061 (Price, NC) nor S. 3681 (Feingold) have been the subject of additional action. In the 111 th Congress, Representative Cole has H.R. 2992 introduced legislation to repeal public financing for presidential nominating conventions. As passed by the House (296-129) on September 29, 2010, H.R. As noted above, H.R. Senate prerogative may also be a concern. Other recent issues may also be considered from a transparency perspective.
This report provides an overview of selected campaign finance policy issues that may receive, or have received, attention during the 111th Congress. Congress continues to consider the Supreme Court's January 21, 2010, ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. The decision has shaped much of the legislative debate on campaign finance issues during the second session of the 111th Congress. Thus far, most congressional attention responding to the ruling has focused on the DISCLOSE Act (H.R. 5175; S. 3295; S. 3628). H.R. 5175 passed the House on June 29, 2010. On a related note, on July 29, 2010, the Committee on Financial Services ordered reported H.R. 4790. The bill would require additional disclosure of political expenditures to corporate shareholders and is designed as a partial response to Citizens United.
Other than attention to Citizens United, four aspects of campaign finance policy have been subject to major actions thus far during the 111th Congress. First, in April 2009, the House passed legislation (H.R. 749) concerning authority to disburse campaign funds after a candidate's death. Second, on June 10, 2009, the Committee on House Administration favorably reported H.R. 512 (Davis, CA). The bill would amend the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) to restrict certain state election officials from involvement in others' campaigns. Third, on July 28, 2009, the Committee on House Administration held a hearing on H.R. 1826, a bill that would publicly finance House campaigns. The committee ordered reported a successor bill, H.R. 6116, on September 23, 2010. Finally, the Senate considered the nomination of John J. Sullivan to be a member of the Federal Election Commission for much of the 111th Congress. However, the President withdrew the nomination on August 5, 2010.
Questions about the health of the presidential public financing system were especially prominent during the 2008 election cycle. Two bills to revamp the presidential public financing system were introduced in late July 2010. Neither H.R. 6061 nor S. 3681 have been the subject of additional action. Also in the 111th Congress, Representative Cole has introduced legislation (H.R. 2992) to repeal public financing for presidential nominating conventions. Legislation on public financing of congressional campaigns was introduced in early 2009 (H.R. 158, H.R. 1826, H.R. 2056, S. 751, and S. 752). H.R. 6116, apparently intended to supersede H.R. 1826, was introduced in September 2010 and, as noted above, was ordered reported.
Recent election cycles also witnessed new or expanded techniques for raising and spending money, such as bundling, joint fundraising committees, and hybrid advertising. Remaining issues from the 110th Congress, such as electronic filing of Senate campaign finance reports (S. 482 and S. 1858 in the 111th Congress), may also receive renewed scrutiny. Other issues, such as 527 organizations, may also be addressed. Congressional oversight of the FEC could also be on the legislative agenda.
Some of the issues discussed in this report have only recently received substantial attention. Others have long been controversial. All appear likely to remain prominent policy issues. Whether Congress decides to pursue these or other campaign finance issues, common questions about the role of money in politics, transparency, and the need for additional regulation are likely to shape the debate.
The text of this report was last updated November 3, 2010. It will not be updated but remains relevant for historical reference. For more recent discussion, see CRS Report R41542, The State of Campaign Finance Policy: Recent Developments and Issues for Congress, by [author name scrubbed].