41.3: State Parties

Strengthen the State parties.

Other Information:

State parties are the most highly regulated entities under federal campaign finance law. There is something wrong with that. After all, state parties are the bread and butter of our grassroots-oriented political system. But the federal government regulates them extensively and forces them to use federal money for what are truly state and local activities. The system is choking state parties making it harder than it should be to raise money, engage in grassroots activities, and meet the complex compliance requirements thrust upon them at the federal level. Although the changes recommended above would greatly strengthen state parties, we understand that even those that occur will take some time to implement. Meanwhile, state and local party committees continue to toil under an oppressive regulatory regime. They need more assistance in order to optimize their operations. Assistance does not mean money. Rather, they need a hand in training and education regarding — and adoption of — best practices in fundraising and compliance. State parties are suffering the most under the current campaign finance laws. It is critical that we provide more support to state parties to allow them to do more with scarcer resources in the current environment.

Stakeholder(s):

• State Political Parties

Indicator(s):

Indicator:1

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