| AO-88-32 |
Based on Supreme Court cases, PACs may make incidental and independent expenditures to influence ballot questions without being subject to the limit in s. 6 for contributions between political committees |
| AO-88-31 |
Committees may make incidental expenditures to support a charity. Charitable contributions amounting to 50% of committee's total expenditures are not "incidental." [Overruled, in part, by AO-97-18] |
| AO-88-30 |
Computer purchased by political committee may not be used for legislator's governmental activities. [But see M.G.L. c. 55, s. 6, which now allows campaign funds to be used for constituent/legislative services] |
| AO-88-29 |
Assessing one-time fee upon members of group supporting ballot question constitutes solicitation, bringing the group under c. 55. |
| AO-88-28 |
An insurance company may administer a commission withholding system to forward individual contributions from agents to a political committee if the company is reimbursed for all expenses. The costs for administering the system may not be deducted from contribution proceeds, but instead, a separate invoice must be issued to the committee. |
| AO-88-27 |
In-kind contributions (city mailing labels) to candidates violate c. 55, although they may be purchased if equal access exists. |
| AO-88-26 |
The use of a town park for a town function which would indirectly benefit candidate (e.g., if the candidate will speak at event) is prohibited unless no fee is charged or same fee is charged to anyone else using the park. |
| AO-88-25 |
A public employee may perform clerical tasks such as data entry in connection with fundraising. While doing such work, a public employee may not provide the names of family and friends because this would be indirect solicitation. |
| AO-88-24 |
A public employee is not required to relinquish employment in order to seek public office. The employee may not engage in fundraising, however, unless he takes a leave of absence of four months or more before a primary or six months or more before a general or special election. |
| AO-88-23 |
A group may raise and spend money to educate voters regarding a town meeting issue, and pay related attorney fees without coming under c. 55. |
| AO-88-22 |
The committee of a public employee who is a union officer, labor-management commission member, and member of a retirement board may solicit and receive contributions from public employee union members. |
| AO-88-21 |
Political committee consisting of members from several other committees/groups may contribute as PAC provided no common control exists. |
| AO-88-20 |
Candidate committee may reimburse person acting as liaison to the party state committee, as an agent of the committee, for reasonable travel expenses. |
| AO-88-19 |
An attorney representing government agencies is an independent contractor and is therefore not "employed" for compensation and may fundraise. |
| AO-88-18 |
Appointed public official not employed for compensation due to "de minimus" salary, but is still subject to restrictions as person in public service. [Overruled by AO-90-05] |
| AO-88-17 |
Elected school committee member is not "person employed for compensation" subject to s. 13. |
| AO-88-16 |
A public employee is not required to relinquish employment in order to seek public office. The employee may not engage in fundraising, however, unless he takes a leave of absence. A political committee may use a public employee/candidate's name in a solicitation letter as long as it is clear that committee, and not the candidate, is soliciting. |
| AO-88-15 |
A committee mailing list may be donated to a corporation engaged in non-political fundraising if requirements for charitable contributions are met. |
| AO-88-14 |
Expenditure may be made for use of computer for political purposes includes sending letters to constituents and donors. [But see M.G.L. c. 55, s. 6 which now allows expenditures for constituent and legislative services] |
| AO-88-13 |
Individual may make independent expenditures subject to c.55, s.18A reporting requirements. |
| AO-88-12 |
Candidate's committee may pay organization dues if candidate would not have joined but for enhancing his political future. |
| AO-88-11 |
A Post Office facility housed in the State House is not used for state, county or municipal purposes. |
| AO-88-10 |
Use of state buildings and their surroundings for political fundraising is prohibited. Therefore, an event may not be held in a state building while fundraising activity associated with the event takes place outside of the building. |
| AO-88-09 |
Legislator's political committee may purchase computer for political purposes but it must be removed from state office if used for fundraising. But see Supreme Court's Thayer decision which states that solicitation occurs at place of receipt. |
| AO-88-08 |
A public employee is not required to relinquish employment to seek public office. The employee may not engage in fundraising, however, unless he takes a leave of absence. A political committee may use a public employee/candidate's name in a solicitation letter if it is clear that committee, and not the candidate, is soliciting. |
| AO-88-07 |
Uncompensated state college trustee is not public employee subject to s. 13 and may solicit contributions. |
| AO-88-06 |
Public employee taking unpaid leave of absence for less than 4 months prior to primary election is subject to fundraising restrictions. |
| AO-88-05 |
A candidate with single committee organized at both the state and local level may make expenditures for both races from that committee. Funds raised at the local level may be used for expenditures at state level. |
| AO-88-04 |
Campaign expenditures by a non-depository candidate's political committee to support the candidate's effort to be elected to a position in the committee of a state political committee are permitted under c.55. |
| AO-88-03 |
Where a committee has a fundraising event (called "Pat & Mike's Irish Night") where another candidate is a guest speaker, the candidate holding the event must ensure that contributors do not mistakenly believe they are making contributions to benefit the guest speaker. |
| AO-88-02 |
Joint fundraising by two political committees is prohibited. [Overruled by AO-94-27] |
| AO-88-01 |
Political committee may only pay $100 toward travel/related expenses for candidate to work on the Dukakis campaign as such expenditures would primarily inure to the benefit of the Dukakis Committee. But see IB-82-01, as revised in 1997. |
