| AO-90-33 |
Individual contributions to state committee and any ward, town, or city committee of same party are limited to $1,000 year. [But see M.G.L. c. 55, s. 7A: Limit changed to $5,000 for party committees of any one party] |
| AO-90-32 |
Although individuals of a corporation may solicit contributions for a candidate, solicitation may not occur through an internal corporate referral system which would be administered by the corporation and would involve the use of corporate resources. |
| AO-90-31 |
Campaign finance law is applicable to local recall election as of the act of origination, in this case, the drawing up and signing of an affidavit asking for a recall. A recall election is viewed as a candidate election, not a referendum. Any group raising or spending money in connection with the election must file as a PAC. |
| AO-90-30 |
A Chamber of Commerce receiving money from business corporations may not permit political committee to use mailing list unless fair market value is paid. |
| AO-90-29 |
A legislative committee created to raise funds to pay for portrait of retired state senator could receive corporate contributions since committee had no political purpose. |
| AO-90-28 |
A public employee may attend and speak at fundraising event including introducing the candidate, but may not be a host for a fundraiser or otherwise solicit funds for the candidate. |
| AO-90-27 |
Public employee may not do part-time/volunteer consulting work which is integrally involved with fundraising activities. |
| AO-90-26 |
An organization supporting or opposing clearly identified candidate(s) is "political committee" under c.55, e.g., a group raising and spending funds to oppose incumbents is a political committee. |
| AO-90-25 |
An organization's incidental reference to ballot question in newsletter would not subject the group requirements of c.55. |
| AO-90-24 |
Finance committee may recommend voting for/against ballot question but may not expend town monies in this effort. Finance committee may take a vote on whether the committee is in favor of ballot question. |
| AO-90-23 |
Solicitation which includes reference to possible ballot initiative may not trigger c. 55, where solicitation does not seek contributions for origination of ballot initiative. |
| AO-90-22 |
Non-profit organization canvassing for ballot initiative and simultaneously seeking new members would be subject to M.G.L. c.55 for contributions received. |
| AO-90-21 |
Candidate's committee may reimburse candidate for legal expenses resulting from libel action where suit brought by campaign press director of opponent based on statements made by candidate during campaign. |
| AO-90-20 |
A town clerk not required to refer a matter to Attorney General when activity is not violation of c.55. [See also M-94-07] |
| AO-90-19 |
Public employee taking 4-month leave of absence before primary election, or a 6-month leave before general/special election, is not subject to certain fundraising restrictions. |
| AO-90-18 |
City councilors and school committee members of Plan E cities (in this instance, Cambridge) are not employees of a "department" as that term is defined by M.G.L. c. 43, s.108, and may therefore solicit or receive campaign contributions from city employees. |
| AO-90-17 |
To the extent the actions of a legislative aide have affected a particular constituent specifically, the aide's political committee could not solicit or receive contributions from that constituent. |
| AO-90-15 |
A candidate may use a "900" phone number for contributions if the provider of the number directly bills contributors for the phone use charge and includes with such bill a contribution acknowledgement card to be completed by the contributor. |
| AO-90-14 |
Political committees organized by union and its local are not "affiliated" if they demonstrate that their contributions are not made "in cooperation, consultation or concert" with each other, or at the request or suggestion of any person who establishes, finances, maintains or controls the committees. |
| AO-90-13 |
City political committee may make expenditures for a scholarship award from general checking account or may maintain a separate checking account for that purpose. |
| AO-90-11 |
Public employee may fundraise for organization involved in "civic" rather than "political" activities. |
| AO-90-10 |
Anyone receiving any sum from the commonwealth or a subdivision thereof who is not an independent contractor falls within the prohibition of c.55, s.13. [Overruling AO-85-04] |
| AO-90-09 |
City councilors and school committee members of Plan E cities (in this instance, Worcester) are not employees of a "department" as that term is defined by M.G.L. c. 43, s.108, and may therefore solicit or receive campaign contributions from city employees. |
| AO-90-08 |
The act of petitioning a town's board of selectman to put question on the ballot is not subject to c. 55. |
| AO-90-07 |
Various aspects of part-time volunteer consulting (e.g., management consulting, strategic planning, public relations, computer development, and polling) are not considered direct or indirect solicitations for political purposes, if such work does not relate to fundraising activities. |
| AO-90-06 |
A political committee must pay the fair market value for the use of a corporation's name, unless the corporation allows such use by other entities and the same amount is charged that would be charged other entities. |
| AO-90-05 |
This opinion defines public employee to include a person paid any amount, even if minimal, by the commonwealth or a subdivision thereof. [Overruling AO-89-10, AO-88-18 and previous advice exempting persons receiving "de minimus" compensation from s. 13 prohibitions] |
| AO-90-04 |
Public employees may endorse candidate but may not use public resources to distribute written endorsements. |
| AO-90-03 |
Public employees may solicit contributions for a lobbying organization which is not involved in raising or spending money for ballot question campaigns or candidate elections and may do so in public buildings. |
| AO-90-02 |
So long as equal access exists, public areas within buildings occupied for state, county or municipal purposes may be used for proponents or opponents of an initiative petition. |
| AO-90-01 |
A public employee may not keep an initiative petition in his office to collect signatures. |
