| AO-91-31 |
A non-profit corporation may make political contributions if general treasury is void of business corporation monies, unless such funds can be segregated. [Overruled, in part, by AO-98-18] |
| AO-91-30 |
Town selectmen may use town hall to public forum in town hall to promote ballot question if equal access exists. |
| AO-91-29 |
Political committee may not make expenditures or provide assets such as contributor lists, to assist legislator seeking to raise funds to pay for personal expenses. In addition, funds raised to pay personal obligations may not be used to assist candidate in elimination of financial obligations to the committee. [Overruled, in part, by AO-09-02.] |
| AO-91-28 |
Privately funded transition committee (but not political committee) may pay for formal swearing-in ceremony but not victory ball. [Overruled by AO-97-25] |
| AO-91-27 |
Political committee policy of refunding contributions on request violated c.55, s.6. |
| AO-91-26 |
A constitutional candidate's committee may pay for candidate's legal expenses related to Ethics Commission review where the review was made public and the expenditure would be "reasonable and necessary and directly related to the campaign." |
| AO-91-25 |
A public employee may not participate as a speaker or panelist in a forum where his appearance would be used as a "draw" to encourage membership if membership dues will be used for political purpose. |
| AO-91-24 |
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-91-23 |
"Necessary" |
| AO-91-22 |
Political committee may not pay legal expenses incurred by state legislator in his capacity as state legislator rather than as a candidate. [But see M.G.L. c. 55, s. 6 which now allows expenditures for constituent and legislative services] |
| AO-91-21 |
Ballot question committee may continue in existence despite M.G.L. c.55, s.18, in certain unusual circumstances. |
| AO-91-20 |
M.G.L. c.56, s.37 does not prohibit the payment of an existing liability to a state legislator for services as campaign manager of the ballot question committee, in certain cases. |
| AO-91-19 |
"Building or part thereof" |
| AO-91-18 |
Town treasurer must report all costs in producing newsletter supporting an override question. The report must reflect all costs -- not just those costs relating to that portion of the newsletter urging support of the override. [But see M-95-06]. School committee may, consistent with the Anderson opinion, retain counsel to advise superintendent of his responsibilities under c.55. |
| AO-91-17 |
Public school newsletter discussing budgetary matters and effect of ballot question did not violate c.55 because it did not promote or oppose a ballot question. |
| AO-91-16 |
A person who is hired by a state agency, paid by the state and who receives state benefits is a "person employed for compensation" even if the original source of salary is federal funds. |
| AO-91-15 |
A candidate's political committee may sponsor a "meet the voters" event intended to enhance the sponsoring candidate's political future, even though another candidate is the featured speaker. |
| AO-91-14 |
Bank may waive minimal negative balances on accounts maintained by political committees without making of a "contribution" if non-political committee accounts are treated in similar manner and the procedure is implemented with respect to all political committee accounts. |
| AO-91-13 |
Candidate may not form another political committee to raise funds to pay expenses associated with candidate's arrest (for disorderly conduct). [Overruled, in part, by AO-09-02.] |
| AO-91-12 |
A business corporation may not contribute to redistricting task force if the task force is working to promote the interests of a state party, e.g., all members are of the same party, the name of the group includes the name of the party, and the group plans to coordinate efforts with the party. [See also AO-89-27] |
| AO-91-11 |
A corporation which is wholly owned by a state senator may donate office space for use as a legislative district office, if office is not used for political purposes. [But see M.G.L. c. 55, s. 6, which now allows expenditures to open or maintain district office] |
| AO-91-10 |
A city clerk elected by a city council is not an "elected officer" for purposes of c.55. The clerk would, however, be a "person employed for compensation" subject to s.13. |
| AO-91-09 |
"Person employed for compensation" |
| AO-91-08 |
Committee may pay reasonable expenses connected with a State Ethics Commission investigation where the investigation called into question the integrity and reputation of the candidate, may effect the outcome of an election, or requires the candidate to respond in a public forum. A fine resulting from the investigation may not, however, be paid. |
| AO-91-07 |
A political committee may not reimburse state representative's telephone calls which relate to official duties but may reimburse for calls relating to campaign. [But see M.G.L. c. 55, s. 6 which now allows expenditures for constituent and legislative services] |
| AO-91-06 |
Personal use includes any business, governmental, legislative, family, or social use. [But see M.G.L. c. 55, s. 6 which now allows expenditures for constituent and legislative services] |
| AO-91-05 |
A business trust owning and managing real estate as a joint venture or general partner may contribute to candidates if business corporations are not trustees or beneficiaries, and contributions are attributable to individual partners. |
| AO-91-04 |
An organization assessing whether to pursue initiative petition is not subject to c.55 until it begins to solicit or expend monies to hire an attorney or other person to draft the petition and obtain signatures of voters. [Overruled by IB-90-02, which states that expenditures to hire a consultant to draft legislation, that may become subject of a ballot question, are not subject to the campaign finance law because the expenditure does not involve an effort to influence voters] |
| AO-91-03 |
An attorney who represents a town through a partnership or professional corporation is not a person "employed for compensation" where fees are paid directly to the partnership or corporation, not to the attorney. |
| AO-91-02 |
A corporate employee may solicit contributions from co-workers and forward checks to a political committee, but must ensure that checks identify donor and are given to committee promptly as required by M.G.L. c. 55, ss. 19 and 23. But see M.G.L. c. 55, s. 10A, added to the statute in 1994. |
| AO-91-01 |
A non-constitutional candidate's committee may reimburse candidate's spouse for reasonable expenditures made by spouse for gifts given to constituents/supporters. |
