FEC Grants Mike Pence to Use Taxpayer Funds to Pay for Failed Campaign Debts
Federal election regulators granted approval for public matching funds to Mike Pence’s inactive presidential campaign. This decision follows a request submitted by Pence’s team in October, shortly before he withdrew from the Republican primary race.
The Federal Election Commission has sanctioned an initial disbursement of $100,000 to Pence’s campaign, which reported debts exceeding $1.3 million as of its latest filing in March.
These funds, sourced from taxpayers, can be allocated towards settling outstanding debts and concluding any remaining campaign activities.
The revelation of Pence’s request for public financing, revealed through recent FEC documents, highlights the financial challenges his campaign confronted during his brief endeavor to challenge his former superior, ex-President Donald Trump, in the primaries. Throughout the campaign, Pence managed to raise approximately $5.3 million.
Modern presidential candidates have largely opted out of seeking public matching funds due to the stringent spending restrictions associated with the program. The last recipients of such funds were Democrat Martin O’Malley and Green Party candidate Jill Stein during the 2016 election cycle, as per FEC records.
BREAKING: The FEC has approved using taxpayer funding to help Former Vice President Mike Pence pay down his campaign debt. pic.twitter.com/izScwN5qOx
At its open meeting yesterday, the Federal Election Commission declared Mike Pence and his principal campaign committee, Mike Pence for President (MPFP), eligible to receive public matching funds for Pence’s 2024 presidential campaign for the Republican Party nomination. Additionally, since Pence suspended his campaign for the nomination in October 2023, the Commission also initially determined that Pence’s Date of Ineligibility for the purpose of using public funds to seek the Republican presidential nomination is the date of the suspension.
To become eligible for matching funds, candidates must raise a threshold amount of $100,000 by collecting $5,000 in 20 different states. Although an individual may contribute up to $3,300 to a primary candidate in the current election cycle, only a maximum of $250 per individual applies toward the $5,000 threshold in each state.
Other requirements to be declared eligible include agreeing to an overall spending limit, abiding by spending limits in each state, using public funds only for legitimate campaign-related expenses, keeping financial records, and permitting an extensive campaign audit. Participation in the presidential public funding program is entirely voluntary and presidential candidates may opt not to participate.
You know our country is doomed when tax payer funding is approved to pay off Mike Pence’s $1.3 million dollar campaign debt 🙄
