My UCLA law school colleague Eric Zolt has come up with an interesting project, which was just written up in the Washington Post. The project (repledge.com) is aimed at people who contribute money to candidates, but who would rather contribute to charity instead. Here’s the theory, as described by the Post:
Donors from each party would pledge a certain amount during fund drives at the firm’s Web site, www.repledge.com. Once the time expired, Repledge would divvy up equal amounts from each side to be given to charities chosen by the donors. Any remainder would be given to political candidates.
Thus, if supporters of President Obama pledged $60,000 and backers of Mitt Romney promised $50,000, $100,000 would be distributed to charity and the remaining $10,000 would go to the Obama campaign.
Interesting plan — the FEC is now considering whether this is permissible under federal election law, and FEC lawyers have drafted for the Commission a proposed opinion saying yes and a proposed opinion saying no.