Not 'just for the wealthy': New FEC rules allow candidates to pay their own salaries with campaign funds

In a bipartisan vote Thursday, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) approved a rule that will allow federal candidates to pay their own salaries using campaign funds beginning March 1, 2024, CNN reports.

Democratic FEC Commissioner Shana Broussard said in a statement that the new rule "will help ordinary, working-class Americans to represent their communities by running for federal office."

Per CNN, "Although the FEC has long allowed candidates to use campaign funds to pay themselves a salary, the agency had set strict limits on that compensation to avoid improper personal use of donors' money. In many cases, the salary was tied to their earnings in the year before they became a candidate. Additionally, they could not start drawing a paycheck until the candidate filing deadlines in their states – which vary widely across the country."

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Broussard emphasized, "Running for federal office should not be reserved for just the wealthy. Campaigning to serve in Congress is an expensive, full-time commitment that prevents you from working regular hours - which makes it incredibly hard for everyday Americans to run for higher office."

Proponents of the new rule, according to CNN, say it will "ensure that Americans of modest means" — like U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-FL) — "can afford to mount campaigns for Congress and the White House."

Frost, the news outlet notes, "described the struggle of trying to work part-time as an Uber driver while campaigning for the House. His financial picture grew so grim that a landlord in Washington denied the incoming congressman's application for an apartment because of his bad credit."

CNN reports payments can begin when candidates "file their statements of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission and can run for 20 days after winning or losing the election or otherwise ending their campaigns."

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CNN's full report is available at this link.