Q&A
CFB policy shift on matching funds for contributions with outstanding questions
0:36:15
ยท
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Council Member Restler and Paul Seamus Ryan discuss the CFB's internal policy shift regarding matching funds for contributions with outstanding questions, particularly focusing on intermediaries and suspected intermediary reports.
- The CFB will now withhold matching funds for contributions flagged in suspected intermediary reports until more information is received
- This policy shift is specific to the 2025 election and aims to address issues with intermediaries in the doing business database
- The change represents a more proactive approach to ensuring compliance with campaign finance rules
Lincoln Restler
0:36:15
I'd also like to just ask about the internal policy shift that we've discussed previously.
0:36:20
Historically,
Paul Seamus Ryan
0:36:21
if
Lincoln Restler
0:36:21
a campaign submits a donation for matching funds, the CFP provides those matching funds even if there are outstanding questions on whether the donation is eligible to be matched.
0:36:31
For instance, if an intermediary may be on the doing business data list or something like that.
0:36:35
You're now planning, as I understand it, or the CFP is now planning to not provide matching funds until more you more information has been received.
0:36:44
Is that correct?
0:36:45
Have you could you explain what the shift in policy is?
Paul Seamus Ryan
0:36:47
Yeah.
0:36:48
Shift in policy for the 2025 election specifically related to intermediaries and our suspected intermediary reports, which are a report that is attached when necessary and appropriate, as deemed by staff, to, statement appropriate, as deemed by staff, to, statement reviews that go out to campaigns.
0:37:01
If a campaign does not respond to a suspected intermediary report, we will assume what is effectively the worst case scenario, which is that the contribution is not matchable because it has come through someone in the doing business database.
0:37:18
Generally speaking, intermediaries the fact that a contribution comes through an in intermediary is not relevant to legality of the contribution.
0:37:25
It's perfectly legal to use intermediaries, and, typically, contributions made through intermediaries are matchable.
0:37:30
If they come through an intermediary that's in the doing business database, they're not matchable.
0:37:34
So going forward, in 2025, proactively on the front end, we'll say that if we've sent you a suspected intermediary report, you have not responded to that report, we are not going to match any contributions flagged in that, suspected intermediary report.
0:37:49
Great.
0:37:49
New policy.